Video SAT-Style Comprehension Questions: Mark Twain

📌 1:35–2:49 – The Dream and Henry’s Death

1. [Literal comprehension] What tragic event occurred to Twain’s brother Henry?
   

• 1. He drowned in the Mississippi River

• 1. He was drafted into the Civil War

• 1. He died in a boiler explosion

• 1. He was struck by lightning

📌 1:35–2:49 – The Dream and Henry’s Death

[Inference] Why might Twain have felt especially guilty about Henry's death?

• He had once argued with Henry before the explosion

• He had a dream that predicted the exact details of the tragedy

• He was the pilot of the boat during the explosion

• He had refused to give Henry a job on the boat

📌 2:49–4:36 – Halley’s Comet & Other Psychic Events
[Vocabulary in context] What does Twain mean when he refers to himself and Halley’s Comet as "two unaccountable freaks"?

• They are misunderstood scientific phenomena

• They are both strange and rare occurrences

• They are failures of nature

• They are unpredictable disasters

📌 2:49–4:36 – Halley’s Comet & Other Psychic Events

[Synthesis] How do Twain’s experiences contribute to his reputation as a psychic?

• He claimed to have seen ghosts

• He was able to contact spirits through séances

• He predicted multiple personal tragedies that came true

• He was born during a lunar eclipse

📌 4:44–5:55 – Twain the Inventor
[Literal comprehension] Which of the following was not one of Twain’s inventions?

• A self-pasting scrapbook

• Garment fasteners

• A mechanical typewriter

• A trivia game

📌 4:44–5:55 – Twain the Inventor

6. [Inference] What does the story about Twain volunteering for Tesla's oscillator suggest about Twain’s character?

• 6. He was reckless and careless

• 6. He was open-minded and curious

• 6. He disliked science and medicine

• 6. He sought fame at any cost

📌 6:00–7:03 – Confederate Militia & Personal Beliefs

[Analysis] Why is Twain’s brief service in a Confederate militia considered ironic?

• He later became a war hero

• He supported the Union cause

• He was a strong opponent of slavery later in life

• He had family members who fought for the North

📌 6:00–7:03 – Confederate Militia & Personal Beliefs

8. [Inference] What likely motivated Twain’s initial enlistment in the militia?

• 8. Political activism

• 8. Lack of knowledge about the war’s cause

• 8. Desire for revenge

• 8. Pressure from his family

📌 7:08–8:50 – Childhood Tragedy & Education
[Literal comprehension] How far did Twain go in his formal education?

• He earned a college degree

• He dropped out after fifth grade

• He completed high school

• He was homeschooled throughout his life

📌 7:08–8:50 – Childhood Tragedy & Education

10. [Inference] What theme is suggested by Twain's many near-drownings and his sister’s later death by drowning?

• 10. His distrust of medical science

• 10. A tragic connection to water

• 10. His fascination with storms

• 10. His ignorance of safety procedures