This question is incomplete. Here is the complete question:
What is the connotative meaning of fault lines in this excerpt?
"Once these disparate parts were held together by a common enemy, by the fault lines of world wars and the electrified fence of communism. With the end of the cold war there was the creeping concern that without a focus for hatred and distrust, a sense of national identity would evaporate, that the left side of the hyphen—African-American, Mexican-American, Irish-American—would overwhelm the right."
something powerful and threatening
something familiar and interesting
something harmless and pleasant
something amusing and impressive
Answer:
The correct answer is something powerful and threatening.
Explanation:
Let's start by defining what a fault line is. In this matter it means a division between cultures or religions that result in a violent confrontation.
What these lines describe is something powerful and threatening. You can read the power of this confrontation, as well as its threat.
<em>"there was the creeping concern that without a focus for hatred and distrust".</em>
