Answer:
Simile
Explanation:
The line "like a thin stalk of corn" is comparing something to a thin stalk of corn using the word like or as, making it a simile
"With rising sea levels and coastal construction, shoreline erosion is something we should all care about" is the most ideal way to conclude the essay because it repeats ideas that were likely already mentioned in the essay rather than providing new information or simply restating the thesis without evidence.