Gaping is related to living things, which makes hell seem like a living creature to the audience. The word gaping helps build the image of hell as a mouth that will swallow the audience up if they don’t do as Edward says. The connotation of gaping makes the image more frightening and persuasive. THE ANSWER IS B!

This thinning would materially change the sound of the drum, evidence that although it might continue to be used for its original purpose of music-making or calling people to arms, it would now do so with a different voice. a musical instrument had become a trophy, and the new carvings were in fact branding, a statement of the north’s political dominance over central africa and of allegiance to islam.the drum had come to khartoum at a critical moment in sudanese history. in an audio version, stressing the word "branding" would do what for the listener? emphasize the word's importance and the idea that followsadd emphasis to the following sentencesignal that something important has just been repeatedadd emphasis to the preceding sentence