Correct my answer?
what is the absolute phrase in this sentence? their backpacks fully loaded, the mountain climbers listened to the guide's directions before beginning the trek.
a. to the guide's directions
b. their backpacks fully loaded
c. before beginning the trek
d. the mountain climbers listened

b?

The greatest gift the sumerians gave the world was the invention of writing. the sumerians were wealthy people. they needed some way to keep track of what they owned. they began drawing pictures. they used a reed as a pen. they drew on soft pieces of clay. the soft clay was then dried in the sun. the tablet became a permanent record. later, the sumerian drawings changed into wedge-shaped symbols. this kind of writing is called cuneiform. by putting symbols together, the sumerians could write entire sentences.

How does the underlined figurative language contribute to the meaning of the poem?

Reading poetry to an audience is considered a form of a. vocal art. b. oral language. c. conversational skills. d. performance cues.