"this is to make an a& & of me, to fright me, if they could” . what literary technique is being used? oxymoron simile metaphor pun

Astudent wants to replace the underlined word to make the meaning more precise.which phrase would be the best replacement for the underlined phrase ?

Read this inference: "one day the neighbors will move out of the little frame house." what detail from the story best supports this inference?

Tobias wolff most likely named his short story "mortals" because the story explores the theme of people coming to terms with the idea that one day they too will die. wanting to find out what their loved ones really think of them. achieving immortalit by being "big people" while they are alive. hoping that they will have accomplished something before they die.