Question

thomas had his head down on the table as he waited for the bell that would send him to math class. hed never felt so sick in his life. his coughs carried through the cafeteria like sad kids calling for comfort that wouldnt come. he cradled a box of tissues in his arms like a newborn baby. he hadnt studied for the final exam and wasnt prepared for the biggest test of his life. thomas had played sick twice, and now he was actually sick and out of chances. the bell called out, laughing at him. thats what you get, it chuckled. he had made this miserable mess himself, and now he would muddle through it, moaning all the way. thomas blew his nose and shuffled toward the hallway. which excerpt from the passage uses figurative language to communicate the idea that thomas is miserable being sick? a. the bell called out, laughing at him. thats what you get, it chuckled. b. hed never felt so sick in his life. c. thomas blew his nose and shuffled toward the hallway. d. his coughs carried through the cafeteria like sad kids calling for comfort that wouldnt come.

Explanation:

This excerpt uses a simile (a type of figurative language) comparing Thomas's coughs to sad, unconsoled kids, which communicates his physical and emotional misery from being sick. The other options either use literal description (B, C) or personification focused on the bell mocking him, not his sickness-related misery (A).

Answer:

D. His coughs carried through the cafeteria like sad kids calling for comfort that wouldn't come.