Figurative language is a simile or metaphor -- neither is used here. An allusion is a reference to a well-known person, place, or thing; an allusion is not used here. Parallelism is using similar grammatical structures and does not appear here.
Imagery is a description that appeals to any of the five senses, but especially the visual sense. In this passage, Baldwin is clearly describing the slap (which we can see and hear in our mind) of the child, the pain which reverberates through heaven -- we can visualize this pain reaching out into heaven and embedding itself in the universe.
Due to the visual power of these words, the correct answer is C.
"The best mirror is an old friend." Meaning: An old friend will give you a better picture of yourself than a looking glass. Old friends will be truthful, honest, and tell it like it is. "It takes a long time to grow an old friend.
I would say D. because all of the others are basically answering the entirety of the speech. If you would discuss ways to increase the literacy rates in the U.S. you would need to go over it last after you explain why the U.S. is so illiterate.
