Mark Twain: How to Tell a Story
by Mark Twain
While Mark Twain wrote many fictional works, he also wrote non-fiction. Among his non-fiction works are his essays. Below is the beginning of his essay “How to Tell a Story” published in 1897.
Reading Comprehension Passage
Mark Twain: How to Tell a Story
by Mark Twain
Reading Comprehension Questions
Vocabulary List
Vocabulary List
Each of the vocabulary words below are used in the reading passage. As you read the passage, pay attention to context clues that suggest the word’s meaning.
- witty
- gravely
- conceal
- nub
- pathetic
Context Clues
Context Clues
Using context clues from the sentences in the passage, underline the correct meaning of the word in boldface.
1) “The humorous story is American, the comic story is English, the witty story is French”
a. clever; amusing b. longest or lengthy c. shortest or briefest d. poetic; lyrical
2) “The humorous story is told gravely”
a. quickly; in a rush b. roughly or harshly c. energetically; lively d. seriously or solemnly
3) “the teller does his best to conceal the fact”
a. express; illustrate b. exaggerate; inflate c. hide or keep secret d. accept or recognize
4) “he will repeat the 'nub' of it”
a. name; title b. list of characters c. core; central point d. opening line
5) “It is a pathetic thing to see”
a. wondrous; amazing b. pitiful or heartbreaking c. funny or amusing d. sick or diseased