Question

The statement by Roosevelt, It is said that nothing is impossible; but there are lots of people doing nothing every day is a(n) ________ because a phrase in the statement has two meanings.

1) Simile
2) Metaphor
3) Oxymoron
4) Idiom

Answer 1

The correct answer is that the statement by Roosevelt uses a pun, which is a play on words where a phrase has a double meaning. The phrase 'doing nothing' can mean being idle or the impossibility of achieving nothingness. The provided options do not encompass this wordplay.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement by Roosevelt is an example of a pun because a phrase in the statement, 'doing nothing', can be understood in two different ways: literally as in being idle, and figuratively as in the impossibility of achieving nothingness. The options provided in the question (simile, metaphor, oxymoron, and idiom) do not accurately describe this dual meaning. Puns are a form of wordplay that exploit the ambiguity of language.

Roosevelt's witty statement suggests a paradox, touching upon the philosophical concept of action and inaction. The phrase 'doing nothing' is witty because it is generally understood that 'nothing' is the absence of anything, and therefore, it is impossible to actively 'do' it. However, the statement also criticizes those who are idle by humorously implying that they accomplish the impossible daily, by 'doing nothing'.