Read the excerpt from "A Quilt of a Country."
What is the denotative meaning of fault lines in this excerpt?
Once these disparate parts were held together by a common
enemy, by the fault lines of world wars and the electrified
fence of communism. With the end of the cold war there was
the creeping concern that without a focus for hatred and
distrust, a sense of national identity would evaporate, that the
left side of the hyphen-African-American, Mexican-
American, Irish-American-would overwhelm the right.
lines that are drawn when placing blame
areas of defense in times of war
long cracks in the surface of the earth
breaks in modern American Society

The connotative meaning of the "fault lines" in the excerpt is something that is powerful and threatening to others.

Explanation:

There may be "fault lines" that demarcates and separates people to people, but in times of crisis and common fight against evil such as terrorism, people forget their national identities and become Americans first. And this is what makes America great in comparison to any other country.

the word that best matches the meaning of the expression "went to the big ocean" is died.

the goldfish died, which is why the father looks at the children mournfully. the "big ocean" is the father's way of saying fish heaven. he could have just said that the goldfish died, but this way, the children imagine the fish in a bigger, better place instead of just picturing a dead fish.

explanation:

what makes a hero is someone who tries and acres and then heps to save people