OpenSAT

Question #N845

The author of a famous novel, *The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn*, Mark Twain, was also an American humorist. He was renowned for his satirical stories and sharp wit, which were often used to criticize society and its institutions. Although Twain's work is often characterized as being humorous, his writings also included serious themes that explored the nature of good and evil, the power of human compassion, and the challenges of living in a changing world. The writer's use of humor and satire, often employed to highlight the absurdity of human behavior, was one of his most distinctive features, making him a beloved figure in American literature. The text describes the qualities of Mark Twain’s writing as being “humorous” and “satirical.” The text goes on to state that Twain’s writing “also included serious themes,” and it concludes by saying that his use of humor and satire, which were “often employed to highlight the absurdity of human behavior,” was “one of his most distinctive features.” Which choice best describes how the writer of this excerpt builds his or her argument about Mark Twain’s writing?