Jacob opened the curtains in his new bedroom and gazed out the window. People walked by, but nobody that he recognized. All his old friends, the only real friends he'd had for the last four years, were now a million miles away.

Question

What might be the purpose of the hyperbole in this excerpt?
A. to emphasize Jacob's loneliness
B. to emphasize how much Jacob's friends had changed
C. to emphasize the size of Jacobs neighborhood
D. to emphasize Jacob's excitement

Answer 1

A. to emphasize Jacob's loneliness

The phrase "a million miles away" is an exaggeration that highlights Jacob's feelings of isolation and loneliness after moving away from his friends.