The line “this disaster swallows up a man and wife together” is an example of a) simile b) metaphor c) personification d) hyperbole

It's not any kind of comparison. Disaster is not compared to either man or wife or both. That makes A and B incorrect. 

The problem is that both C and D have possibilities. 

Discussion Hyperbole
Usually Hyperbole is an exaggeration used to suggest a humorous condition. We would not take the exact meaning seriously but we might take what the hyperbola is suggesting seriously.

Your smile is worth a million dollars to me.

There once was an ad for Camel's cigarettes that said "I'd walk a mile for a camel." People found the double meaning (cigarette and 4 legged animal) catchy. They also responded to the idea of walking a mile for a camel (either one). The point is, would you really walk a mile for either one? It's exaggerated.

Personification
These are attributes given to things or animals other than other inanimate things. In your case, your example swallows up man and wife together is a personification because whatever doing the swallowing, normally can't do it.

C <<<<< Answer

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