Question:
Identify the figure of speech used in the phrase: 'The multi-millionaire investigator lived in a modest, tiny apartment.'
Identify the figure of speech used in the phrase: 'The multi-millionaire investigator lived in a modest, tiny apartment.'
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To identify situational irony in exams, look for elements that contrast sharply with normal logic or societal expectations.
If a highly wealthy character lives in extreme modesty, it is a reliable indicator of irony.
If a highly wealthy character lives in extreme modesty, it is a reliable indicator of irony.
Updated On: May 31, 2026
- Oxymoron
- Irony
- Metaphor
- Hyperbole
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The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The objective of this question is to identify the correct figure of speech used in the provided sentence.
Figures of speech are essential literary devices used to convey meaning beyond the literal definition of the words.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
To determine the correct literary device, we must analyze the key components of the sentence and the definitions of the options provided:
• Irony: Irony is a literary device or situation where there is a contrast between expectation and reality.
In the given sentence, a "multi-millionaire" is a person of immense wealth, who would naturally be expected to live in a grand, luxurious mansion.
However, the investigator lives in a "modest, tiny apartment."
This clear contrast between expected wealthy living standards and the actual humble choice of residence is a classic example of situational irony.
• Oxymoron: An oxymoron involves two contradictory terms placed side-by-side to create a compact, rhetorical effect.
Examples include "deafening silence" or "seriously funny."
In this sentence, the contrasting ideas are not adjacent words modifying the same noun, so this option is incorrect.
• Metaphor: A metaphor is a direct comparison between two unrelated things without using comparison words such as "like" or "as."
Since no direct comparison is made between the investigator and another entity, this option does not apply.
• Hyperbole: Hyperbole is an extreme exaggeration used to emphasize a point or create a dramatic effect.
The description of the apartment as "modest" and "tiny" is a realistic description of the setting and does not constitute an exaggeration.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Therefore, based on the clear contrast between expectation and reality, the correct option is (B).
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