Read the passage. Mr. Clark put out his hand.
"I am glad you told me this, Thornton," he said quietly, "and I believe you. See, here is a sheet of paper; it is scrawled over with letters and
figures of every sort. Turn it over.
Wonderingly the man obeyed. Nothing was written on the other side. It was a blank page.
"You see there is nothing on that side," went on Donald's father. "We can there write what we will. Turn your own page the same way. [...]
Will you take the position as manager of Crescent Ranch?
Thornton was aghast.
(from The Story of Wool by Sara Ware Bassett)
Based on the passage, how does the reader know that Thornton has a troubled past?
O 1. The author directly states that Thornton has done bad things in his life.
2. Another character tells about Thornton's past mistakes and problems.
0 3
Thornton himself talks about the shameful things that he has done.
4. The symbolic act of turning a blank page alludes to Thornton's past.