Answer:
<em>A hypothesis is a testable, scientific statement</em> based upon limited evidence as a starting point in order for further investigation.
I assume when you ask <em>during which steps is it important</em> you mean the steps of the scientific method. Although it is important throughout the entire process, the most important would probably making a prediction. You cannot make a (good) prediction without a hypothesis. And without a prediction, you cannot test anything at all. You can't form a conclusion of any sorts.
So I would say it is most important when trying to form a prediction based on your hypothesis.
Since we learn that the aunt has a soft heart, I will say that 'this is an example of indirect characterization', because we learn of her characteristics in an indirect way, that is, we are not directly told that she has a soft heart, we can infer that information from this passage.
You're never going to make it home if it starts raining.
First she want a dress because in her she need one for this type of affair where she would just wear it once to impress people. Basically she was just thinking about her self at this point because her husband was saving the money for a gun that he wanted but instead he got her the dress because in was more of a need.
