Final answer:
The Ghost of Christmas Past carries a horn of plenty as a torch and shows Scrooge scenes of poverty, which is not a paradox but emphasizes contrasts. The other options listed describe actual paradoxes related to the ghost's appearance and symbolic nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The paradoxes of the Ghost of Christmas Past in Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" are meant to convey complex themes and contrasts. Specifically, the option that does not present a paradox is (a), the detail that the Ghost of Christmas Past carries a horn of plenty as a torch yet shows Scrooge scenes of poverty. This is not a paradox because the horn of plenty, or cornucopia, is a symbol of abundance, and its use by the ghost as it reveals scenes of poverty does not create a contradictory statement but rather highlights the differences between prosperity and need. On the other hand, options (b), (c), and (d) do present paradoxes. The ghost is described as both old and young, showing the timelessness of the past; it wears a tunic of pure white (symbolizing purity) yet has a flame-like head, juxtaposing purity with the dynamic, sometimes destructive nature of fire; and it represents the joyful spirit of Christmastime, yet is associated with the darkness and melancholy of past memories.