The correct answer is A. simile. A simile is a figure of speech that compares two things using the words "like" or "as". In this case, the author compares Andrea to the ugly duckling in the fairy tale, a little bird that is different from its siblings and grows up to be a beautiful swan. The author uses the word "like" to make this comparison, which is a clue that it is a simile.

A metaphor is also a comparison, but without using "like" or "as". An onomatopoeia is a word that imitates a sound, such as "buzz" or "crash". A personification is a figure of speech that gives human qualities to something non-human, such as "the sun smiled" or "the wind whispered". None of these apply to the passage, so they are incorrect answer choices.

The correct answer is B. surrounded by pencils and papers. The passage tells us that Andrea was a very talented artist who loved to draw and design. In line 27, it says that he was "always perfectly happy if he could have a pencil and paper". In line 41, it says that he was "never tired of work" and that his "greatest joy on holidays was to go off and study the drawings of the great Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci". These details show that Andrea was most content when he could express his artistic skills and learn from the masters.

A. studying at school is incorrect because the passage says that Andrea only went to school until he was seven years old and that he learned to read and write before that. C. reading and writing is incorrect because the passage does not mention Andrea's interest in these activities, only his interest in drawing and coloring. D. among his family is incorrect because the passage says that Andrea was unlike his siblings and that he soon left his old home behind him. These details suggest that Andrea did not feel very close to his family or share their interests.

The correct answer is D. Lines 36-41 ("He"…"customers"). These lines show that Andrea was very skilled and passionate about his work with the goldsmith, and that his drawings and designs were so good that his master showed them to all his customers. This evidence supports the idea that Andrea was most content when surrounded by pencils and papers, as he could use them to create amazing art.

A. Lines 13-17 ("But" … "well") are incorrect because they do not mention Andrea's happiness or his artistic interests, only his father's reputation and his family's life. B. Lines 26-30 ("He"…"old") are incorrect because they do not show Andrea's contentment, only his difference from his siblings and his departure from his home. C. Lines 34-36 ("It"… "play") are incorrect because they do not show Andrea's joy or satisfaction, only his acceptance of his work as a goldsmith.

The correct answer is D. smart. In this context, "sharp" means having a quick and clever mind, or being able to learn and understand things easily. This fits with Andrea's character, as he was a very talented and intelligent boy who learned to read and write before he was seven years old and who mastered the skills of drawing and coloring.

A. harsh is incorrect because it means cruel, severe, or unpleasant, which does not describe Andrea or his personality. B. intense is incorrect because it means having a strong or extreme degree of something, such as emotion, concentration, or energy, which is not relevant to Andrea's abilities or achievements. C. distinct is incorrect because it means clearly different or separate from something else, which does not relate to Andrea's intelligence or talent.

The correct answer is B. Andrea's education was not important enough to have him continue. The passage tells us that Andrea was taken out of school when he was seven years old, after he had learned to read and write. In line 28, it says that "as that was considered quite enough education, his father then took him away from school and put him to work with a goldsmith". This implies that Andrea's father did not value his education beyond the basic skills of reading and writing, and that he wanted him to start working as soon as possible.

A. Andrea was not doing well in school is incorrect because the passage does not mention anything about Andrea's academic performance or difficulties. On the contrary, it says that he was a quick and sharp boy who learned to read and write before he was seven years old, which suggests that he was doing well in school. C. It was uncommon for children of goldsmiths to receive higher education is incorrect because the passage does not mention anything about the common practices or expectations of goldsmiths or their children. Moreover, Andrea's father was not a goldsmith, but a tailor, so this answer choice is irrelevant. D. Andrea's father did not support his education is incorrect because the passage does not show any evidence of his father's opposition or hostility to his education. Rather, it shows that his father did not think that his education was necessary or important beyond a certain point.

The correct answer is A. Cosimo was hesitant and did not entirely believe Barile's praise. The passage tells us that Barile, Andrea's old master, went to Cosimo, a great Florentine artist, and asked him to receive Andrea as his pupil. In line 48, it says that Barile praised Andrea's talent and knowledge of color, but Cosimo shook his head in unbelief. In line 49, it says that Cosimo thought that the praise was absurd, as Andrea was but a child. These details show that Cosimo was doubtful and skeptical about taking Andrea as his pupil, and that he did not trust Barile's words.

