Final answer:
The pardoner is portrayed with positive attributes such as honesty, trustworthiness, virtue, and compassion, which makes 'a. Honest and trustworthy' the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passage describing the pardoner characterizes him using positive traits such as being 'honest', 'trustworthy', 'virtuous', and 'compassionate'.
It mentions that he is 'hardy, rich, and wise,' as well as 'merciful and just in all men's eyes.' This indicates that the pardoner is seen as upstanding and moral.
Therefore, the correct answer to how the pardoner is characterized in this passage is not deceptive and greedy, but rather option a. Honest and trustworthy, as all the descriptions provided in the passage point towards a person who is upright and reliable.