Function of Simile: Short Fiction Practice Test

In this excerpt, a boy stands at the edge of a public pool, refusing to jump in while his friends shout encouragement. He watches the water ripple and imagines the shock of cold. What is the function of the simile “The water looked up at him like a dare”?

In this excerpt, a woman tries to call her estranged sister, but the call goes to voicemail. She hangs up and immediately dials again, then stops herself. What is the function of the simile “Hope rose in her chest like a match that flared and threatened to burn out”?