B. Cosimo was fond of Andrea and was awed by his skills is incorrect because this describes how Cosimo felt about Andrea later on, after he had seen him work. In line 51, it says that "little by little, as Cosimo watched the boy at work, his unbelief vanished and his wonder grew". This shows that Cosimo's initial feelings changed over time, but they were not his first impressions. C. Cosimo was proud of Andrea's work is incorrect because this also describes how Cosimo felt about Andrea later on, not at the beginning. In line 52, it says that he was "as fond and proud of his pupil as the old master had been". This shows that Cosimo's pride developed after he had witnessed Andrea's work, but it was not his original attitude. D. Cosimo was entirely against Andrea becoming his pupil is incorrect because this is too extreme and not supported by the passage. The passage does not say that Cosimo refused or rejected Andrea as his pupil, only that he did not believe the praise that Barile gave him. In fact, in line 50, it says that Cosimo agreed to receive Andrea as his pupil, despite his doubts. This shows that Cosimo was not completely opposed to the idea, but rather hesitant and uncertain.

The correct answer is A. Lines 65-66 ("The" … "absurd"). These lines show how Cosimo initially felt about taking young Andrea as a pupil. They say that Cosimo shook his head in unbelief and thought that the praise was absurd, as Andrea was but a child. These details show that Cosimo was hesitant and did not entirely believe Barile's praise, which is the answer to the previous question.

B. Lines 70-74 ("But"…"been") are incorrect because they show how Cosimo felt about Andrea later on, after he had seen him work. They say that his unbelief vanished and his wonder grew, and that he was as fond and proud of his pupil as the old master had been. These details do not support the answer to the previous question, but rather contradict it. C. Lines 74-77 ("He"… "patron") are incorrect because they also show how Cosimo felt about Andrea later on, not at the beginning. They say that he praised Andrea's experience with color and showed off his work to some new patron. These details do not support the answer to the previous question, but rather contradict it. D. Lines 78-80 ("And"… "effort") are incorrect because they do not show how Cosimo felt about Andrea at all, but rather how Andrea worked and learned. They say that Andrea handled his colors with ease and that he was never tired of work or learning. These details do not support the answer to the previous question, but rather are irrelevant to it.

The correct answer is B. Andrea was a quick learner and did not tire from drawing. The passage tells us that Andrea was a very talented and passionate artist who learned to draw and color with ease and joy. In line 27, it says that he was a quick and sharp boy who learned to read and write before he was seven years old. In line 41, it says that he was never tired of work and that his greatest joy on holidays was to study the drawings of the great Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. In line 80, it says that he was never tired of learning more and more. These details show that Andrea was special because he had a natural ability and a strong interest in drawing, and that he improved his skills by studying an d practicing constantly.

A. Andrea was respectful and listened to those who knew more than him is incorrect because the passage does not mention anything about Andrea's respectfulness or his listening skills. While these are good qualities to have, they are not what made Andrea special as a painter, according to the passage. C. Andrea was originally a goldsmith is incorrect because the passage does not say that Andrea was a goldsmith, only that he worked with one when he was seven years old. Moreover, this is not a special or unique feature of Andrea as a painter, as it does not relate to his artistic skills or achievements. D. Andrea was a timid child who loved to learn is incorrect because the passage does not say that Andrea was timid, only that he was different from his siblings and that he left his home behind him. Also, while loving to learn is a good trait, it is not enough to make Andrea special as a painter, as it does not show his talent or passion for drawing.

The correct answer is C. lazy. In this context, "idle" means not working or active, or avoiding work or effort. This fits with the contrast that the passage makes between Andrea and other people who might be idle or trust to chance. In line 80, it says that Andrea was not idle or trusted to chance, but rather worked hard and learned more and more. This shows that Andrea was the opposite of lazy, and that he was diligent and dedicated to his art.

A. meaningless is incorrect because it means having no purpose or significance, which does not describe Andrea or his work. B. trivial is incorrect because it means having little value or importance, which also does not describe Andrea or his work. D. unemployed is incorrect because it means not having a paid job, which is not relevant to Andrea's situation or abilities.

The correct answer is C. he had little tolerance for criticism. The passage does not mention anything about Andrea's reaction or attitude to criticism, whether positive or negative. This is something that the passage does not tell us about Andrea, so it is the correct answer.

A. he was different from the rest of the family is incorrect because the passage does mention this about Andrea. In line 22, it says that he was like the ugly duckling in the fairy tale, a little, strange bird, unlike all the rest. This shows that Andrea was different from his siblings and did not fit in with his family.

B. he was exceptional at mixing colors is incorrect because the passage does mention this about Andrea. In line 47, it says that Barile praised Andrea's knowledge of color, and in line 76, it says that Cosimo praised Andrea's experience with color. This shows that Andrea was very skilled and talented at mixing colors, and that his masters recognized this.

D. he studied off great works by Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci is incorrect because the passage does mention this about Andrea. In line 41, it says that his greatest joy on holidays was to go off and study the drawings of the great Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. This shows that Andrea admired and learned from the works of these famous artists, and that he spent his free time studying them.