When Fern saw the man sitting on the steps in San Francisco holding a cup, she thought he was a homeless person.

In this text passage, it's mentioned that Fern saw a man sitting on the steps in San Francisco holding a cup.

Fern immediately thought that the man was a homeless person, possibly due to his posture or appearance, or because of the cup he was holding. Stereotypes and preconceptions about homeless people might have also played a role in Fern's conclusion.

There could be several reasons why Fern might have concluded that the man was homeless: 1. The man's appearance: He might have appeared unclean, disheveled, or was wearing worn-out clothing, which are commonly associated with homelessness. 2. Holding the cup: The man could have been using the cup to ask for money from passing people, which is an activity often associated with being homeless. 3. Location: The man was sitting on the steps, which could indicate that he didn't have a home or place to go and was therefore resting or staying in a public space. 4. Stereotypes: Fern might have some preconceived notions or stereotypes about homelessness, which led her to draw that conclusion based on the man's appearance and situation. Note that these are just possible reasons for Fern's conclusion, and it's important not to make quick judgments based on appearances alone.