Answer: C. By making them seem like people.
Step-by-step explanation: In the given passage from “Three Skeleton Key” the author manages to communicate the power of rats by making them seem like people, we can clearly see that because he refers to the rat as "intelligent," "seawise," and also "strong" and "fierce." The author also uses personification by saying that the rats are able to put the best of mariners to shame with their knowledge of the sea.