Question

The black box grew shabbier each year: by now it was no longer completely black but splintered badly along one side to show the original wood color, and in some places faded or stained. What type of figurative language is exemplified in the above passage?

metaphor
simile
symbolism
personification

Answer 1

Yes you are correct on this one. The answer is C. Symbolism.
Symbolism is a symbolic meaning attributed to natural objects or facts.
For example:
"the old-fashioned symbolism of flowers"

Answer 2

Symbolism

Step-by-step explanation:

Symbolism, as a figurative language, invests objects, traits, colors, animals, etc. with a symbolic meaning that is different from their actual form. In the excerpt, the black box aims to represent another concept, perhaps, it represents how things or beings become old, weary or less attractive with the passage of time.

The other options are incorrect because the passage does not make any comparison (metaphor or simile), and there are no objects nor animals with human attributes (personification).