Question

What is satirized in this excerpt from Mark Twain's "The £1,000,000 Bank-Note"? I was pretty nervous, in fact, pretty badly frightened, though, of course, I was no way in fault; but I knew men well enough to know that when they find they've given a tramp a million-pound bill when they thought it was a one-pounder, they are in a frantic rage against him instead of quarreling with their own near-sightedness, as they ought. A. the carelessness and short-tempered nature of British folks B. people's willingness to pick quarrels over small matters C. the lack of trust and respect Englishmen had for Americans D. the nature of people to blame others for their own mistakes or shortcomings E. the inability of people to trust others in matters involving money Reset

Answer 1

Answer:

D. The nature of people to blame others for their own mistakes or shortcomings.

Explanation:

"The Million Pound Bank Note" by Mark Twain is a story of a penniless man who begs around London. He had came here after a boating incident which left him homeless and without money, rendering him unable to even return home to San Francisco.

In the story, the protagonist, Henry, was given a million pound note by two brothers who made a bet on him. Their bet was how Henry will react and behave with the money given to him. One brother bets that with the amount of money given, he will be able to survive a month without any trouble, while the other brother thinks that with the inability to cash the amount will render it useless. When Henry first realized the reality of the situation, the amount of money given to him, he comments that men have the nature of blaming people for their own faults. He says "but I knew men well enough to know that when they find they've given a tramp a million-pound bill when they thought it was a one-pounder, they are in a frantic rage against him instead of quarreling with their own near-sightedness". Men find it hard to accept their mistakes upfront and instead, tries to put the blame on someone first. This is satirized in the above excerpt of the short story.

Answer 2

Answer: D.  

the nature of people to blame others for their own mistakes or shortcomings

Explanation: