Which character is 16 and is considered the group's 'pet'?

Which character is 16 and is considered the group's 'pet'?

• A. Johnny
• B. Dally
• C. Sodapop
• D. Ponyboy

Answer: (A)

Johnny is the one described as the 16-year-old who is treated like the group’s pet. In The Outsiders, he’s the youngest and most vulnerable of the greasers—quiet, frightened, and scarred by abusive home life. That tenderness from the others—protective and caretaking rather than rough camaraderie—leads to him being nicknamed the group’s “pet.” The dynamic fits Johnny’s character who, despite trouble with the Socs, is cared for by the gang and seen as needing protection. Other characters don’t fit this description. One of the options is older than 16 and doesn’t carry the “pet” label, and another is younger than 16, so they don’t match the clue about age and the group’s treatment. Johnny’s combination of exact age and the described dynamic makes him the best answer.

Johnny is the one described as the 16-year-old who is treated like the group’s pet. In The Outsiders, he’s the youngest and most vulnerable of the greasers—quiet, frightened, and scarred by abusive home life. That tenderness from the others—protective and caretaking rather than rough camaraderie—leads to him being nicknamed the group’s “pet.” The dynamic fits Johnny’s character who, despite trouble with the Socs, is cared for by the gang and seen as needing protection.

Other characters don’t fit this description. One of the options is older than 16 and doesn’t carry the “pet” label, and another is younger than 16, so they don’t match the clue about age and the group’s treatment. Johnny’s combination of exact age and the described dynamic makes him the best answer.