Holden's tendency to adopt different personas suggests what about his identity?

• A. He tries on different personalities to see what fits.
• B. He is committed to being himself at all times.
• C. He suppresses any attempt to adopt others' identities.
• D. He avoids any social performance.

Answer: (D)

Identity can be fluid, and Holden’s habit of slipping into different voices shows he uses social personas as tools to cope and learn who he might become. By trying on various identities, he’s testing what feels real or acceptable in different situations, rather than sticking to a single, fixed self. This reflects his insecurity about growing up and his need to shield himself from vulnerability by presenting a mask that fits the moment. So the idea that makes the most sense is that he experiments with different personalities to see what fits. The other ideas don’t match his behavior: he doesn’t stay committed to a single self, he doesn’t push away the process of adopting others’ identities (he actually leans into it), and he isn’t avoiding social performance—he’s constantly performing, often to protect himself or navigate interactions.