Answer:
because he failed his english homework and wants to ask mr perpich about it
Explanation:
To show people the level of your happiness? Where's the period?
The answer is a simile. This is because similes compare two things (these things here are his life and the dusty yards) by using like or as (specifically here as).
The other ones don't make sense: nothing is being over exaggerated (hyperbole), there are no repeating consonants (alliteration), and there are no human characteristics being given to inhuman subjects (personification).
Linking verbs don't show actions but action does hence the name action verb