Question

Read the excerpt from Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy.

"It's not his fault, Reverend," said Mr. Stonecrop smoothly. "It's not his fault at all. That's how they are. They're sly and crafty, making out all the time that they're dumb. But they're thinking, thinking, plotting, plotting. Here's the minister's son, they think, and if we can just get him on our side, we'll get the minister. And if we get the minister, we get the church. And if we get the church—you see how it goes. That's how they used your son. And it wasn't the old Preacher Griffin that they sent out to you, boy, was it? No, sir. It wasn't the old preacher. Why don't you go on ahead and tell your father who you were with today."

"Lizzie."

Mr. Stonecrop builds a case against the people of Malaga Island by

lying about what happened to Turner.
comparing Turner to Lizzie Griffin.
citing facts against Preacher Griffin.
telling a story of his experience there.

Answer 1

lying about what happened to Turner.

He falsely accuses the Malaga Island people of "using" the minister's son and plotting, inventing motives and events to turn the Reverend against them.