Final answer:
Mark Twain dealt with conflict the best in the unit 1 reading by remaining confident in his abilities and relying on his knowledge and training.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the unit 1 reading, the character who dealt with conflict the best was Mark Twain. In the excerpt, Twain faces an external conflict as he is tasked with running a crossing and dealing with increasing pressure from Mr. Bixby. However, Twain remains confident in his abilities and relies on his knowledge and training, ultimately overcoming the conflict.
John hearing a faint sound and then seeing a vague figure offers significant insight into John's emotional state and how he responds to fear.