Read the excerpt from The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street.

STEVE

(raising his voice)

There's something you can do, Charlie. You could go home and keep your mouth shut. You could quit strutting around like a self-appointed hanging judge and just climb into bed and forget it.

CHARLIE

You sound real anxious to have that happen, Steve. I think we better keep our eye on you too!

DON

(as if he were taking the bit in his teeth, takes a hesitant step to the front)

I think everything might as well come out now.

(he turns toward Steve.)

Your wife's done plenty of talking, Steve, about how odd you are!

CHARLIE

(picking this up, his eyes widening)

Go ahead, tell us what she's said.

QUESTION

The writer of this excerpt uses:

a) direct characterization to show that the neighbors are turning on one other.
b) direct characterization to show that the neighbors still trust one other.
c) indirect characterization to show that the neighbors are turning on one other.
d) indirect characterization to show that the neighbors still trust one other.