I think the answer its D.
Guessing the words you are comparing are "plain" and "plains" the correct answer is C. Homophone; the two words are pronounced the same but have different meanings and sometimes different spellings. Because <em>plain</em> and <em>plains</em> are words that sound alike; but they have different meanings as in "<em>plain</em> cream cheese" the word plain means to be pure while the word <em>plains</em> in the part "crossing the plains in Kansas" is referring to the extensive area of Kansas country; lastly they have slightly different spellings as plain and plain<em>s</em>.
Option A. Homograph is wrong because the correct definition is two words are written the same, not pronounced the same.
Option B. Homophone is wrong because the correct definition is two words are pronounced the same, not written the same.
Option D. Homograph is wrong because in this case they are written the same as the <em>bear </em>(the verb to carry) and the <em>bear </em>(the animal). But for <em>plain</em> and <em>plains</em> they are not identical as one has a <em>S.</em>
Answer:
Slowly and carefully the little gray mouse licked the last bit of peanut butter off the trap; he darted behind the corner of the washing machine and disappeared.
Let me preface by saying “I am not sure” but my thoughts lead me towards the exposition.
Reasoning: exposition is meaning or purpose, this seems to be providing the fair woman with a foundation of her character’s meaning and role in the story.