Question

Which scenario is an example of understatement?

A. A sign in the garden reads " please do not pick the flowers. They like their dirty home.
B. Landon scores the fourth goal of the game, and his teammate shouts across the field, "dude, you are on fire today".
C. A teacher assigns a 10 page research project and says, "this might take a little time".
D. The sign above the carrots in the produce section reads "eyesight not so good these days? Have a carrot, and it will Life the haze."

Answer 1

yeah its C because the teacher is making a (HUGE) essay sound like it will take (LITTLE) time.

Answer 2

The answer is C: A teacher assigns a 10 page research project and says, "this might take a little time".

An understatement is a statement that underplays the significance, value, size, relevance or importance of something and it makes it seem considerable less than what it actually is. In this example, the teacher makes it seem like writing a 10 page essay will take just “a little time”, when in fact, any student knows that a 10 page essay in a considerable enterprise that will take a lot more than just a little time.