What Type Of Irony Is Present? Irony Quiz
This quiz gives examples of verbal, dramatic, and situational irony and asks for what type of irony is present.
Questions and Answers
- 1.
SCALE LEVEL 2: What type of irony is present: Lois Lane, a reporter at the Daily Planet, is in love with the superhero Superman. She is obsessed with him, and always asks her co-worker, Clark Kent for information about him. She thinks that Clark and Superman are friends. However, Clark is actually Superman in disguise and is very much in love with Lois, but she won’t give Clark the time of day.
- A.
Verbal irony
- B.
Dramatic irony
- C.
Situational irony
- D.
No irony
Correct Answer
B. Dramatic ironyExplanation
The given scenario demonstrates dramatic irony because the audience or reader is aware of the true identities and feelings of the characters, while Lois Lane remains oblivious to the fact that Clark Kent is actually Superman and is in love with her. This creates a sense of tension and humor as the audience knows more than the characters in the story.Rate this question:
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- 2.
SCALE LEVEL 2: What type of irony is present: A son reluctantly walked outside to meet his father in the yard at 6:00 on a Saturday morning. “Are you ready to do some yard work?” his father asked. “Yeah, I can’t wait,” the boy replied.
- A.
Verbal irony
- B.
Dramatic irony
- C.
Situational irony
- D.
No irony
Correct Answer
A. Verbal ironyExplanation
The son's response of "Yeah, I can't wait" to his father's question about doing yard work is an example of verbal irony. Verbal irony occurs when someone says something that is the opposite of what they really mean. In this case, the son's response implies that he is excited about doing yard work, but in reality, he is reluctant and does not want to do it.Rate this question:
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- 3.
SCALE LEVEL 2: What type of irony is present: Janice begins to receive threatening notes in the mail and on her car. Then, a car tries to run her over in a dark parking lot. She can’t see who the driver is. She goes to her best friend Doug for help. However, her attacker keeps trying to kill her. Finally, Doug has her come stay with him at his cabin so she will be safe. Then, he reveals that HE is the attacker!!
- A.
Verbal irony
- B.
Dramatic irony
- C.
Situational irony
- D.
No irony
Correct Answer
C. Situational ironyExplanation
The given scenario exhibits situational irony because it involves a situation where the outcome is contrary to what is expected. The reader or audience expects Janice's best friend Doug to help and protect her, but it is revealed that he is actually the attacker. This unexpected twist creates a sense of irony in the situation.Rate this question:
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- 4.
SCALE LEVEL 2: What type of irony is present: Cinderella, a penniless house slave to her step-mother and two step-sisters, goes to a ball held for the prince. The prince believes that Cinderella is a royal lady since she is at the ball and is so beautiful. He falls in love with her not knowing that she is a maid in her step-mother’s house.
- A.
Verbal irony
- B.
Dramatic irony
- C.
Situational irony
- D.
No irony
Correct Answer
B. Dramatic ironyExplanation
The correct answer is dramatic irony because there is a contrast between what the prince believes about Cinderella and the reality of her situation. The audience knows that Cinderella is a maid, but the prince is unaware of this, leading to dramatic tension and irony.Rate this question:
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- 5.
SCALE LEVEL 2: What type of irony is present: When this movie opens, we see a town and the setting appears to be early-Colonial America (i.e. the Puritans). The town is attacked regularly by creepy rat-like monsters in red cloaks. One of the members of the town falls very ill, and they need to send someone to another town for medical supplies. They choose to send a blind girl in the town, who leaves on her journey, having to run from the monsters. When she reaches the main road, a truck picks her up and we realize that the setting is not early-American but present day!
- A.
Verbal irony
- B.
Dramatic irony
- C.
Situational irony
- D.
No irony
Correct Answer
C. Situational ironyExplanation
The correct answer is situational irony because there is a contrast between what is expected (early-Colonial America setting) and what actually happens (present day setting). The situation is ironic because the audience and the characters in the story are led to believe that they are in a different time period, but it is revealed to be the present day.Rate this question:
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- 6.
SCALE LEVEL 2: What type of irony is present: Ashley is six feet tall. She will only date guys who are 6’3 and above. One night, she saw a guy who was less than 5 feet tall. She said, “Yeah, he definitely meets my height requirement.”
- A.
Verbal irony
- B.
Dramatic irony
- C.
Situational irony
- D.
No irony
Correct Answer
A. Verbal ironyExplanation
The given scenario demonstrates verbal irony. Verbal irony occurs when someone says something that is the opposite of what they actually mean. In this case, Ashley states that the guy who is less than 5 feet tall meets her height requirement, even though he clearly does not. This statement is ironic because it contradicts her stated preference for dating guys who are 6'3 and above.Rate this question:
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- 7.
SCALE LEVEL 1: Which of the following are reasons why an author might use irony? Check all that apply.
- A.
Create Humor
- B.
Create Sympathy
- C.
Create Suspense
- D.
Teach a lesson
Correct Answer(s)
A. Create Humor
B. Create Sympathy
C. Create Suspense
D. Teach a lessonExplanation
An author might use irony to create humor by presenting situations or events that are unexpected or contrary to what is expected. This can lead to comedic effect and entertain the readers. Irony can also be used to create sympathy by highlighting the contrast between what is expected and what actually happens, evoking emotions of pity or empathy from the readers. Furthermore, irony can create suspense by introducing a sense of uncertainty or tension, as readers try to anticipate what will happen next. Lastly, irony can be employed to teach a lesson by challenging readers' assumptions and inviting them to reflect on the deeper meaning or message behind the irony.Rate this question:
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- 8.
