The novel's portrayal of Tom MOST contrasts his confident demeanor with his

• A. physical strength
• B. political ambition
• C. limited intelligence
• D. moral integrity

Answer: (C)

Outward confidence masking limited intelligence is the key dynamic at work. The character projects certainty, authority, and control—his tone, posture, and domineering manner signal that he’s in command. Yet when his reasoning comes into play, it relies on broad generalizations, quick judgments, and a shallow grasp of motives, showing gaps in thought and planning. He underestimates others, overestimates his own leverage, and his schemes crumble once complexity enters. This contrast between a strong, assured front and a limited capacity to think through situations is what the text uses to expose his true limitations. The other aspects—like physical strength or outright moral failure—are present, but the most telling tension the author emphasizes is between his confident demeanor and his thinner intellectual toolkit.