Question

read the excerpt from dispatches.
by autumn, what had begun as an adventurous expedition had turned into an exhausting, indecisive war of attrition in which we fought for no cause other than our own survival.
which statement best explains the paradox in the excerpt?
it is odd that war should ever be viewed as an adventurous expedition.
it is unusual that soldiers should ever be forced to fight merely to survive.
it is surprising that the expedition turned out to be so exhausting and difficult.
it is unfortunate that the soldiers did not have the easy time they had anticipated.

Explanation:

A paradox involves a contradictory or unexpected situation. The excerpt starts with the war being an "adventurous expedition" but ends with it being a war of attrition for survival. Option A highlights the oddity of viewing war (typically serious) as an adventurous expedition, which is the paradox here. Other options don't capture the paradox of the initial adventurous view vs. the reality of the war.

Answer:

A. It is odd that war should ever be viewed as an adventurous expedition.