Question

review the passage. the antithesis is shown in bold.
armstrong: im at the foot of ladder. the lm footpads are only depressed in the surface about one or two inches, although the surface appears to be very, very fine - grained as you get close to it. its almost like a powder. down there, its very fine.
armstrong: im going to step off the lm now.
armstrong: thats one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.
mccandless: neil, this is houston. were copying.
adapted from the national archives and records administration, \the eagle has landed\
what is the effect of the antithesis on the passages meaning or tone?
it highlights the significance of the achievement.
it suggests that caution should be taken with new discovery.
it emphasizes the physical challenges of walking on the moon.

Explanation:

Antithesis is a literary device that juxtaposes contrasting ideas. In the phrase "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind", "small step" and "giant leap" are opposites. A single individual's action (small step) is contrasted with a momentous event for all of humanity (giant leap). This contrast emphasizes the significance of the moon landing. It shows that while the physical act of stepping onto the moon was a simple action for Armstrong (a man), it represented a huge advancement for the whole of mankind. There is no indication in the text about caution with new discovery (no mention of risks or need for care) or physical challenges (the text about the surface being fine - grained is more descriptive of the moon's surface, not a challenge in walking).

Answer:

It highlights the significance of the achievement.