SCALE LEVEL 2: What type of irony is this and why? In real life, an ambulance comes to a woman's house to take her to the hospital, hopefully to save her life. On the way to the hospital the ambulance is hit by a semi truck and everyone on board the ambulance is killed.
- A.
Situational: Nobody would expect an ambulance to be the result of someones death.
- B.
Dramatic: The ambulance driver was surprised by this unexpected event.
- C.
Verbal: Ambulances are supposed to protect people, but this one didn't.
Correct Answer
A. Situational: Nobody would expect an ambulance to be the result of someones death.Explanation
The given answer explains that the type of irony in this situation is situational because it is unexpected for an ambulance, which is meant to save lives, to be involved in an accident resulting in the death of everyone on board. Situational irony occurs when there is a contrast between what is expected to happen and what actually happens. In this case, the expectation is that the ambulance will save the woman's life, but the unexpected event of the accident leads to a tragic outcome.Rate this question:
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- 9.
SCALE LEVEL 2: What type of irony is this and why? A movie you are watching shows a woman jogging in the park. The next scene shows a mountain lion lying in wait down the path where the woman is jogging.
- A.
Situational: It is very unexpected for there to be a mountain lion in the park.
- B.
Dramatic: We know the mountain lion is there, but the woman doesn't.
- C.
Not Irony: The woman should have expected the mountain lion to be there.
Correct Answer
B. Dramatic: We know the mountain lion is there, but the woman doesn't.Explanation
The correct answer is Dramatic irony because the audience is aware of the mountain lion's presence, but the woman is not. This creates tension and suspense in the scene.Rate this question:
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- 10.
SCALE LEVEL 3: What is the effect of the irony in this passage? Tom has always liked Lucy, but Lucy has always thought Tom was annoying and unattractive. One day, Lucy comes home to find an eviction notice on her door. Apparently, her roommate had been spending the rent money that Lucy was giving her on other things. Lucy only has 24 hours to get all her stuff over to her mom’s house, and Lucy doesn’t even have a car. But Tom has a truck. So Lucy calls up Tom and asks him how he’s doing. She tells him that she’s always thought he was funny, and that they should hang out sometime. Tom thinks that Lucy has finally come around is beginning to like her. He also thinks that his jokes are funny because she is laughing after everything that he says.
- A.
The reader feels sympathy for Lucy, because she had to break Tom's heart.
- B.
The reader feels suspense, because they don't know what Lucy will do.
- C.
The reader feels sympathy for Tom, because they know Lucy will break his heart.
- D.
The reader feels that the passage is funny, because people getting their feelings hurt is funny.
Correct Answer
C. The reader feels sympathy for Tom, because they know Lucy will break his heart.Explanation
The irony in the passage is that Tom has always liked Lucy, but Lucy has always found him annoying and unattractive. However, when Lucy is in a difficult situation and needs help, she reaches out to Tom. Tom, believing that Lucy has finally come around and likes him, feels hopeful. The reader feels sympathy for Tom because they know that Lucy will ultimately break his heart by using him for his truck and not reciprocating his feelings.Rate this question:
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- 11.
SCALE LEVEL 3: What is the effect of the irony in this passage? In this short story by O. Henry, a wife sells her hair to buy her husband a watch chain, and her husband sells his watch to buy her combs for her hair. Both have made sacrifices in order to buy gifts for one another, but in the end, the gifts are useless.
- A.
The effect is that the reader knows how much they love each other.
- B.
The effect is that the reader knows that both characters lie.
- C.
The effect is suspenseful because the reader doesn't know how the wife will react to the gift.
- D.
The effect is suspenseful because the reader thinks that the husband will be mad that the wife cut her hair.
Correct Answer
A. The effect is that the reader knows how much they love each other.Explanation
The irony in the passage is that both the wife and the husband make sacrifices to buy gifts for each other, but in the end, the gifts turn out to be useless. This irony highlights the depth of their love for each other, as they are willing to give up something valuable to make the other person happy. The fact that their sacrifices ultimately do not achieve the desired result adds a bittersweet element to their love story.Rate this question:
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- 12.
SCALE LEVEL 3: What is the effect of the irony in this passage? Whosever room this is should be ashamed! His underwear is hanging on the lamp. His raincoat is there in the overstuffed chair, And the chair is becoming quite mucky and damp. His workbook is wedged in the window, His sweater’s been thrown on the floor. His scarf and one ski are beneath the TV, And his pants have been carelessly hung on the door. His books are all jammed in the closet, His vest has been left in the hall. A lizard named Ed is asleep in his bed, And his smelly old sock has been stuck to the wall. Whosever room this is should be ashamed! Donald or Robert or Willie or– Huh? You say it’s mine? Oh, dear, I knew it looked familiar!
- A.
The author created humor, because the room was really messy.
- B.
The author created suspense, because we thought the author might get in trouble for his messy room.
- C.
The author created humor, because he was making fun of what turned out to be his own room.
- D.
The author created sympathy, because we felt bad that he had such a messy room.
Correct Answer
C. The author created humor, because he was making fun of what turned out to be his own room.Explanation
The passage uses irony to create humor by initially criticizing the messy room and implying that the owner should be ashamed. However, the twist at the end reveals that the messy room actually belongs to the author, making it a humorous self-deprecating joke. This unexpected reversal adds a comedic element to the passage, making the correct answer: The author created humor, because he was making fun of what turned out to be his own room.Rate this question:
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Mar 21, 2023Quiz Edited by
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Oct 22, 2015Quiz Created by
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