Question

passage 1
passage 2
what is competition from the point of view of the workman? it is work put up to auction. a contractor wants a workman: three present themselves.—how much for your work?—half - a - crown; i have a wife and children.—well; and how much for yours?—two shillings: i have no children, but i have a wife.—very well; and now how much for you?—one and eightpence are enough for me; i am single.—then you shall have the work. it is done; the bargain is struck. and what are the other two workmen to do? it is to be hoped they will die quietly of hunger....
according to the political economists of the school of adam smith and leon say, cheapness is the word in which may be summed up the advantages of unlimited
read this sentence from the paragraph on page 3 of passage 2.
\it is to be hoped they will die quietly of hunger.\
how does blanc use this sentence to help develop his overall theme?
by starting with the phrase \it is to be hoped,\ blanc draws attention to future possibilities.
by taking the point of view of the employer, blanc shows the complexity of the issue.
by using the word \quietly,\ blanc implies that riots and violence may erupt instead.
by saying the opposite of what he means, blanc highlights the evils of the current system.

Explanation:

Blanc's sentence is sarcastic; he does not actually hope workers die of hunger. By stating this extreme, cruel sentiment that aligns with the cold logic of unrestricted competition (where undercutting leads to unemployed workers facing starvation), he uses verbal irony to condemn the harsh, inhumane outcomes of the current economic system. The other options are incorrect: the phrase does not focus on future possibilities, it does not show employer complexity, and "quietly" does not imply violence—it emphasizes the callous disregard for workers' lives.

Answer:

D. By saying the opposite of what he means, Blanc highlights the evils of the current system.