Question

select the verbal irony in the passage.

nowadays it is a duty for a poor peasant to be a soldier. another reason to be proud, this being a citizen! for the poor, it consists in sustaining and preserving the wealthy in their power and their laziness. the poor must work for this. this revolution was made by fools and idiots for the benefit of those who acquired national lands, and resulted in nothing but making fortune of crafty peasants and bourgeois. the revolution only made stronger, under the pretense of making all men equal, the empire of wealth. it has betrayed france into the hands of the men of wealth.

adapted from anatole france, the red lily

Explanation:

Verbal irony occurs when words are used to convey a meaning that is the opposite of their literal meaning. In the passage, the statement “Another reason to be proud, this being a citizen!” is ironic. The context shows that being a citizen (for the poor) involves working to sustain the wealthy, which is not something to be proud of. The word “proud” is used in a sarcastic (ironic) way as the reality for the poor is quite the opposite of pride - they are exploited.

Answer:

Another reason to be proud, this being a citizen!