Mark Twain，an American writer, published more than 30 books, hundreds of
short stories and essays and gave lectures around the world throughout his career. 
Mark Twain left school when he was twelve. He had little school education. Thou
gh he had little school education, he became the most famous writer of his time
. He made millions of dollars by writing. His real name was Samuel Langhorne Cl
emens, but he is better known all over the world as MarkTwain, his penname. 
Mark Twain was born in 1835 and he was not a healthy baby. In fact, he was not
expected to live through the first winter. But with his mother's tender care,
he managed to survive. As a boy, he causedmuch trouble for his parents. He use
d to play jokes on all of his friends and neighbors. He didn't like to go to sc
hool, and he constantly ran away from home. He always went in the direction of
the nearby Mississippi. He was nearly drowned nine times. After his father's d
eath in 1847, Mark twain began to work for a printer, who only provided him wit
h food and clothing. Then, he worked as  a river-boat pilot (领航
员)and later joinedthe army. But shortly after that he became a miner. During t
his period, he started to write short stories. Afterwards he became a full-time
writer.
In 1870, Mark Twain got married. In the years that followed he wrote many books
including Tom Sawyer in 1876, and Huckleberry Finn in 1884, which made him fam
ous, and brought him a great fortune. Unfortunately, Mark Twain got into debts
in bad investments（投资） and he had to write
large numbers of stories to pay these debts. In 1904, his wife died and then on
e of their childrenpassed away.At the age of 70, his hair was completely white.
He bought many white suits and neckties. Hewore nothing but white from head to
foot until his death on April 21, 1910.
【小题1】 When Mark Twain was a little baby,          .

C

One of the best-known American writers is Samuel Langhorne Clemens, whose pen-name is Mark Twain. Born in 1835, Twain grew up in the Mississippi River town of Hannibal, Missouri. Like many other boys of his day, Twain dreamed of traveling on riverboats and of becoming a riverboat pilot(舵手) someday. He used his memories of the life of the river town in his two most famous books, Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer.

As a young man Twain held many jobs. He was a printer, a gold miner, and for a long time, he was a riverboat pilot. During his pilot days, he adopted(采用) the name Mark Twain. This was something used by the boatmen to mean the water measured two fathoms, or twelve feet, which was deep enough for safe passage.

Finally, Twain became a famous writer. He traveled a great deal, writing and speaking, and was very popular both in the United States and in Europe.

Twain’s style of writing was simple and direct. Among the things he wrote about were superstitious(迷信的) people and people who were easily fooled. He used his unusual gift for humor to write about many things of importance.

69. Samuel Langhorne Clemens _____________________ .

   A. is the best-known American writer

   B. never left the town of Hannibal, Missouri

   C. is the hero of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer

   D. used Mark Twain as his pen-name

70. Many boys of that time _________________________ .

   A. wanted to become writers

   B. were anxious to work on a riverboat

   C. just wanted to be passengers on the Mississippi

   D. wished to become friends of Mark Twain.

71. Huckleberry Finn written by Mark Twain was probably about _________ .

   A. boys’ life of his day          B. the life of a riverboat pilot

   C. the life of a river town        D. Twain’s travel on riverboats

72. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?

   A. Fathom was a unit used by boatmen to measure the depth of the water.

   B. People could be easily amused by Mark Twain’s writing.

   C. Europeans showed little interest in Mark Twain’s writings.

   D. Mark Twain’s books could be easily understood for his style.

One of the best-known American writers is Samuel Langhorne Clemens, whose pen-name is Mark Twain. Born in 1835, Twain grew up in the Mississippi River town of Hannibal, Missouri. Like many other boys of his day, Twain dreamed of traveling on riverboats and of becoming a riverboat pilot(舵手) someday. He used his memories of the life of the river town in his two most famous books, Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer.

As a young man Twain held many jobs. He was a printer, a gold miner, and for a long time, he was a riverboat pilot. During his pilot days, he adopted(采用) the name Mark Twain. This was something used by the boatmen to mean the water measured two fathoms, or twelve feet, which was deep enough for safe passage.

Finally, Twain became a famous writer. He traveled a great deal, writing and speaking, and was very popular both in the United States and in Europe.

Twain’s style of writing was simple and direct. Among the things he wrote about were superstitious(迷信的) people and people who were easily fooled. He used his unusual gift for humor to write about many things of importance.

Samuel Langhorne Clemens _____________________ .

   A. is the best-known American writer

   B. never left the town of Hannibal, Missouri

   C. is the hero of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer

 D. used Mark Twain as his pen-name

Many boys of that time _________________________ .

   A. wanted to become writers

   B. were anxious to work on a riverboat

   C. just wanted to be passengers on the Mississippi

   D. wished to become friends of Mark Twain.

Huckleberry Finn written by Mark Twain was probably about _________ .

   A. boys’ life of his day

   B. the life of a riverboat pilot

   C. the life of a river town

   D. Twain’s travel on riverboats

According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?

   A. Fathom was a unit used by boatmen to measure the depth of the water.

   B. People could be easily amused by Mark Twain’s writing.

   C. Europeans showed little interest in Mark Twain’s writings.

   D. Mark Twain’s books could be easily understood for his style.