Question

read the passage from gullivers travels
he has been eight years upon a project for extracting
sunbeams out of cucumbers, which were to be put in
phials hermetically sealed, and let out to warm the air in
raw inclement summers. he told me, he did not doubt,
that, in eight years more, he should be able to supply
the governors gardens with sunshine, at a reasonable
rate: but he complained that his stock was low, and
entreated me \to give him something as an
encouragement to ingenuity, especially since this had
been a very dear season for cucumbers.\
which phrase from the passage best helps the reader
to identify the passage as a satire?
○ he has been eight years upon a project for
extracting sunbeams out of cucumbers
○ which were to be put in phials hermetically sealed
○ he told me, he did not doubt, that, in eight years
more, he should be able to supply the governors
gardens
○ but he complained that his stock was low

Explanation:

Satire uses absurd or illogical situations to criticize. The phrase "extracting sunbeams out of cucumbers" describes an impossible, illogical project, highlighting the satire's absurdity to mock impractical scientific or governmental endeavors. Other options describe parts of the plan (sealing, supplying gardens) or a complaint (stock low), which lack the absurdity central to satire.

Answer:

A. He has been eight years upon a project for extracting sunbeams out of cucumbers