Answer:
A. To depict nature as peaceful
Step-by-step explanation:
The evidence to support this answer would be the pieces of the description such as the 'placid river', 'fluffy maples', and 'stood timidly'. All of these evoke a sense of peace, serenity, and calm in the reader.
While personification (making the trees into characters) is present when the imagery of them 'standing timidly' is given, the more correct answer is A because there is both more evidence to support it, and it encompasses the entire passage compared to a single line.