Question

Identify the figure of speech employed in the sentence:
The teacher fails the test.

• A. Irony
• B. Alliteration
• C. Personification
• D. Oxymoron

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Irony

Irony is the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect. It's a state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often wryly amusing as a result. "The irony is that I thought he could help me."
Alliteration is the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. "Slowly, Silently, now the moon, walks the night in her silver shoon."
Oxymoron is a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction. 'bitter endearment'
Personification is the attribution of human characteristics on inanimate objects. "The flowers are dancing in the breeze."

In this case, it's obviously ironical because the teachers are the ones giving tests and not taking them, so most people assume that they would be expert at passing tests. So, it's an irony. Hence, option A is correct and the other options cancel out.