Question

Now you take Cynthia Procter for instance. She's just the opposite. If there's a test tomorrow, she'll say something like, "Oh, I guess I'll play handball this afternoon and watch television tonight," just to let you know she ain't thinking about the test. Or like last week when she won the spelling bee for the millionth time, "A good thing you got 'receive,' Squeaky, cause I would have got it wrong. I completely forgot about the spelling bee." . . . But of course when I pass her house on my early morning trots around the block, she is practicing the scales on the piano over and over and over and over.

Why is this passage an example of indirect characterization?

It shows the reader who Cynthia is based on her words and actions.
The passage uses specific adjectives that tell the reader about Cynthia.
The passage is made up of Cynthia’s dialogue entirely.
The passage tells Cynthia’s thoughts and actions.

Answer 1

The correct answer is: **It shows the reader who Cynthia is based on her words and actions.**

Indirect characterization reveals a character's personality through their actions, dialogue, thoughts, and how they interact with others. In this passage, Cynthia's carefree attitude towards studying for a test, contrasted with her dedication to practicing the piano, allows the reader to infer her personality traits without explicitly stating them.