How does Holden describe Stradlater when he calls him a secret slob?

• A. He is meticulous and organized.
• B. He is a slob.
• C. He is a genius writer.
• D. He is a shy student.

Answer: (B)

Holden’s line about Stradlater being a “secret slob” centers on a contrast between outward appearance and hidden behavior. Stradlater comes across as polished, confident, and well-liked, but the term implies there’s a messy, sloppy side that isn’t visible at first glance. This moment shows Holden’s eye for the difference between how people present themselves and what they’re really like behind the surface, emphasizing a sense of phoniness or incongruity he often worries about in his peers. So the best reading is that Stradlater seems neat on the outside, but he’s sloppy in private habits or in the way he actually lives, which is why calling him a secret slob fits. The other descriptions don’t capture that hidden sloppiness Holden is signaling.