Final answer:
Examples b) A teacher fails the spelling test and d) A lifeguard nearly drowns in the shallow end of the pool are scenarios of verbal irony due to the contrast between expected expertise and the ironic outcomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Verbal irony occurs when the literal meaning of what is said is opposite to the intended message or when a speaker says one thing but means another, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.
In the scenarios presented, two examples of verbal irony are: b) A teacher fails the spelling test, since it is unexpected and ironic that someone who teaches spelling would fail a test on it, and d) A lifeguard nearly drowns in the shallow end of the pool, since lifeguards are expected to be adept at swimming and ensuring the safety of others in the water, not the ones needing rescue, especially in the shallow end.