1.
Which of the following is NOT a type of irony?
Correct Answer
D. Comedic irony
Explanation
The main types of irony are situational irony (when the outcome is different from what is expected), dramatic irony (when the audience knows something the characters do not), and verbal irony (when someone says the opposite of what they mean). Comedic irony is not a recognized category of irony, although irony is often used for comedic effect.
2.
You work all afternoon cooking a fancy dinner for your boyfriend. When he takes his first bite, he spits it out into his napkin without you seeing and says to you, "Oh Sweetie, this is wonderful!"
Correct Answer
B. Verbal irony
Explanation
The correct answer is verbal irony. Verbal irony occurs when someone says something that is the opposite of what they actually mean. In this situation, the boyfriend says the dinner is wonderful, but his action of spitting it out suggests that he actually does not like it.
3.
A movie you are watching shows a woman jogging in the woods. The next scene shows a mountain lion lying in wait down the path where the woman is jogging.
Correct Answer
C. Dramatic irony
Explanation
The correct answer is dramatic irony because there is a contrast between what the audience knows (that the mountain lion is waiting for the woman) and what the woman in the movie knows (that there is danger ahead). This creates tension and suspense as the audience anticipates the danger that the woman is unaware of.
4.
In your history book, you read about a young man in the Revolutionary War who kills a British soldier. That soldier who was killed turns out to be his favorite cousin.
Correct Answer
C. Situational irony
Explanation
Situational irony occurs when there is a significant difference between what is expected to happen and what actually occurs. In this case, the young man unknowingly kills his favorite cousin, a completely unexpected and tragic outcome given that he would never have intended to harm a loved one. This contrast between intent and outcome creates situational irony. It is not dramatic irony because neither the reader nor the character knows in advance, and it’s not verbal irony, which involves saying the opposite of what one means.
5.
Which of the following is an example of situational irony?
Correct Answer
C. A vampire has a cross in his house.
Explanation
The example of situational irony in this question is "A vampire has a cross in his house." Situational irony occurs when there is a contrast between what is expected to happen and what actually happens. In this case, it is unexpected for a vampire, who is traditionally associated with being harmed by crosses, to have a cross in his house. This creates a sense of irony and surprise for the reader.
6.
Romeo arrives at the Capulet family tomb to find his love, Juliet supposedly dead. However, the audience knows that Juliet is not dead; she merely took a potion to make it look like she died for her motives. When the audience of a story knows more than the characters involved, what type of irony is employed?
Correct Answer
B. Dramatic irony
Explanation
In this situation, the audience is aware that Juliet is not actually dead, while Romeo believes she is. This creates a contrast between what the characters believe and what the audience knows, resulting in dramatic irony. Dramatic irony occurs when the audience has more information than the characters, leading to a deeper understanding of the situation.
7.
Which of the following is NOT an example of verbal irony?
Correct Answer
C. An arrogant criminal gets caught.
Explanation
Verbal irony involves a contrast between what is said and what is meant, often using sarcasm or understatement. Calling a tall person "Shorty" or a left-handed person "Lefty" are examples of verbal irony. An arrogant criminal getting caught and a best-selling writer's latest novel being a flop are examples of situational irony, where the outcome is contrary to what was expected. Therefore, the criminal getting caught is not verbal irony.
8.
Which of the following is an example of dramatic irony?
Correct Answer
B. A man meets his long-lost son but doesn't know it, although the reader does.
Explanation
The given answer is an example of dramatic irony because the reader knows that the man is meeting his long-lost son, but the man himself is unaware of this fact. This creates a sense of tension and anticipation for the reader, as they are aware of something that the character is not. The contrast between the reader's knowledge and the character's ignorance adds depth and complexity to the story, making it an example of dramatic irony.
9.
The son of the police chief is arrested for attempted burglary.
Correct Answer
B. Situational irony
Explanation
The situation described in the question is an example of situational irony. Situational irony occurs when there is a contrast between what is expected to happen and what actually happens. In this case, it is unexpected and ironic that the son of the police chief, who is supposed to uphold the law, is arrested for attempted burglary, which goes against his father's position and expectations. This unexpected twist creates a sense of irony in the situation.
10.
The student in class who had the highest grades in middle school drops out of high school. This is an example of which type of irony?
Correct Answer
C. Situational irony
Explanation
This situation can be considered an example of situational irony because it involves a contrast between what is expected and what actually happens. The student who had the highest grades in middle school, which typically implies academic success, drops out of high school, which is unexpected and goes against the expectation of continued success. This unexpected outcome creates a sense of irony in the situation.
11.
Any instance in which the narrator or a character says one thing but means something else is:
Correct Answer
A. Verbal irony
Explanation
Verbal irony refers to a situation where someone says something but actually means the opposite. It involves the use of words to convey a different meaning from what is being said. This can be seen when a character or the narrator says something sarcastic or uses irony to express their true thoughts or feelings. Verbal irony adds depth and complexity to the narrative by creating a contrast between what is said and what is meant.
12.
The discrepancy between the expected results in a situation and the actual results that occur is:
Correct Answer
C. Situational irony
Explanation
Situational irony refers to a situation where there is a contrast between what is expected to happen and what actually happens. In this context, the expected results are different from the actual results, indicating a discrepancy or incongruity. This aligns with the definition of situational irony, making it the correct answer. Verbal irony involves saying something different from what is meant, while dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows something that the characters do not. "No Irony" is not a valid option as there is clearly a difference between the expected and actual results.
13.
