Question

read this excerpt from the outsiders.

\im okay. quit shaking me, darry, im okay.\

he stopped instantly. \im sorry.\

he wasnt really. darry isnt ever sorry for anything he does. it seems funny to me that he should look just exactly like my father and act exactly the opposite from him. my father was only forty when he died and he looked twenty-five and a lot of people thought darry and dad were brothers instead of father and son. but they only looked alike-my father was never rough with anyone without meaning to be.

a universal theme found in this excerpt is that

• big brothers are never sorry.
• fathers can act like brothers.
• family relationships are complicated.
• fathers are never rough with anyone.

Explanation:

Analyze the excerpt's depiction of family dynamics

The narrator describes a tense interaction with his older brother, Darry, who is acting as a guardian after their father's death. The narrator notes that Darry looks exactly like their father but acts completely opposite to him, highlighting the friction, misunderstandings, and underlying tension in their relationship.

Evaluate the universal theme

A universal theme must be a broad statement about life or human nature that is supported by the text. The passage explores the complex dynamics between brothers who must navigate new roles after losing their parents, showing that family relationships are complicated.

Eliminate incorrect options

• "big brothers are never sorry": Disproven by the text, as Darry says "I'm sorry" immediately after being asked to stop shaking the narrator.
• "fathers can act like brothers": The text states they only looked alike, but acted differently.
• "fathers are never rough with anyone": This is too absolute and is a specific detail about the narrator's father rather than a universal theme.

Answer:

• big brothers are never sorry.
• fathers can act like brothers.
• family relationships are complicated. (Correct answer)
• fathers are never rough with anyone.