Which statement best describes the simile used to describe the mesa?

Which statement best describes the simile used to describe the mesa?

• A. The mesa was described as a river of red dust.
• B. The mesa was like a ship.
• C. The mesa rose like a fortress in the sun.
• D. The mesa appeared as a sleeping beast.

Answer: (B)

A simile is a direct comparison using like or as to paint a vivid image by linking two unlike things. Here, the mesa is described as being like a ship, which uses the word like to draw a clear, explicit analogy between the stationary landform and a vessel. This choice of image conveys movement, purpose, and a sense of navigating a vast landscape, giving the reader a feel for the mesa’s presence against the horizon. The phrase like a ship best captures that specific figurative technique—the comparison is explicit and uses like to illuminate the mesa’s impression. Other images (such as a river of red dust or a sleeping beast) use different figures of speech or describe the scene in ways that don’t reflect the exact simile used for the mesa. The fortress image, while vivid, represents a different simile if it appears, and the questionfocus is the exact ship comparison.

A simile is a direct comparison using like or as to paint a vivid image by linking two unlike things. Here, the mesa is described as being like a ship, which uses the word like to draw a clear, explicit analogy between the stationary landform and a vessel. This choice of image conveys movement, purpose, and a sense of navigating a vast landscape, giving the reader a feel for the mesa’s presence against the horizon.

The phrase like a ship best captures that specific figurative technique—the comparison is explicit and uses like to illuminate the mesa’s impression. Other images (such as a river of red dust or a sleeping beast) use different figures of speech or describe the scene in ways that don’t reflect the exact simile used for the mesa. The fortress image, while vivid, represents a different simile if it appears, and the questionfocus is the exact ship comparison.