Final answer:
In 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' the masses flocking to the courthouse on the first day of the trial are likened to vultures, indicating a morbid anticipation for the court proceedings.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the first day of the trial is described in a way that resembles a festive or chaotic atmosphere, akin to a "Roman carnival." The correct answer to the question of what the masses of people flocking to the segregated courthouse resemble is (b) vultures. This imagery suggests that the townspeople were eagerly gathering with a morbid curiosity, much like vultures swarm around potential carrion, indicating their anticipation for the spectacle of the trial rather than a solemn civic duty.