Question

read the excerpt from chapter 6 of animal farm.
\you have heard then, comrades,\ he said, \that we pigs now sleep in the beds of the farmhouse? and why not? you did not suppose, surely, that there was ever a ruling against beds? a bed merely means a place to sleep in. a pile of straw in a stall is a bed, properly regarded. the rule was against sheets, which are a human invention. we have removed the sheets from the farmhouse beds, and sleep between blankets. and very comfortable beds they are too! but not more comfortable than we need, i can tell you, comrades, with all the brainwork we have to do nowadays. you would not rob us of our repose, would you, comrades? you would not have us too tired to carry out our duties? surely none of you wishes to see jones back?\
which theme is best supported by the verbal irony in this passage?

• power creates divisions within society.
• indifferent citizens can enable corrupt governments.
• temptation can lead those in power to corruption.
• corrupt leaders use propaganda to remain in power.

Explanation:

The passage shows the pig (a leader) using verbal irony and manipulation (like redefining "bed" and justifying sleeping in farmhouse beds by claiming it's for "brainwork" and scaring others with Jones' return) to stay in power. This matches the theme of corrupt leaders using propaganda. Other options: Power creating divisions isn't the focus here; indifferent citizens aren't highlighted; temptation leading to corruption is less about the irony's support than propaganda use.

Answer:

D. Corrupt leaders use propaganda to remain in power.