When the audience understands something that a character does not know, this is:
Correct Answer
A. Dramatic irony
Explanation
Dramatic irony occurs when the audience is aware of something that a character is not. In this situation, the audience has knowledge or information that creates tension or suspense because they know more than the character. This creates a sense of irony because the audience is able to anticipate the character's actions or reactions based on their limited understanding, leading to dramatic tension and often comedic or tragic effects.
14.
Which of the following is NOT a type of irony?
Correct Answer
D. Literal irony
Explanation
Irony is a literary device that plays with expectations and contrasts. Situational irony occurs when the outcome is contrary to what's expected. Dramatic irony arises when the audience knows more than the characters, creating suspense. Verbal irony involves saying the opposite of what's meant, often sarcastically.
15.
SItuational Irony occurs when what happens in the story is what is expected to happen.
Correct Answer
B. False
Explanation
Situational irony occurs when what happens in the story is the opposite of what is expected to happen. This means that the correct answer is False, as the statement suggests that situational irony occurs when the expected outcome happens, which is incorrect. Situational irony is characterized by unexpected or surprising events that deviate from the expected or intended outcome.
16.
Verbal Irony is when the character says exactly what they mean.
Correct Answer
B. False
Explanation
Verbal irony is actually when a character says something but means the opposite. It is a form of figurative language where the intended meaning is different from the literal meaning of the words. This creates a contrast between what is said and what is meant, often for humorous or dramatic effect. Therefore, the given statement is incorrect as it misrepresents the concept of verbal irony.
17.
If you call someone who has failed a math test "Einstein" you are using a form of what type of irony?
Correct Answer
A. Verbal irony
Explanation
Calling someone who has failed a math test "Einstein" is an example of verbal irony because it involves saying something that is the opposite of what is meant. By calling them "Einstein," it is sarcastically implying that they are extremely intelligent, even though they have just failed a math test. This creates a contrast between what is said and what is actually meant, which is the essence of verbal irony.
18.
Dramatic Irony occurs when the reader has information that one or more of the characters does not have.
Correct Answer
A. True
Explanation
Dramatic irony is a literary device where the audience or reader knows something that the characters in the story do not. This creates tension and suspense as the audience waits for the characters to discover the truth. In this case, the correct answer is true because it accurately describes the concept of dramatic irony.
19.
In "The Highwayman," when King George's men have Bess tied up, the highwayman doesn't know it, but we, the readers, know that a trap is set for him. This is an example of ________ irony?
Correct Answer
A. Dramatic irony
Explanation
In "The Highwayman," the situation where King George's men have Bess tied up while the highwayman is unaware creates dramatic irony. This is because the readers possess knowledge that the highwayman lacks, adding tension and suspense to the story. The readers are aware of the trap set for him, which creates a sense of dramatic irony as they anticipate the outcome of the situation.
20.
"He waited his whole darn life to take that flight, and as the plane crashed down he said, "Now isn't this nice?" - from the song "Ironic" by Alannis Morisette
Correct Answer
D. Verbal and situational irony
Explanation
The excerpt from the song "Ironic" by Alanis Morissette demonstrates verbal and situational irony.
Verbal irony is present when there's a contrast between what is said and what is actually meant. In this case, the character expresses a sarcastic remark about the situation, implying that the crashing plane is not nice at all.
Situational irony arises from a contrast between what is expected to happen and what actually occurs. In this scenario, the character's anticipation and excitement about finally taking a flight are subverted by the unexpected and tragic event of the plane crashing down.
21.
She met the man of her dreams and then met his gorgeous wife.
Correct Answer
B. Situational irony
Explanation
The situation described in the statement is an example of situational irony. Situational irony occurs when there is a contrast between what is expected to happen and what actually happens. In this case, the woman meets the man of her dreams, which is typically seen as a positive experience. However, the irony lies in the fact that she then discovers that he is already married to a gorgeous wife, which is unexpected and contrary to what she had hoped for. This unexpected twist creates a sense of irony in the situation.
22.
In the children's story "Little Red Riding Hood" we know that the wolf has eaten the grandmother, but Little Red Riding Hood does not know that.
Correct Answer
C. Dramatic irony
Explanation
In the children's story "Little Red Riding Hood," the situation is an example of dramatic irony. This is because the readers or audience are aware that the wolf has eaten the grandmother, but Little Red Riding Hood remains unaware of this fact. The contrast between what the characters know and what the audience knows creates a sense of tension and anticipation as the story unfolds.
23.
10,000 spoons when all you need is a knife.
Correct Answer
C. Situational irony
Explanation
Situational irony occurs when there is a mismatch between what is expected to happen and what actually happens. In this case, having an abundance of spoons when a knife is needed creates an unexpected and ironic situation.
24.
An old man won 100 million dollars in the lottery and then died the following day.
Correct Answer
A. Situational irony
Explanation
The situation described in the question is an example of situational irony. Situational irony occurs when there is a contrast between what is expected to happen and what actually happens. In this case, the old man winning a large sum of money in the lottery would typically be seen as a fortunate event. However, his sudden death the next day is unexpected and ironic, as it negates the joy and benefits that usually come with winning such a prize.
25.
Bob has waited all day long to take a cigarette break. As he walks outside, he sees that a NO SMOKING sign has just been posted.
Correct Answer
B. Situational irony
Explanation
The correct answer is situational irony. This is because Bob has been waiting all day to take a cigarette break, but just as he finally goes outside, he sees a NO SMOKING sign. This situation is ironic because it is unexpected and contrary to Bob's expectations.