Odysseus told Penelope that because when Telemachus was able to grow facial hair it meant that he was becoming a man and that many years had passed, meaning he probably was dead. As for the disguise part, I suppose it was because beards cover a large portion of the face and make you look tougher, more masculine, and gruff.<span />
The background of the missionaries in these chapters is not explicitly explained. Instead, it can be inferred based on parallel plot. A parallel plot is a one more story line that seem to have nothing in common with the lead story line, but it is usually contains additional information or background of an event or a character which makes a story be more deep.
From the excerpt given above, 'fits in' as used in this passage means to feel comfortable and acceptable in a place, thus the correct option is A. An idiom is a group of words that is not taken literally, that is, their meaning can not be deduced from those of individual word. 'Fit in' as an idiom means to be comfortable with something or someone, to be in harmony with that thing.
