Question

explaining irony
none of the old dreams had been abandoned. the republic of the animals which major had foretold, when the green fields of england should be untrodden by human feet, was still believed in. some day it was coming: it might not be soon, it might not be with in the lifetime of any animal now living, but still it was coming. ... it might be that their lives were hard and that not all of their hopes had been fulfilled; but they were conscious that they were not as other animals. if they went hungry, it was not from feeding tyrannical human beings; if they worked hard, at least they worked for themselves. no creature among them went upon two legs. no creature called any other creature \master.\ all animals were equal.
which statement best explains why this passage is an example of irony?
an unexpected event occurs that surprises the reader
the text ridicules the animals for their nave way of thinking
the characters make statements that are the opposite of what they really mean
the reader knows that there is a difference between what is expected and what occurs
-animal farm,
george orwell

Explanation:

Irony occurs when there is a contrast between what is expected and what actually happens. In this passage, the animals believe in the Republic of the Animals where all are equal. But in reality (as readers know from the full story of Animal Farm), the pigs end up becoming tyrannical, which is a far - cry from the equality they expect. The first option about an unexpected event is too vague. The second option about ridiculing is not the core of irony here. The third option about characters' statements being opposite of meaning is not the case here. The fourth option correctly points out the irony as the reader - known gap between expectation (equality) and reality (tyranny).

Answer:

The reader knows that there is a difference between what is expected and what occurs.