Out Of The Dust Pages 184-199

Explanation
Marley Madden found the baby on the church steps while sweeping.

Explanation
The given statement "We stood as much chance of getting the baby as the wheat stood of growing" is a simile. This is because it uses the word "as" to compare two different things, indicating a similarity between them. In this case, it compares the chance of getting the baby to the chance of the wheat growing, suggesting that both are highly unlikely or impossible.

Explanation
Billie Jo lives in Cimarron county.

Explanation
The phrase "you hum along supporting me" is an example of onomatopoeia because it uses words that imitate the sound they represent. In this case, the word "hum" imitates the sound of humming, creating a vivid auditory image.

Explanation
Billie Jo is bitter because of multiple reasons. Firstly, the dust refers to the Dust Bowl era during the Great Depression, where severe dust storms destroyed crops and caused immense hardship for farmers like Billie Jo and her family. This environmental disaster leads to a sense of hopelessness and bitterness. Secondly, the death of her mother is a devastating loss that leaves Billie Jo feeling abandoned and resentful. Lastly, her father, who is unable to cope with his own grief, becomes distant and neglectful, further contributing to Billie Jo's bitterness. All of these factors combined contribute to her overall bitterness.

Explanation
The given sentence "When the wind is quiet and the surface glazes gazing unblinking at the blue sky." personifies the surface by attributing human-like qualities to it. The surface is described as "gazing unblinking" at the blue sky, which is a human characteristic. This personification helps create a vivid image in the reader's mind, emphasizing the stillness and calmness of the scene.

Explanation
Polly had been hiding the dimes in Franklin's nighties.

Explanation
Billie Jo uses a train as a form of transportation to get out of town.

Explanation
When Billie Jo leaves and runs out of money and food, she becomes destitute. This means that she is extremely poor and lacking basic necessities. Being destitute implies a state of extreme poverty and deprivation, indicating that Billie Jo is struggling to meet her basic needs for survival.

Explanation
Billie Jo thinks about heading east to see Mr. Roosevelt, which refers to the President. This suggests that she is considering traveling to meet the President of the United States.