Question

Read this passage from Dragonwings by Laurence Yep.

The demon was a big, cheerful-looking demon with a bland, round face. He eyed father. "I dunno, John." Many demons called Tang men John because, they insisted, they never could get the hang of our real names. "You know anything about horselesses?"

"Some," Father said. Truth to tell, he had never handled a horseless carriage in his life, though he had a book on them and cut out articles whenever they appeared in the demon magazines and newspapers. That was the extent of Father's knowledge. But to know facts is nothing. He had an intuitive feeling for what made the horseless carriages tick. He looked around inside the engine for about ten minutes and then wiped his face absentmindedly, so that the grease stained his cheek. He did not even notice.

Which quote from this passage is an example of indirect characterization?

“The demon was a big, cheerful-looking demon with a bland, round face.”
“Many demons called Tang men John because, they insisted, they never could get the hang of our real names.”
“He had an intuitive feeling for what made the horseless carriages tick.”
“He looked around inside the engine for about ten minutes and then wiped his face absentmindedly, so that the grease stained his cheek.”

Answer 1

“He looked around inside the engine for about ten minutes and then wiped his face absentmindedly, so that the grease stained his cheek.”

This is indirect characterization because it shows the father's qualities (hands‑on, absorbed, unconcerned with appearance) through his actions rather than directly stating them.