What evidence shows Holden probably doesn't look as old as he says he looks?

• A. He wears aged-looking clothes to appear older.
• B. He has a full beard and is older than he looks.
• C. He has a driver's license showing an older age.
• D. He thinks that he is mature and older looking, but he is not. He got carded, mocked by the girls at the bar, and tries proving he has grey hair. He is searching for confidence.

Answer: (D)

Holden’s way of presenting himself as older is contradicted by moments that show others don’t see him that way. When he ends up in a bar, he gets carded, which is a clear sign he doesn’t look old enough to drink. The fact that the girls he’s with mock him reinforces that his outward appearance and behavior don’t match the mature image he’s trying to project. His attempt to prove he has grey hair is another clue: it’s a hollow move meant to bolster his confidence, not a genuine sign of maturity. Taken together, these details show he’s still a teenager and isn’t actually as old as he claims to be, even though he pretends to be.