Final answer:
A responsible student's late arrival will likely lead the professor to believe there are justified reasons for their tardiness, given the student's known maturity and responsibility.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a professor perceives a student as mature and responsible, and that student comes to class late, the professor would most likely think that there must be some extenuating circumstances that caused the late arrival. This perception is under the hypothesis that the professor has previously formed a positive opinion about the student's level of responsibility and maturity. The professor is likely to give the student the benefit of the doubt rather than immediately assume a negative change in the student's behavior.