Advice to Youth – Reasoning (20+ Questions)

Complete the following sentences by providing a brief reason. Do not repeat the question.

1. Twain sarcastically advises youth to obey their parents only when they are present because __________

2. Twain uses satire in his essay instead of direct moral instruction because __________

3. Twain mocks the advice to respect superiors by suggesting retaliation because __________

4. Twain describes lying as a "beautiful art" requiring training because __________

5. Twain warns that a single clumsy lie will be discovered because __________

6. According to Twain, once caught in a lie, a person cannot regain their former reputation because __________

7. Twain ridicules the maxim "truth is mighty and will prevail" because __________

8. Twain gives warnings about handling firearms because __________

9. Twain sarcastically recommends dry, moralistic books to youth because __________

10. Twain includes his own book "The Innocents Abroad" in his recommendations because __________

11. Twain's closing statement about resembling "everybody else" is significant because __________

12. Twain targets young people specifically with his satirical advice because __________

13. Twain criticizes parental authority's claim to superiority because __________

14. Twain presents absurd suggestions about waking up and early rising because __________

15. Twain uses exaggeration and hyperbole throughout the essay because __________

16. Twain's advice on handling insults through delayed retaliation is ironic because __________

17. The title "Advice to Youth" is ironic because __________

18. Twain emphasizes the importance of perfecting the art of lying because __________

19. Twain suggests that adults and authority figures are hypocritical because __________

20. Twain's essay may have been influenced by the prohibition of alcohol in Kansas because __________

21. Twain encourages critical thinking and questioning authority because __________

Answer Key

i) He exposes the reality that morality is often performative and that youth will disobey anyway; what matters to parents is maintaining the illusion of obedience.

ii) Satire allows him to expose hypocrisy and absurdity more effectively than direct instruction, making readers question conventional wisdom rather than accepting it passively.

iii) He exposes the double standard in adult behavior—while preaching civility, society secretly encourages vengeance and holding grudges, revealing moral hypocrisy.

iv) He sarcastically exposes that despite society's condemnation of lying, people practice it extensively; treating it as an art emphasizes its prevalence and importance to adults despite their teachings.

v) A poorly executed lie reveals itself through carelessness and lack of skill, suggesting that lies require careful planning and expertise to remain believable.

vi) Trust, once broken by dishonesty, becomes permanently damaged; the person's character is irreversibly altered in others' perception, creating lasting consequences.

vii) In reality, truth is fragile and easily attacked, while a well-crafted lie is far more durable and believable than most truths, contrary to popular moral belief.

viii) Mishandled firearms cause more destruction than weapons in actual warfare, making careless handling of guns far more dangerous than any other form of misuse.

ix) Dry, moralistic books stifle independent thinking by controlling what youth read and imposing prescribed morality rather than allowing them to think for themselves.

x) It challenges the idea that safe, moralistic literature is superior; his travel book encourages independent observation of human nature and original thinking instead.