Because the way you grow old is kind of like an onion or like the rings insides tree trunk or like my little wooden dolls that fit one inside the other

the correct answer would be:  

a. adverb phrase

explanation:

you only need simple sentences to answer this. just answer these questions.

what do you think annie thinks of the mother? do you think annie believes the mother is a fit mother for helen.

what about the father? what would annie think of him? she might not like him, but does she respect him.

how about the son? would annie think he is the only voice of sanity in an insane place?

what about helen herself? this is the key question. how does she see helen? what do you suppose she thought her first job was going to be.

these aren't hard questions. just state the obvious. annie is not that well educated: she just knows what she has to do. write it that way.

you can do it if you've read the book or seen the play or movie.

i think its a.

an ugly duckling is teased by the other ducklings. when she grows up, however, the ducklings discover that she is a beautiful swan