Use the paragraph to answer the question.

Kade and Lula took slow, careful steps. All around them, the moonlight kissed the red ivy. The ivy stretched out, strangling the garden bench, the fountain, and the gate—taunting them with its omnipresence. How could they possibly get around without touching it? A few droplets of chilly rain splattered down. Each icy drop seemed to say, “Hurry, hurry. You don’t have long.”

In 3–5 sentences, explain how the author used figurative language to create a specific effect. Make sure to explain what kind of figurative language the author used and the effect it had. Provide samples from the text to support your answer.

The author used personification to create a specific effect in the passage. Personification is a figure of speech in which inanimate objects or abstract ideas are given human qualities. In this case, the moonlight is described as "kissing" the red ivy and the ivy is described as "taunting" Kade and Lula. These personifications create a sense of intimacy between the characters and their surroundings, as if the moonlight and ivy are sentient beings actively engaging with them. This adds an element of tension and suspense to the scene, as the characters must navigate their way through the threatening ivy.