Answer: D) Irony.
Step-by-step explanation: an irony is a state of affairs or an event that seems contrary to what one expects and it often has an amusing result. So when the writer communicates his/her intent by stating its exact opposite, he/she is using an irony. A simile is a comparison between elements that aren't obviously related, this comparison is made using the words "like" and "as." A metaphor is also a comparison but it is direct (it doesn't use the wors "like" or "as"). Imagery is a literary device that consists in the use of figurative language to evoke the senses of the reader and to create a mental picture. So the correct answer is option D.