Which statement correctly describes the end behavior of y = 3x8 + 5x2 +2x - 1

The end behavior of functions with exponents is quite simple when you realized that as x approaches infinity that the function will act as if the highest exponent term is the only one which exists...

In this case 3x^8 is the highest order term, so y approaches +oo as x approaches +oo or -oo.  Or in other words y increases without bound as x approaches ±oo

The length of what is left would be 1 1/2 feet long.