Question

what does the verbal irony in this text suggest?
\this salsa could use a little more spice,\ neil said as he gulped down water and wiped tears from his eyes.
the salsa triggered neil’s allergies.
the salsa was too spicy.
the salsa was tasteless.

Explanation:

Verbal irony is when someone says the opposite of what they really mean. Neil says the salsa "could use a little more spice" while he's gulping water and wiping tears, implying the salsa is already too spicy (so his statement is ironic, as he actually thinks it's too spicy, not that it needs more). The option "The salsa was too spicy" aligns with the irony's implication (his words contrast with the actual situation, and the irony suggests the salsa was overly spicy).

Answer:

The salsa was too spicy.