Question

read the following lines taken from the star by h.g. wells, and identify the one that illustrates sarcasm (remarks that mean the opposite of what they seem to say).
pretty women, flushed and glittering, heard the news told jestingly between the dances, and feigned an intelligent interest they did not feel. nearer! indeed. how curious! how very, very clever people must be to find out things like that!
it was a joke among his students that he could not lecture without that piece of chalk to fumble in his fingers, and once he had been stricken to impotence by their hiding his supply.
circumstances have arisen—circumstances beyond my control, he said and paused, which will debar me from completing the course i had designed. it would seem, gentlemen, if i may put the thing clearly and briefly, that—man has lived in vain.
the star was no star—mere gas—a comet; and were it a star it could not possibly strike the earth. there was no precedent for such a thing

Explanation:

Sarcasm is when remarks mean the opposite of what they seem to say. In the first option, the women feign interest and the words “How very, very clever people must be to find out things like that!” are sarcastic as they don't really mean people are clever (they are just pretending interest). The second option is a joke (not sarcasm - just a light - hearted comment about a teacher's habit). The third option is a serious statement about circumstances preventing a course completion. The fourth option is a factual statement about the star/comet.

Answer:

Pretty women, flushed and glittering, heard the news told jestingly between the dances, and feigned an intelligent interest they did not feel. “Nearer! Indeed. How curious! How very, very clever people must be to find out things like that!”