Final answer:
The single most important determinant of a protostar's characteristics is its mass.
Step-by-step explanation:
The single most important determinant of the temperature, density, radius, luminosity, and pace of evolution of a protostar is its mass. The mass of a star determines where it falls on the main sequence of an H-R diagram and directly affects its temperature and luminosity. Massive stars have high temperatures and high luminosities, while low-mass stars have low temperatures and low luminosities.