Answer:
Step-by-step explanation:
The main conflict in Chapter 1 of The Outsiders is the conflict between the greasers and the Socs, two rival teenage groups from different socioeconomic backgrounds. This is an external conflict, as it is a clash between two groups rather than a conflict within a single character. The narrator, Ponyboy, provides direct textual evidence of this conflict by stating that "it's not just money [...] it's feeling like you're something that the other cats can't understand." This shows that the conflict is rooted in differences in social status and the struggle to be understood by others who come from a different background. This conflict will likely impact the story going forward by leading to more violent clashes between the two groups and increasing tension between the characters, as well as exploring themes related to social class and the difficulties of coming of age in a divided society.