Which companion joins the pursuit alongside Cogburn and Mattie?

• A. Ned Pepper
• B. LaBoeuf
• C. Tom Chaney
• D. Mattie Ross

Answer: (D)

The main idea being tested is how the pursuit in True Grit unfolds through the partnership of the characters. Mattie Ross is the companion who actively joins and stays with Cogburn on the chase, bringing determination, practical help, and a steadfast focus on avenging her father. Ned Pepper and Tom Chaney are the outlaw gang leader and the man they’re pursuing, respectively, not companions who join the pursuit. LaBoeuf does enter the story as another ally who joins the expedition, but the option that fits the idea of a companion who rides alongside Cogburn and Mattie—as a continuing partner in the pursuit—is Mattie Ross herself. Her presence embodies the moral drive and grit that powers the pursuit forward.