Review the passage. The hyperbole is shown in bold. At that time Bogota was a remote, lugubrious city where an insomniac rain had been falling since the beginning of the sixteenth century. I noticed that on the street there were too many hurrying men, dressed like me when I arrived, in black wool and bowler hats. On the other hand, not a single consolatory woman could be seen, for they, like priests in cassocks and soldiers in uniform, were not permitted to enter the gloomy cafés in the business district. From Gabriel Garcia Márquez, Living to Tell the Tale What is the effect of the hyperbole on the passage's meaning or tone? It indicates that the narrator has lived in Bogotá for a long time. It implies that it rains too much in Bogotá. It suggests that the narrator has trouble sleeping. In

The hyperbole in the passage is found in the phrase "**an insomniac rain had been falling since the beginning of the sixteenth century**." Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally, used to emphasize a point or create a strong impression. **Effect of the Hyperbole:** - **It implies that it rains too much in Bogotá.** The exaggeration of rain continuously falling "since the beginning of the sixteenth century" serves to emphasize the persistent and overwhelming nature of the rain in Bogotá. This hyperbolic statement enhances the lugubrious (mournful or gloomy) tone of the city, highlighting the narrator's perception of Bogotá as a place overshadowed by endless rain. **Why the Other Options Are Less Suitable:** - **It indicates that the narrator has lived in Bogotá for a long time.** While the exaggerated duration of the rain might indirectly suggest familiarity with the city, the primary focus of the hyperbole is on the intensity and persistence of the rain itself, not the narrator's length of residence. - **It suggests that the narrator has trouble sleeping.** The term "insomniac rain" metaphorically connects the rain to sleeplessness, but the main effect is to highlight the relentless nature of the weather rather than the narrator's personal sleep issues. - **The fourth option appears incomplete and thus cannot be evaluated effectively.** **Conclusion:** The hyperbole primarily serves to underscore the incessant and oppressive rainfall in Bogotá, contributing to the overall gloomy and remote atmosphere described by the narrator. **Correct Answer:** **It implies that it rains too much in Bogotá.**