In the camp, Tom asks the 'mayor' if the Joad family can set up their tent nearby. What kind of response does he get from the 'mayor'?

In the camp, Tom asks the 'mayor' if the Joad family can set up their tent nearby. What kind of response does he get from the 'mayor'?

• A. Suspicion
• B. Friendliness
• C. Gratefulness
• D. Physical violence

Answer: (A)

The moment hinges on how a community’s leaders treat newcomers and protect its space. When Tom asks to pitch a tent near the camp, the mayor responds with guarded caution rather than immediate warmth. He treats the request with questions and rules, signaling that outsiders must earn trust and show they won’t upset the camp’s order. This careful, wary stance reflects the camp’s need to guard resources, discipline, and safety, so the response comes across as suspicious rather than friendly, grateful, or violent.

The moment hinges on how a community’s leaders treat newcomers and protect its space. When Tom asks to pitch a tent near the camp, the mayor responds with guarded caution rather than immediate warmth. He treats the request with questions and rules, signaling that outsiders must earn trust and show they won’t upset the camp’s order. This careful, wary stance reflects the camp’s need to guard resources, discipline, and safety, so the response comes across as suspicious rather than friendly, grateful, or violent.