SAT English Practice Question

The author of the novel "A Handful of Dust" describes a scene in which a character, Tony Last, is forced to make a difficult decision: "Last was a man who knew, to the marrow of his being, that he had done everything he could do to make the world a better place. He had given his heart and soul to the task. But now, the world seemed to be slipping away from him, and he was left with nothing but a handful of dust." What is the effect of the author's use of figurative language in this sentence?

1. A.The figurative language makes the sentence sound more dramatic and powerful.
2. B.The figurative language emphasizes the character’s feelings of hope and optimism.
3. C.The figurative language reveals the character’s lack of understanding of the world.
4. D.The figurative language is used to create a sense of humor and irony.