Question 280
HardOriginal questionIt was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the of belief, it was the epoch of , it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of , we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the degree of comparison only.
There were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a plain face, on the throne of England; there were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a fair face, on the throne of France. In both countries it was clearer than crystal to the lords of the State of loaves and fishes, that things in general were settled for ever.
The rulers were sure, "clearer than crystal", that "things in general were settled for ever". What is the tone of this line?
Show the answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
"Clearer than crystal" and "settled for ever" exaggerate the rulers' certainty.
Calling their privileges "preserves of loaves and fishes" also mocks them: they care about keeping their rewards.
Worth noting
The narrator does not share their certainty. A writer who stresses how sure someone is often means they are wrong.
- Concept
- Recognising irony
- Typical timeTypical
- 55 s
- Your timeYours
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