Question

which characteristic is true of a theme? it is explained by the author it is a summary of the plot. it is not stated by the author outright. it is not linked to symbols.

Explanation:

To determine the correct characteristic of a theme, we analyze each option:

• "It is explained by the author": Themes are often implied, not directly explained by the author. Eliminate this.
• "It is a summary of the plot": A theme is a central idea, not a plot summary. Eliminate this.
• "It is not stated by the author outright": Themes are typically underlying ideas that readers infer, not explicitly stated. This is correct.
• "It is not linked to symbols": Themes can be linked to symbols (symbols can represent theme - related ideas). Eliminate this.

Answer:

The correct option is the one with "It is not stated by the author outright" (the green - colored option in the bottom - left of the four options shown).