If a passage suggests that a character's actions were driven by fear, what can you infer about the character's motivation?

• A. Fear influenced their decisions
• B. They acted out of courage
• C. They were indecisive
• D. They sought approval

Answer: (A)

When a passage ties a character’s actions to fear, the motivation you can infer is that fear is shaping and guiding their decisions. That means the choices they make are influenced by a desire to avoid harm, danger, or negative outcomes rather than by bravery, a need to please others, or a lack of decisiveness. Saying fear drives their actions directly links the feeling to the behavior, which is precisely what the question asks you to infer.

The other possibilities don’t fit as well because they describe different motives: courage would imply bold or heroic acts, which contradicts being driven by fear; indecisiveness describes a pattern of wavering rather than a motivating force; seeking approval points to wanting others’ acceptance rather than being propelled by fear.