Read this excerpt from "A Fable."
Once upon a time an artist who had painted a small and very beautiful picture placed it so that he could see it in the mirror. He said, "This doubles the distance and softens it, and it is twice as lovely as it was before."
The animals out in the woods heard of this through the housecat, who was greatly admired by them because he was so learned, and so refined and civilized, and so polite and high-bred, and could tell them so much which they didn't know before, and were not certain about afterward.
How does the plot influence characterization in this excerpt?
A. The exposition introduces the cat as a wise animal.
B. The exposition suggests that the cat is dishonest.
C. The rising action reveals that the cat cares for the other animals.
D. The rising action proves that the cat is a leader of the other animals.