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. thomas blew his nose and shuffled toward the hallwayc. his coughs carried through the cafeteria like sad kids calling for comfort that wouldnt come.d. hed never felt so sick in his life.

Explanation:

Figurative language uses non-literal expressions to convey meaning. Option C uses a simile ("like sad kids calling for comfort that wouldn't come") to compare Thomas's coughs to the cries of distressed children, directly communicating his miserable, unrelieved sickness. Option A personifies the bell but focuses on his punishment for skipping, not his sickness misery. Options B and D are literal descriptions with no figurative language.

Answer:

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