Question

read the excerpt from chapter 10 of animal farm
there was enthusiastic cheering and stamping of feet napoleon was so gratified that he left his place and came round the table to clink his mug against mr pilkingtons before emptying it. when the cheering had died down, napoleon, who had remained on his feet, intimated that he too had a few words to say.
like all of napoleons speeches, it was short and to the point. he too, he said, was happy that the period of misunderstanding was at an end. for a long time there had been rumours-circulated, he had reason to think, by some malignant enemy-that there was something subversive and even revolutionary in the outlook of himself and his colleagues. they had been credited with attempting to stir up rebellion among the animals on neighbouring farms. nothing could be further from the truth!
which quotation best shows the use of irony?
\he left his place and came round the table to clink his mug against mr pilkingtons\
\like all of napoleons speeches, it was short and to the point.\
\there was something subversive and even revolutionary in the outlook of himself\

othing could be further from the truth!\

Explanation:

Irony occurs when there is a contrast between what is expected and what actually happens. In the context of Animal Farm, Napoleon was supposed to be a leader of the animals against human oppression. However, in this excerpt, he is clinking mugs with Mr. Pilkington (a human), and then claims "Nothing could be further from the truth" when denying subversive and revolutionary (which would be in line with the original animal - revolution ideals) outlooks. This contrast between his actions (bonding with a human) and his words (denying revolutionary, anti - human ideas) is ironic.

Answer:

"Nothing could be further from the truth"