Read this excerpt from charles dickens's novel great expectations: the most prominent object was a long table with a tablecloth spread on it. . an épergne or centre-piece of some kind was in the middle of this cloth; it was so heavily overhung with cobwebs that its form was quite undistinguishable. . "what do you think that is? " she asked me, again pointing with her stick; "that, where those cobwebs are? " . . "it's a great cake. a bride-cake. mine! " what does the cake most likely symbolize? a. letting go of bad memories b. thinking about the future c. holding on to the past d. remembering happy occasions

The cake symbolizes holding on to the past. Miss Havisham has refused to let go of her past and that is why she has kept her wedding dress and wedding cake. Although the cake is rotten, she refuses to throw it away. The cake is not longer edible, therefore, it is a symbol that lets the reader know how holding on to the past can rotten one's life.

c. to depict the cunningness of the federal soldiers

the answer is: the start of world war i, and russia’s hopes of benefiting from it

during world war i russian joined due to in their current crisis they were being supported by france and the war was already declared to them by germany, they needed to maintain their political goal and leadership role in the balkans, and is the same feeling that this excerpt evoke the eager of maintain the land value.