Question

review the passage. the simile is shown in bold.
if you could slice deep into the earth, you would find that it is arranged in layers.
geologists—earth scientists—believe that the topmost layer of rock, or crust, is between
four and forty miles thick. earths crust is like an eggshell broken into ten
enormous slabs and numerous smaller ones. these slabs, called plates, float on a
layer of partially molten rock called the mantle—that is, the layer of rock between earths
crust and core.
from albert marrin, black gold: the story of oil in our lives. copyright 2012 by albert marrin
what is the effect of the simile on the passages meaning or tone?
it highlights how fragile the earth is.
it illustrates that the earths crust is fragmented.
it suggests that the earths crust is pale in color.

Explanation:

A simile compares two different things using "like" or "as". Here, the Earth's crust is compared to an eggshell. An eggshell is broken into parts (the shell pieces). The passage also mentions the Earth's crust is "broken into ten enormous slabs and numerous smaller ones". So the simile shows the fragmented nature of the Earth's crust. The first option about fragility is incorrect as the focus is on fragmentation (like an eggshell broken into parts) not just being fragile. The third option about color is not related to the simile.

Answer:

It illustrates that the earth's crust is fragmented.