Imagine that an author portrays a character as a likable person. however, the author is holding back negative information about the character's personality, actions, and relationships. how might that strategy create surprise?

When the author holds back the characters negative information, they can create a scene far off from the characters introduction, and surprise the reader with an action out of the norm for said character. That is why this strategy works.

b. failure at least that one seems the most negative out of all of the answers provided pls correct me if i'm wrong. : ))