A

Mark Twain was asked one day if he could remember the first money he ever earned. He thought a long time and then said, “Yes, it was at school. I can remember everything about it. School boys in those days did not take good care of their chairs and desks. There was a rule in our school that if anyone damaged his desk or chair, he would have to pay five dollars or the teacher would beat him in front of the whole school.”

“One day I damaged my desk in some way, I had to pay five dollars or be beaten before the whole school. My father said it would be too bad to have our family disgraced in front of the whole school. He agreed to give me five dollars to hand over the teacher. But before he gave me the money, he took me upstairs and gave me a beating.”

“But as I had one beating and I decided I would take another beating at school and keep the five dollars. So that's what I did. That was the first money I ever earned.”

21£®When did Mark Twain earn his first money?

A£®When he was a student.

B£®When he became a writer.

C£®When he taught at a school.

D£®When he was beaten by his father.

22£®Why did Mark Twain's father give Mark Twain the money and beat him?

A£®He wanted to teach the boy a lesson.

B£®He didn't want the boy to break the desk again.

C£®He didn't want to give him the money.

D£®He didn't want to have his family disgraced.

23£®Where was Mark Twain beaten?

A£®At home.

B£®In public.

C£®At school.

D£®Both at school and at home.