There Will Come Soft Rains

The correct answer is "the house". In a story, the protagonist is typically the main character or the central figure that the narrative revolves around. In this case, it is implied that the story focuses on the house, suggesting that it plays a significant role and drives the plot forward. The other options, such as "the bomb", "the dog", and "the family", do not align with the concept of a protagonist in a story.

The phrase "The house shuddered, its bare skeleton cringing from the heat" personifies the house by giving it human-like qualities of shuddering and cringing. This figure of speech helps to create a vivid image in the reader's mind and adds emotion to the description of the house.

The poem suggests that despite the destruction of the house and the disappearance of mankind, nature will continue to thrive and endure. This implies that nature is resilient and will persist even in the face of human activities or catastrophes. The poem may be highlighting the transient nature of human existence and the enduring power of the natural world.

Ray Bradbury did not write "Of Mice and Men." This novel was actually written by John Steinbeck. However, Bradbury did write the other three options mentioned: "The Martian Chronicles," "Fahrenheit 451," and "Dandelion Wine."

The given sentence compares the house to an altar where the ritual of religion continues senselessly. This comparison is made using the word "like" or "as," indicating that it is a simile. A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using "like" or "as" to highlight a similarity between them. In this case, the similarity being emphasized is the senseless continuation of religious rituals.