Question

question 3 of 10
which of these excerpts from mark twains life on the mississippi best shows twains subtle sense of humor?

a. the minister’s son became an engineer. the doctor’s and the postmaster’s sons became \mud clerks.\

b. the great mississippi, the majestic, the magnificent mississippi, rolling its mile - wide tide along, shining in the sun

c. now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, god would permit us to be pirates.

d. the captain lifts his hand, a bell rings, the wheels stop; then they turn back, churning the water to foam, and the steamer is at rest.

Explanation:

To determine which excerpt shows Twain’s subtle humor, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Compares the career paths of sons of different professions (minister, doctor, postmaster) in a way that highlights an unexpected or ironic contrast (engineer vs. "mud clerks"), but it's more of a social commentary than subtle humor.
• Option B: This is a descriptive, majestic portrayal of the Mississippi River, with no humor.
• Option C: The idea of being "good" to be permitted to be pirates (typically seen as lawless) is an ironic and subtly humorous contrast between the expected reward for good behavior (like being virtuous) and the unexpected, playful desire to be pirates.
• Option D: This is a straightforward description of a steamer’s actions, with no humor.

Answer:

C. Now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.