Why didn't Azaz tell Milo his mission was impossible?

• A. Because Milo didn't want to face failure.
• B. Because Milo could have accomplished it if he didn't know it was impossible.
• C. Because the mission was a test.
• D. Because he forgot to tell him.

Answer: (B)

Belief about what can be done drives effort. When a task is labeled impossible, people often shut down or stop trying; when its fate isn’t sealed in advance, they stay curious, experiment, and look for a way forward. Azaz withholds the statement that the mission is impossible to keep Milo from giving up and to encourage him to try, explore options, and seek help. By not framing it as doomed, Milo remains motivated to search for creative solutions and keep pushing through obstacles, which is how he ultimately makes progress in the story. While you could argue the mission might be a test or that Milo fears failure, those ideas don’t capture why withholding that declaration matters—the key is preserving the possibility to try. Forgetting to say it would be a lapse, not a deliberate choice to foster perseverance.