Question

the hiker could see the mountain ridge ahead as he traversed the treacherous hillside. against the backdrop of gathering white clouds, it looked like a razor cutting into the pale sky. as he walked out onto the ridgeline, he was rendered breathless by the majesty of the view. however, the sheer cliffs on either side of the narrow pathway demanded his attention. he decided to focus exclusively on his footing to avoid the danger of a misstep. the splendor of the view could wait until he finished this perilous last stretch. what effect does the underlined wording have on the meaning of the paragraph? 1 it illustrates the need to make haste because bad weather is coming. 2 it explains the man’s fear of being cut on sharp rocks along the path. 3 it heightens the drama by suggesting that the ridgeline is dangerous.

Explanation:

The underlined phrase "like a razor cutting into" is a simile describing the ridgeline. Option 3 says it heightens drama by suggesting danger, which matches the imagery of a razor (implying sharp, dangerous) for the ridgeline. Option 1 is about haste/weather (not related to the underlined wording). Option 2 is about fear of being cut (the phrase describes the ridgeline, not the man’s fear of being cut). So the correct answer is the option that connects the razor imagery to the ridgeline’s danger.

Answer:

1. It heightens the drama by suggesting that the ridgeline is dangerous.