Question

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

were poorer than the socs and the middle class. i reckon were wilder, too. not like the socs, who jump greasers and wreck houses... for kicks, and get editorials in the paper for being a public disgrace one day and an asset to society the next. greasers are almost like hoods; we steal things and drive old souped-up cars and... have a gang fight once in a while. i dont mean i do things like that. darry would kill me if i got into trouble with the police. since mom and dad were killed in an auto wreck, the three of us get to stay together only as long as we behave. so soda and i stay out of trouble as much as we can, and were careful not to get caught when we cant. i only mean that most greasers do things like that, just like

which line from this excerpt best supports the authors message that some things in life are out of peoples control?

\im not saying that either socs or greasers are better; thats just the way things are.\
\darry would kill me if i got into trouble with the police.\
\greasers are almost like hoods; we steal things and drive old souped-up cars and... have a gang fight once in a while.\

ot like the socs, who jump greasers and wreck houses... for kicks, and get editorials in the paper for being a public disgrace one day and an asset to society the next.\

Explanation:

Analyze the author's message

Using the The Outsiders Analysis knowledge point, we look for the core theme of lack of control over circumstances. The narrator discusses social divisions and personal situations that are predetermined or unchangeable.

Evaluate the textual evidence

Using the Textual Evidence knowledge point, we examine the first option: "I'm not saying that either Socs or greasers are better; that's just the way things are." The phrase "that's just the way things are" directly supports the idea that certain societal structures and realities are fixed and out of individual control.

Compare alternative choices

The other options focus on personal consequences ("Darry would kill me"), group behaviors ("Greasers are almost like hoods"), or societal double standards ("Not like the Socs..."). None of these express the same resignation to uncontrollable circumstances as the first option.

Answer:

• (A) "I'm not saying that either Socs or greasers are better; that's just the way things are." (Correct answer)
• (B) "Darry would kill me if I got into trouble with the police."
• (C) "Greasers are almost like hoods; we steal things and drive old souped-up cars and . . . have a gang fight once in a while."
• (D) "Not like the Socs, who jump greasers and wreck houses . . . for kicks, and get editorials in the paper for being a public disgrace one day and an asset to society the next."