Life on the Mississippi

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. What does young Mark Twain learn about riverboat piloting during his first excursions?

A) He has a natural gift for piloting that makes it easy for him.

B) The pilots only allow him limited opportunities to practice steering.

C) He pilots through a few close calls, but soon gets the hang of it.

D) Piloting the river is surprisingly difficult, especially at night.

2. Which of the following statements best summarizes Twain’s feelings toward the impact of the Mississippi River?

A) It is an irrelevant and dying aspect of American life.

B) The river has little influence over the life of most Americans.

C) He believes it is a significant part of American culture.

D) It is a significant part of Southern culture but has little impact elsewhere.

3. Which feeling most characterizes Twain’s journey on the Mississippi River?

A) Nostalgia

B) Optimism

C) Disappointment

D) Distaste

4. What is a common element in many of the stories Twain recounts from his journey?

A) Realism

B) Mysticism

C) Spiritualism

D) Pessimism

5. What is the purpose of Twain’s use of satire and humor in his memoir?

A) To emphasize the beauty of the Mississippi River and its landscape

B) To describe the ignorance of riverboat pilots and riverfront people

C) To appraise societal norms and the culture of his day