The Mark Twain Narrative Reading Answers

Jan 23, 2025

The Mark Twain Narrative IELTS Reading Answers contains a total of 13 questions, which have to be completed in 20 minutes. This IELTS reading topic tells about Mark Twain's life journey. The Mark Twain Narrative consists of questions like: Does the following statement agree with the information given in the reading passage and Write no more than two words about Mark Twain's career as a writer. Candidates should read the IELTS Reading The Mark Twain Narrative passage thoroughly to recognize synonyms, identify keywords, and answer the questions. Also, participants can improve their skills by practicing with IELTS Reading Practice Tests.

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Topic:

The Mark Twain Narrative

Mark Twain left an indelible mark on American literature with his wit, humor, and keen observations of society. From his rough childhood to his worldwide travels and literary masterpieces, Twain's life journey was filled with ups and downs shaping his iconic contributions to literature. Born on November 30, 1835, in Florida, Missouri, Twain's family moved to Hannibal when he was a child, where, despite the picturesque surroundings, tragedy cast a shadow over his early years. The loss of siblings to disease, exposure to violence in Hannibal, and the shocking encounter with a dead body contributed to his later reflections on cruelty and social injustice.

The year 1847 marked a pivotal moment for Twain when his father, the primary breadwinner of the whole family, succumbed to pneumonia, resulting in financial instability for the family. Twain, then aged twelve, transitioned into printing as an apprentice and continued to build his career in Hannibal and New York City. Driven by an adventurous spirit, he came up with a risky plan to accumulate wealth in South America.

This course of action took an unforeseen twist during his 1857 riverboat journey to New Orleans, where he met a renowned riverboat pilot willing to mentor him for a fee of five hundred dollars. Throughout this period, he familiarized himself with the towns along the river and became acquainted with individuals who inspired him to create iconic characters in his novels, such as Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.

Nevertheless, with the eruption of the Civil War in 1861, all river traffic ceased, putting an end to Twain's career as a pilot.

In July 1861, Twain, invited by his brother Orion, the newly appointed secretary of the Nevada Territory, journeyed west in pursuit of a new career. Hoping for success in Nevada's silver rush, he traveled by stagecoach, encountering Native American tribes and diverse people, who had greatly inspired his later works, particularly "Roughing It." In 1864, seeking change, Twain headed to San Francisco to continue writing for local papers. By 1865, he achieved his first significant success with the publication of the short story "Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog" in newspapers nationwide. In 1866, Mark Twain was hired by the Sacramento Union to report on the Sandwich Islands, now Hawaii. His coverage gained widespread attention, and upon his return, Twain's popularity surged, setting the stage for a successful lecture tour where he shared insights from his travels, entertaining audiences with his wit and humor. In 1867, Twain met his future brother-in-law, Charles Langdon, who introduced him to a picture of his sister Olivia, sparking love at first sight for Twain.

In 1870, Twain and Olivia (Livy) Langdon married, settling in Buffalo, New York, where he, serving as a partner, editor, and writer for the Buffalo Express, welcomed the birth of their first child, Langdon Clemens. By 1872, Twain published "Roughing It," a compilation of recollections from his experiences. In the same year, tragedy struck when their son, Langdon, succumbed to diphtheria at the age of two, just as their first daughter, Susy, was born. Over the course of more than 3,000 years, iron, in its various forms, has remained an integral component of human society. The journey from the blacksmiths' forges of centuries past to the industrial age's invention of cast iron represents a remarkable shift in iron production. While some alloys, like wrought iron, have become largely obsolete except for decorative purposes, cast iron continues to progress. Ongoing advancements in composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties ensure that cast iron maintains its relevance and continues to leave an indelible mark on the modern world.

Twain and his wife welcomed their daughters, Clara (born in 1874) and Jean (born in 1880). However, sorrow struck once again when, at the age of 24, Susy died from meningitis during a visit to the Hartford home. The family, unable to bear residing in the place of Susy's passing, made the decision to never return to Hartford to live. In 1889, Twain found summer retreats for uninterrupted work at his sister-in-law's farm in Elmira, New York. During this period, drawing inspiration from memories of Missouri, Twain completed some of his most renowned works portraying American life, such as 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' (1876) and 'Life on the Mississippi' (1883). His social commentary continued with "The Prince and the Pauper" (1881), exploring class relations, and "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" (1889), criticizing oppression and examining the era's technological advancements. In his most famous work, "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"(1884), Twain fiercely criticized prevalent societal issues, such as slavery and the continued mistreatment of African Americans.

Mark Twain's later years in the 1990s were characterized by financial turmoil and the heart-wrenching losses of his two daughters, leaving an indelible mark on his writing style. These transformative experiences molded a Mark Twain who, in his later works, explored the complexities of human nature and confronted the profound challenges that defined his own life. This period gave rise to a literary legacy that encapsulates both the humor and depth of the human experience. Mark Twain's enduring influence, a cornerstone in contemporary literary circles, transcends the realm of his literary contributions, immersing itself in the perseverance and wit visible throughout his life's chaotic tapestry. From the initial escapades chronicling the adventures of Tom and Huck to the subsequent depth of his social critiques, his life's trajectory serves as a testament to his steadfast dedication to portraying the intricate facets of the human experience. In doing so, he not only emerges as a literary giant but also as a man whose life mirrored the very tales he crafted-blending humor, adventure, and the darkness inherent in every human existence.

