Question

read this passage from the outsiders by s. e. hinton.

he had on a madras shirt. i can still see it. blue madras. one of them laughed, then cussed me out in a low voice. i couldnt think of anything to say. there just isnt a whole lot you can say while waiting to get mugged, so i kept my mouth shut.

eed a haircut, greaser?\ the medium-sized blond pulled a knife out of his back pocket and flipped the blade open.

i finally thought of something to say.
o.\ i was backing up, away from that knife.

who are the opposing characters in this passage?

ponyboy and johnny
ponyboy and darry
ponyboy and himself
ponyboy and the socs

Explanation:

Identify the narrator and the opposing group

The narrator, Ponyboy (a "greaser"), describes being cornered by rivals wearing "madras" shirts, one of whom pulls a knife and asks, "Need a haircut, greaser?" In the novel The Outsiders, the rivals who wear madras shirts and attack greasers are the Socs.

Analyze the conflict in the passage

The physical confrontation and verbal threats establish an external, character-vs-character conflict between the narrator (Ponyboy) and the group threatening him (the Socs).

Answer:

• Ponyboy and Johnny
• Ponyboy and Darry
• Ponyboy and himself
• Ponyboy and the Socs (Correct answer)