Long ago in a medieval village, a wealthy but bitter farmer named Chao employed an affable shepherd named Jiang, who truly enjoyed playing the lute. Jiang’s instrument was simple and plain, crafted from the wood of a native bamboo tree. Despite its modest appearance, the lute brought Jiang much joy. He created appealing music that lured the other villagers out to listen to him. Having an audience made Jiang feel accepted, and he quickly formed an important bond with the poor villagers.

2Chao, however, didn’t like Jiang. He hated Jiang’s lute playing and the way the villagers admired Jiang. Although Jiang was an excellent person and a hard worker, Chao fired Jiang from his job and smashed the lute into pieces.

3Miserable and brokenhearted, Jiang hung his head as he walked through the forest. Good fortune soon came to him, however, when he bumped into a compassionate old man who felt sorry for Jiang’s loss.

4The elderly man carved a new lute for Jiang and taught him to refine his playing technique. Soon, Jiang played better than ever before. Villagers and woodland creatures from all over came to hear him perform.

11As Chao entered the forest, flocks of birds and packs of creatures approached him. He trembled like a leaf in the wind.

12“Farmer, beware!” called Jiang. “If I strum my lute, the creatures will attack!”
As Chao entered the forest, flocks of birds and packs of creatures approached him. He trembled like a leaf in the wind.

In this sentence from the passage, the author uses a simile

A) to describe the trees in the forest.
B) to emphasize how frightened Chao was.
C) to show that the wind was blowing very hard.
Eliminate
D) to explain why the birds and animals were there.