Excerpt from Life on the MississippiMark Twain'Do you see that long slanting line on the face of the water Now, that's a reef. Moreover, it's a
bluff reef. There is a solid sand-bar under it that is nearly as straight up
and down as the side of a house. There is plenty of water close up to it,
but mighty little on top of it. If you were to hit it you would knock the
boat's brains out. Do you see where the line fringes out at the upper end
and begins to fade away "Yes, sir."Well, that is a low place; that is the head
of the reef. You can climb over there, and not hurt anything. Cross over,
now, and follow along close under the reef-easy water there-not much
current.'I followed the reef along till I approached the fringed end. Then
Mr. Bixby said-'Now get ready. Wait till I give the word. She won't want to
mount the reef; a boat hates shoal water. Stand by-wait-WAIT-keep her
well in hand. NOW cramp her down! Snatch herl snatch her!' What is the
purpose of the author in writing this passage?
O A) to teach a lesson
B) to narrate action
OC) to describe the boat
OD) to criticize the river