Question

The ugly words settled in Mr. Shiftlet’s head like a group of buzzards in the top of a tree.

The simile in this excerpt compares
Mr. Shiftlet to a group of buzzards.
the ugly words to the top of the tree.
a group of buzzards to the top of a tree.
the ugly words to a group of buzzards.

Answer 1

the ugly words to a group of buzzards.

Explanation: The simile ("...like a group of buzzards...") uses "like" to compare "the ugly words" to "a group of buzzards in the top of a tree."