Question

read the excerpt from \the storyteller.\
the smaller girl created a diversion by beginning to recite \on the road to mandalay.\ she only knew the first line, but she put her limited knowledge to the fullest possible use. she repeated the line over and over again in a dreamy but resolute and very audible voice; it seemed to the bachelor as though some one had had a bet with her that she could not repeat the line aloud two thousand times without stopping. whoever it was who had made the wager was likely to lose his bet.
\come over here and listen to a story,\ said the aunt, when the bachelor had looked twice at her and once at the communication cord.
the children moved listlessly towards the aunts end of the carriage. evidently her reputation as a storyteller did not rank high in their estimation.
which instances of situational irony occur in the passage? select two options.
□ \whoever it was who had made the wager was likely to lose his bet.\
□ \come over here and listen to a story, said the aunt, when the bachelor had looked twice at her and once at the communication cord.\
□ \the children moved listlessly towards the aunts end of the carriage.\
□ \evidently her reputation as a story - teller did not rank high in their estimation.\
□ \in a low, confidential voice, interrupted at frequent intervals by loud, petulant questionings from her listeners, she began an unenterprising and dondarable/uninteresting story about a little girl who
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Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option for situational irony (a contrast between expected and actual outcomes):

1. Option 1: "Whoever it was who had made the wager was likely to lose his bet."

The girl repeats one line relentlessly. The wager was likely that she could not repeat it so much, but her persistence means the bettor will lose (ironic: the bettor expected to win, but will lose).

1. Option 2: "‘Come over here and listen to a story,’ said the aunt, when the bachelor had looked twice at her and once at the communication cord."

The bachelor’s actions (looking at her and the communication cord) suggest he wants to avoid her, but the aunt still invites him to listen to her story (ironic: she ignores his disinterest and proceeds).

1. Option 3: "The children moved listlessly towards the aunt’s end of the carriage."

This describes the children’s apathy, not irony (no contrast between expectation and reality here).

1. Option 4: "Evidently her reputation as a story - teller did not rank high in their estimation."

This is a statement of fact about the children’s opinion, not irony.

1. Option 5: (Partial text, but from context) Describes the aunt’s storytelling style, not irony.

Answer:

A. "Whoever it was who had made the wager was likely to lose his bet."
B. "‘Come over here and listen to a story,’ said the aunt, when the bachelor had looked twice at her and once at the communication cord."