Final answer:
The writer uses a simile in the sentence. A simile compares the weight of a full set of the printed Encyclopedia Britannica to the weight of a human being.
Step-by-step explanation:
The writer uses a simile in the sentence. A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using the words 'like' or 'as'. In this case, the writer is comparing the weight of a full set of the printed Encyclopedia Britannica to the weight of a human being.
Learn more about simile in writing