Questions 1-7

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage 1?

In boxes 1-7 your answer sheet, write:

TRUE If the statement agrees with the information

FALSE If the statement contradicts

NOT GIVEN If there is no information on this

1. The cruelty and social injustice at that time contributed to the loss of Twain's siblings.

Answer: Not Given

Supporting statement: -

Keywords: -

Keyword Location: -

Explanation: While the text mentions the loss of Twain's siblings to disease and his reflections on cruelty, it does not state that these losses were caused by social injustice or cruelty.

2. In 1857, on his riverboat journey, Twain arranged to meet a riverboat pilot who would mentor him later.

Answer: True

Supporting statement: "During his 1857 riverboat journey to New Orleans, where he met a renowned riverboat pilot willing to mentor him for a fee of five hundred dollars."

Keywords: riverboat, New Orleans

Keyword Location: para 3, line 1-2

Explanation: The text confirms Twain met and arranged for mentorship with a riverboat pilot during his journey.

3. In 1870, Twain's first child was born in Buffalo and passed away at 24 months old.

Answer: True

Supporting statement: "In 1870, Twain and Olivia... welcomed the birth of their first child, Langdon Clemens. By 1872, tragedy struck when their son, Langdon, succumbed to diphtheria at the age of two."

Keywords: son, first child

Keyword Location: para 5, line 3-5

Explanation: The text confirms Langdon was born in 1870 in Buffalo and died at the age of two.

4. In "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," Twain called for more fierce criticisms against the societal issues of his time.

Answer: True

Supporting statement: "In his most famous work, 'Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' (1884), Twain fiercely criticized prevalent societal issues, such as slavery and the continued mistreatment of African Americans."

Keywords: work, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Keyword Location: para 6, line 10-11

Explanation: Twain's work explicitly critiques societal issues, such as slavery and racism, aligning with the statement.

5. The complicated characteristics of humans and Twain's life-changing obstacles were explored in his later works.

Answer: True

Supporting statement: "These transformative experiences molded a Mark Twain who, in his later works, explored the complexities of human nature and confronted the profound challenges that defined his own life."

Keywords: human nature, works

Keyword Location: para 7, line 5-6

Explanation: The text confirms that Twain explored human complexities and his challenges in his later works.

6. The complicated characteristics of humans and Twain's life-changing obstacles were explored in his later works.

7. Although Mark Twain stands out as a literary giant, his life shows little resemblance to the stories he wrote.

Answer: False

Supporting statement: "His life's trajectory serves as a testament to his steadfast dedication to portraying the intricate facets of the human experience. In doing so, he not only emerges as a literary giant but also as a man whose life mirrored the very tales he crafted."

Keywords: literary, stories

Keyword Location: para 7, line 13-15

Explanation: The text explicitly states that Twain's life mirrored the stories he wrote, contradicting the statement.

Questions 8-13

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each.

Mark Twain's career as a writer

1840s - 1850s

• After his father's passing, Twain became a printing 8..

Answer: Apprentice

Supporting statement: "Twain, then aged twelve, transitioned into printing as an apprentice and continued to build his career in Hannibal and New York City."

Keywords: printing, Twain

Keyword Location: para 2, line 2-3

Explanation: After his father’s death, Twain began working as a printing apprentice, marking the start of his career.

• From 1857, Twain worked as a riverboat pilot and met people who later inspired his novel characters

1860s

• By 1865, Twain achieved initial success with his story 9..in newspapers.

Answer: Jumping Frog

Supporting statement: "By 1865, he achieved his first significant success with the publication of the short story 'Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog' in newspapers nationwide."

Keywords: success, short story

Keyword Location: para 4, line 5-6

Explanation: Twain gained initial fame with the publication of "Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog" in 1865.

• In 1866, Twain organized a 10..detailing his experiences about the Sandwich

Islands

Answer: Lecture Tour

Supporting statement: "...setting the stage for a successful lecture tour where he shared insights from his travels, entertaining audiences with his wit and humor."

Keywords: lecture tour, travels

Keyword Location: para 4, line 8-10

Explanation: Twain organized a lecture tour to share his experiences about the Sandwich Islands, boosting his popularity.

1880s

• Some well-known works were finished based on Twain's 11.. during his time living

in Missouri.

Answer: Memories

Supporting statement: "...drawing inspiration from memories of Missouri, Twain completed some of his most renowned works portraying American life."

Keywords: Missouri, works

Keyword Location: para 6, line 5-8

Explanation: Twain’s famous works from the 1880s, such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, were inspired by his memories of Missouri.

• Twain continued writing some other works in the form of 12.. 1990s

Answer: Social Critiques

Supporting statement: "His social commentary continued with 'The Prince and the Pauper' (1881)...and 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court' (1889), criticizing oppression..."

Keywords: commentary, writing

Keyword Location: para 6, line 6-7

Explanation: Twain’s works during this period often took the form of social critiques, addressing societal issues.

• Life-altering events in Twain's later years shaped a heritage that portrays the 13.., with a blend of humor and depth.

Answer: Human Experience

Supporting statement: "This period gave rise to a literary legacy that encapsulates both the humor and depth of the human experience."

Keywords: commentary, writing

Keyword Location: para 7, line 3-5

Explanation: Twain’s later works reflected the complexities of the human experience, blending humor and depth.

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