Advanced Placement (AP) English Literature Practice Exam

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Prepare for the AP English Literature Exam with challenging questions, detailed explanations, and strategic learning resources. Enhance your literary analysis and critical thinking skills to excel on test day!

Practice this question and more.

Which expression is a form of irony that represents something as being less than it is?

Exaggeration
Understatement
Personification
Oxymoron

The correct answer is: Understatement

Understatement is a form of irony where a situation or phenomenon is presented as being less serious or significant than it actually is. This literary technique is often employed to create a contrast that emphasizes the reality of the situation, adding a layer of sarcasm or humor. For example, saying “It’s just a scratch” when referring to a large dent in a car effectively downplays the actual damage, providing a humorous effect while also provoking thought about the exaggerated nature of human reactions to problems. Other options do not fit this definition. Exaggeration involves amplifying a situation beyond its actual proportions, while personification attributes human traits to non-human entities, and oxymoron combines contradictory terms to create a nuanced meaning. Therefore, understatement correctly identifies the type of irony in question.