What can an author do to force the reader to read more slowly and to cause the story's action to slow down as well? a. use symbolism and strong imagery b. withhold information from the reader c. use long and complex sentences d. use similes and metaphors

The answer is indeed letter C) Use long and complex sentences.

Explanation:

Short and simple sentences provide information in a more straightforward manner. It takes the reader no time to finish reading them and move on to the next ones, with the necessary information in mind. Longer and complex sentences will probably offer more details, demanding more attention and concentration to be read. Even if they are basically offering the same information as a short sentence, they do so in an indirect manner, slowing down the pace of reading.

Let's compare:

- The dog felt threatened. It started barking at the strange man.

- Upon seeing such a strange figure approach the gate, the dog sensed the possible threat and barked furiously to scare the man away.

In the first example, we have two short and simple sentences stating the facts. In the second one, we narrate the same events but with longer sentences, having dependent and independent clauses. Reading the second example takes longer and demands a slower pace to fully grasp what is being described.

fond of fighting is the answer