Read the following passage excerpt and answer the question below:
In his quiet study overlooking the courtyard, retired archivist Thomas Sterling cataloged ancient manuscripts with a meticulous habit that earned him the quiet respect of his colleagues. Unlike his peers, who often rushed through inventories to meet publication deadlines, Sterling examined every vellum leaf with painstaking care, documenting minute variations in ink composition and binding stitches. Visitors to the archive frequently noted his solitary routine and complete indifference to academic accolades, observing that he worked solely out of an intense devotion to textual preservation. Even when offered prestigious appointments at larger university libraries, Sterling steadfastly refused to leave his small collection, demonstrating an unwavering contentment with his modest surroundings.
Based on the passage, Thomas Sterling is directly described as possessing which of the following traits regarding public recognition and professional status?
- A total indifference to academic accolades and awardsAnswer
- BA hasty urgency to complete manuscript inventories ahead of deadlines
- CAn eager ambition to secure prestigious appointments at university libraries
- DA vocal resentment toward colleagues who criticized his solitary routine