What strange feeling does Holden experience when he steps off the curbs?

• A. He feels lighter than air.
• B. He will disappear into the curb.
• C. He is overwhelmed by the crowd.
• D. He won't make it to the other side and will disappear.

Answer: (D)

This question taps into Holden’s momentary sense of derealization and his urge to disappear as a way to escape the uncomfortable world around him. When he steps off the curb, a strange thought grips him that he might not reach the other side and could simply vanish. That fleeting fear—being so disconnected from himself and the surroundings that disappearance feels possible—reveals his deep alienation and his weariness with adult phoniness.

So this option is the best fit because it captures Holden’s inner impulse to vanish, which is what the scene emphasizes: a paranoid, searching loneliness rather than a simple feeling of lightness or crowd anxiety. The other ideas don’t align with the moment as vividly; it isn’t about floating or being overwhelmed by people, but about a fragile sense that he could disappear.