Final answer:
America was compared to a candle in the poem 'First Fig' by Edna St. Vincent Millay, which describes an intense and ephemeral brilliance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student asked what America was compared to, with options including a candle, calf, flower, or foal. Based on the poem "First Fig" by Edna St. Vincent Millay, the correct answer is A. Candle. The poem states, "My candle burns at both ends; It will not last the night; But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends - It gives a lovely light!" Here, the candle metaphor is used to describe an intense, perhaps short-lived brilliance and vitality that can be related to America's growth, progress, or spirit.