The purpose of personification in the above excerpt is to give human characteristic to death which is considered to be a non human. Writers usually use personification in their write ups in order to bring an inanimate objects to life so that their actions and natures will be better understood.
The first answer should be correct, as none of the others make any sense.
As Mother drove, Father studied the road map. (B)
It should be a simile because the word 'like' is there.
Hope this helps!
