I think this is the Rising action
I am sure it is A because you have the adjectives gritty, dark and indistinct imagery that could explain fear and uncertainty.
Facts can be verifiable as true or false, while opinions cannot.
Facts are things that can be verified. This means that they can be proven as true. Examples of facts: George Washington was the first President of the United States. Geese fly south in the winter. Dogs have four legs. An opinion cannot be verified as true or false. Examples of opinions: Chocolate ice cream is the best flavor. Summer weather is terrible. The Hunger Games is the most popular dystopian novel.
Miss Maudie means that Atticus doesn't put on an act in public to pretend to be someone else he is not. He acts the same in private and public. This shows that others in the town think of him as honest and unlikely to exaggerate.