Question

Which excerpt from the passage contains a paradox and a pun?

“my part would not be out of place.”

“larger railway stations in London.”

“I merely desire information.”

“whose origin was a Terminus

Answer 1

The correct answer is D. "whose origin was a Terminus"

Step-by-step explanation:

A paradox is a statement or sentences that seem contradictory or illogical mainly because it connects two or more elements that are not supposed to go together or exist simultaneously which creates a sense of contraction and invalidity in the statement. On the other hand, a pun, which is also called paronomasia, refers to a joke based on the different meanings or connotations the words in a sentence or statement has, mainly to create a humorous effect. Considering this, the statement that contains both a paradox and a pun is "whose origin was a Terminus". This can be explained as the words "origin" and "terminus" are contradictory and normally cannot exist simultaneously, which creates a Paradox as the sentences seem illogical. On the other hand, the word "Terminus" refers to the end of a railroad line but also to the end of something and to the Roman god Terminus which creates a pun as there is a humorous effect created with the use of the multiple meaning of the word, that could suggest the origin of a person is not the god "Terminus" but the end of something.

Answer 2

The correct answer is D. The phrase "whose origin was a Terminus" is a paradox because it's a contradictory statement that somehow manages to be true. The fact that Jack's beginning (origin) occurred at an end (Terminus) is a paradox. The statement is also a pun because by using the words "origin" and "Terminus," Lady Bracknell (the speaker of this line) is using the same words that train conductors used to describe their stops. The word "origin" was used to describe the first stop on a route, and the word "Terminus" was used to describe the final stop on the route. Therefore this line contains both a paradox and a pun.