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. earth’s 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 earth’s 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 passage’s meaning or tone? it illustrates that the earth’s crust is fragmented. it suggests that the earth’s crust is pale in color.

Explanation:

The simile compares Earth's crust to a broken eggshell. An eggshell broken into slabs implies fragmentation. There is no mention of color in the simile.

Answer:

It illustrates that the earth's crust is fragmented.