Why does Holden feel upset about the hormones article?

• A. He misunderstood the article and thought the hormones were dangerous.
• B. He realized he had the bad hormones that the article described.
• C. The article didn't discuss hormones at all.
• D. He had no opinion on the hormones article.

Answer: (B)

The situation tests Holden’s fear of growing up and his anxious feelings about sexuality. When he reads the article about hormones, he abruptly feels that it’s describing him—his own body and urges—so he concludes that he has the “bad hormones” the piece warns about. That realization unsettles him because it ties into his larger anxiety about losing innocence and becoming an adult who’s driven by confusing, powerful desires. He wants to stay detached and virtuous, not ruled by bodily changes, so recognizing himself in the article and labeling his feelings as “bad hormones” makes him upset. The other ideas don’t fit as well because the story shows the article does discuss hormones, and Holden’s trouble isn’t about misreading the article or having no opinion; it’s about seeing his own adolescence reflected back at him and feeling overwhelmed by it.