In a narrative excerpt, what can you infer about a character's motive from their actions and dialogue?

• A. The motive is always stated explicitly in a single line.
• B. The motive is the underlying reason for their actions, inferred from cues like goals, desires, stated statements, and consequences of their choices.
• C. The motive is determined by the setting.
• D. The motive is unrelated to consequences.

Answer: (B)

Motives are the underlying reasons behind a character's actions, and you infer them from cues in what they say and do. Pay attention to their goals and desires, the statements they make, and how the consequences of their choices turn out. When a character’s actions align with a stated aim or a consistent pattern driven by a desire, the motive becomes clearer. The motive isn’t always spelled out in one line; it’s revealed through a combination of what they want, what they say about it, and what happens because of their decisions. Setting can influence actions, but it doesn’t by itself determine the motive, and motives are connected to consequences because outcomes often illuminate why the character acted this way. So the best answer is that the motive is the underlying reason for their actions, inferred from goals, desires, stated statements, and the consequences of their choices.