Question

select the correct text in the passage. which line reflects toms true attitude about whitewashing? from the adventures of tom sawyer by mark twain ben said: “heap, old chap, you got to work, hey?” tom wheeled suddenly and said: “why, its you, ben! i wasnt noticing.” “say—im going in a - swimming, i am. dont you wish you could? but of course youd rather work—wouldnt you? course you would.” tom contemplated the boy a bit and said: “what do you call work?” “why, aint that work?” tom resumed his whitewashing, and answered carelessly: “well, maybe it is, and maybe it aint. all i know, is, it suits tom sawyer.” “oh come, now, you dont mean to let on that you like it?” the brush continued to move. “like it? well, i dont see why i oughtnt to like it. does a boy get a chance to whitewash a fence every day? . . .” “say, tom, let me whitewash a little.” tom considered, was about to consent, but he altered his mind: “no—no—i reckon it wouldnt hardly do, ben. you see, aunt pollys awful particular about this fence . . . its got to be done very careful. i reckon there aint one boy in a thousand, maybe two thousand, that can do it the way its got to be done.” “no—is that so? oh come, now—lemme just try. only just a little— id let you, if you was me, tom.” “ben, id like to, honest—but aunt polly—well . . . if you was to tackle this fence and anything was to happen to it—” “oh, shucks, ill be just as careful. now lemme try. say—ill give you the core of my apple.” “well, here—no, ben, now dont. im afraid—” “ill give you all of it.” tom gave up the brush with reluctance in his face, but alacrity in his heart. and while the late steamer big missouri worked and sweated in the sun, the retired artist sat on a barrel in the shade close by, dangled his legs, munched his apple, and planned the slaughter of more innocents. there was no lack of material; boys happened along every little while, they came to jeer, but remained to whitewash.

Explanation:

Tom pretends white - washing is a special and difficult task to make others eager to do it for him. He doesn't actually like it but turns it into an opportunity to manipulate others. He says things like "Does a boy get a chance to whitewash a fence every day?" and makes it seem like a privilege, while in reality, he is tricking others into doing his work.

Answer:

Tom doesn't like white - washing but uses it to manipulate others into doing the work for him.