Read the excerpt from "Broken Chain." He went to the back yard, where he unlocked his bike, sat on it with the kickstand down, and pressed on his teeth. He punched himself in the stomach, and growled, "Cuts." Then he patted his butch and whispered, "Fresh." What does the characterization in this passage tell readers about Alfonso? He thinks he is more handsome than he actually is. He considers his bicycle to be an important part of his life. He often isolates himself from other people. He spends a lot of time thinking about the way he looks.

The best answer is D. He spends a lot of time thinking about the way he looks.

Explanation:

Alfonso is the main character in the short story "Broken Chain" by Gary Soto. He is a seventh grader who wishes to look "better than average". Alfonso is constantly concerned about his appearance. He works out trying to get "cuts" - six-pack abs -, he styles his hair like a rockstar's, he pushes his teeth with his knuckles trying to make them straight ... Appearance is something that clearly matters to him a lot. In the excerpt given in the question, right before going for a ride on his bike, he checks his look one last time. We can safely choose letter D then as the best option to answer the question: Alfonso spends a lot of time thinking about the way he looks.