Option A ('It makes things ugly.') does NOT describe a characteristic of the border, as it's subjective and metaphorical, unlike the other options which are more aligned with tangible impacts of borders.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student’s question relates to various metaphorical descriptions of a border and asks which option does NOT describe a characteristic of the border. The descriptions provided in the question are largely figurative and portray the border as harmful, restrictive, and dysfunctional in various ways. Based on the information and contexts provided about borders, option A ('It makes things ugly.') is the one that does NOT describe a characteristic of the border as it is metaphorical and subjective in terms of aesthetics, whereas the other options (B 'It is harmful.', C 'It kills people.', and D 'It doesn't work.') align more closely with the tangible impacts of borders, such as geopolitical disputes, the danger posed to migrants, and the challenge of border security.