Can someone help me paraphrase this sentence please

Read the following excerpt from life on the mississippi by mark twain. no girl could withstand his charms. he "cut out" every boy in the village. when his boat blew up at last, it diffused a tranquil contentment among us such as we had not known for months. but when he came home the next week, alive, renowned, and appeared in church all battered up and bandaged, a shining hero, stared at and wondered over by everybody, it seemed to us that the partiality of providence for an undeserving reptile had reached a point where it was open to criticism. how does twain's use of understatement serve his purpose? be sure to use specific details from the text to support your answer.

Bicycle riding should be encouraged, and adding bicycle lanes will increase the number of riders. it is healthier for people to ride than to sit angrily in traffic. it is healthier for everyone to breathe cleaner air. sharing the road can be tricky, but there are things that can be done. so, add the bike lanes and get rolling! which sentence would improve this conclusion? every town should consider adding bicycle lanes, because it is a great idea. organizing safety classes for drivers and cyclists will ensure that everyone knows the rules. do not listen to negative people who complain about anything new. it is true that some people might get injured, but even walking can be dangerous.

Which is not a controlling idea in the essay? a) average joggers b) importance of tradition eliminate c) olympic-level competitors d) fräbel-designed crystal peach