The evidence and explanation that best show how the historical setting contributes to the effect of personification in the passage is:
“But there was no silence; all the time the motor omnibuses were turning their wheels and changing their gear; like a vast nest of Chinese boxes all of wrought steel turning ceaselessly one within another the city murmured;”
This shows how a bus of the time moved in the city. The personification of the city as "murmuring" reflects the industrialization and mechanical nature of the early 20th century, contributing to the atmosphere of a bustling, lively urban setting. The use of personification highlights the integration of technology into daily life, framing the city as a living entity interacting with its inhabitants. The comparison to "a vast nest of Chinese boxes" emphasizes the complexity and interconnectedness of urban life during that historical period, reinforcing how technology and nature coexist in this environment.