Which sentence contains the best example of paradox?
A. I found 10 bucks in my coat pocket; now I’m rich!
B. A line of masks on the hearth frowned and grimaced.
C. Let me tell you, that new Starla record is hot as ice.
D. Dominoes spilled onto the table like bars of silver.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is C. Let me tell you, that new Starla record is hot as ice.
Explanation:
A paradox is a statement that seems self-contradictory or absurd but often contains a deeper truth or insight. It typically juxtaposes two opposing ideas that challenge conventional understanding but provoke thought.
Analysis of Each Option:
- Option A (“I found 10 bucks in my coat pocket; now I’m rich!”)
- This is hyperbole rather than paradox. It exaggerates the value of $10 to imply wealth, but there’s no inherent contradiction in the statement.
- Option B (“A line of masks on the hearth frowned and grimaced.”)
- This is an example of personification, where non-human objects (masks) are given human characteristics (frowning and grimacing). It does not present contradictory ideas.
- Option C (“Let me tell you, that new Starla record is hot as ice.”)
- This is a paradox. The phrase “hot as ice” combines two opposites—”hot” and “ice”—that seemingly contradict each other. However, it may suggest that the record is both popular (“hot”) and cool in style (“ice”). The contradiction is figurative, drawing attention and encouraging the reader to think more deeply about its meaning.
- Option D (“Dominoes spilled onto the table like bars of silver.”)
- This is a simile. The comparison of dominoes to bars of silver creates a vivid image but does not include any contradiction or deeper truth.
Why Option C is the Best Example:
The paradox in Option C plays with the literal contradiction of “hot” and “ice.” While these terms are opposites in a physical sense, the paradox creates an evocative and engaging statement by combining their connotations. In literature and speech, such paradoxes are often used for dramatic effect, humor, or to draw attention to the complexity of an idea.
Thus, the phrase “hot as ice” is the most fitting example of a paradox in this context.