Answer:
D. The author's use of the phrase "there was nothing Jem or I could say about him" shows that Scout feels distant and alienated from her father Atticus.
Step-by-step explanation:
Option D is the correct answer that can be inferred by a reader about Scout and Atticus's relationship from the author's use of language in this excerpt.
This is true because from the beginning of the excerpt, they have asked to know why Atticus was so old. This depicts that even Scout does not have a full knowledge about her father. This actually means that she is somewhat distant from him.
As a result of not knowing much about her father, there was nothing they could say about him. This reveals that Scout feels distant and alienated from her father.