Question

soda is different from anybody; he understands everything, almost. like hes never hollering at me all the time the way darry is, or treating me as if i was six instead of fourteen. ... hes always happy-go-lucky and grinning, while darrys hard and firm and rarely grins at all. but then, darrys gone through a lot in his twenty years, grown up too fast. sodapopll never grow up at all. i dont know which ways the best. ill find out one of these days.

-the outsiders,
s.e. hinton

based on this passage, what is the theme of the story?

it is good to seek help from older people, because they know best.
people often struggle to fit in; they question the right way to live their lives.
it is better to laugh often than to be serious all the time.

Explanation:

Analyze the character contrasts and narrator's conflict

The narrator contrasts two brothers: Sodapop, who is "happy-go-lucky and grinning" and will "never grow up at all," and Darry, who is "hard and firm and rarely grins," having "grown up too fast" after going through a lot.

Evaluate the narrator's internal dilemma

The narrator concludes with an internal conflict: "I don't know which way's the best. I'll find out one of these days." This shows the narrator is questioning the right way to live and struggle with finding their own path between these two contrasting lifestyles.

Match with the correct theme option

The option "People often struggle to fit in; they question the right way to live their lives" directly reflects the narrator's central conflict of trying to figure out "which way's the best" to live.

Answer:

• It is good to seek help from older people, because they know best.
• People often struggle to fit in; they question the right way to live their lives. (Correct answer)
• It is better to laugh often than to be serious all the time.