Question

analyzing literary elements and theme: mastery test select the correct text in the passage. at what point in the excerpt from tom sawyer does it become clear that tom has successfully manipulated ben? from the adventures of tom sawyer by mark twain he took up his brush and went tranquilly to work. ben rogers hove in sight presently - the very boy, of all boys, whose ridicule he had been dreading. bens gait was the hop - skip - jump - proof enough that his heart was light and his anticipations high. he was eating an apple, and giving a long, melodious whoop, at intervals, followed by a deep - toned ding - dong - dong, ding - dong - dong, for he was personating a steamboat. tom went on whitewashing - paid no attention to the steamboat. ben stared a moment and then said: “hi - yi! youre up a stump, aint you?” no answer. tom surveyed his last touch with the eye of an artist, then he gave his brush another gentle sweep and surveyed the result, as before. ben ranged up alongside of him. toms mouth watered for the apple, but he stuck to his work. ben said: “hello, 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 yourd 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.

Explanation:

In the story, Tom makes white - washing seem like a special and enjoyable activity to Ben. When Ben starts to show interest and finally takes over the white - washing task, it shows Tom's manipulation is successful. Usually, it would be when Ben begins to white - wash instead of Tom. However, since the full text isn't provided, we need to look for the part where Ben is convinced to do the work that Tom was supposed to do.

Answer:

(The specific text in the passage that shows Ben starting to white - wash or being fully convinced to take over the task. Since the full passage isn't shown completely here, the actual correct text selection can't be precisely given. But it should be the part where Ben is clearly taking on the white - washing work that Tom was doing.)