In a letter to Jan Burres, what did McCandless think of the older man Charlie?

• A. Charlie is a lunatic and hard to get along with him
• B. Charlie is kind and generous
• C. Charlie is dangerous
• D. Charlie is boring

Answer: (A)

The main idea being tested is how McCandless saw Charlie in his letter to Jan Burres—he presents Charlie as unstable and hard to get along with, rather than as friendly or safe. In the letter, McCandless describes Charlie’s volatile mood and unpredictable behavior, which makes him difficult to tolerate or work with. That tone of wary, critical distance fits the idea that Charlie is a lunatic and hard to get along with, rather than portraying him as kind and generous, dangerous in a physical sense, or boring. So the choice that best matches this depiction is the one that emphasizes Charlie’s instability and interpersonal difficulty.