Question

the golden hope
by robert h. fuller (adapted excerpt)
chares, too, belonged to a family of wealth and influence, for his father, jason, had been one of the foremost men in thebes. in height he stood more than six feet, and the knotted muscles of his arms indicated enormous strength. he was buoyant, light - hearted, irresponsible, and pleasure - loving. his affection for the athenians, whom he had known from boyhood, was the strongest impulse in him.
they chares and clearchus had first met leonidas at the olympic games, where he won the laurel crown in the chariot race, and they had there admitted him to their friendship. different as they were from each other, there seemed little in common between either of them and the swarthy lacedaemonians who lay eating silently while they chattered group of mutual acquaintances. leonidas was rather below the middle stature, all bone and sinew, practiced in arms, and inured to hardships from his childhood by the unbending discipline of sparta. his dark hair grew low down on his forehead and his black eyes were set deep under overhanging brows. he neither shared nor wished to understand the delight which clearchus felt in a perfect statue or a masterpiece of painting. he scorned the philosophers and poets. upon the questionable pleasures to which chares gave his days and nights, he looked with good - natured contempt. the narrow prejudices of his country were ingrained too deeply in his character to be disturbed by any change of surroundings.
in each of the three young men who met in the house of clearchus were typified many of the characteristics of the states to which they belonged. athens, thebes, and sparta in turn had held the supremacy in the little peninsula to which the civilized world was confined but constrained as they were, there was still a bond between them that had been welded by centuries of association.
select the correct answer.
how does the author develop the characters in this excerpt?
a. by comparing and contrasting their interests and values
b. by excluding details that describe the characters families
c. by comparing and contrasting only their physical appearance
d. by including dialogue between the characters

Explanation:

The excerpt details Chares's wealthy family, physical traits, and personality; Leonidas's Spartan upbringing, appearance, and values; and links each to their city-states (Thebes, Sparta, Athens). It contrasts their backgrounds, values, and lifestyles to build their characters. Option B is incorrect as family details are included. Option C is wrong because more than just physical appearance is compared. Option D is incorrect as no dialogue is present.

Answer:

A. by comparing and contrasting their elements and values