Answer:
B. Similarities and differences.
Explanation:
Comparing things is identifying things similar about two objects, and contrasting things is identifying things different about two objects.
Well, denotative meaning refers to the literal meaning of a word. So, I guess the correct answer would be <span><u>long cracks in the surface of the earth</u>, because that is the definition of the word fault lines. The other options are too metaphorical, and would thus be considered to be a connotative, rather than denotative meaning.</span>