Question

review the passage. the simile is shown in bold.

as i was waiting, a man came out of a side room, and at a glance i was sure he must be long john. he was very tall and strong, with a face as big as a ham—plain and pale, but intelligent and smiling. indeed, he seemed in the most cheerful spirits, whistling as he moved about among the tables, with a merry word or a slap on the shoulder for the more favored of his guests.

from robert louis stevenson, treasure island

what is the effect of the simile on the passage’s meaning or tone?

it indicates long johns friendly personality.

it highlights long johns impressive physical stature.

Explanation:

The simile "a face as big as a ham" describes Long John's face size. The second option says it highlights his impressive physical stature, which aligns with describing his face (a physical feature) as big. The first option about friendly personality is supported by his smiling/cheerful actions later, not the simile. So the correct one is the second option.

Answer:

It highlights Long John's impressive physical stature.