Question

the railway carriage was correspondingly at templecombe, nearly an hour ahead. there were a small girl, and a smaller girl, and the children occupied one corner. a man on the opposite side was occupied by their party, but the small girls and the aunt occupied the compartment. both the aunt was rational in a limited, persistent way. her remarks seemed to begin with “don’t,” the children’s remarks began with “why?” the “don’t, cyril, don’t,” exclaimed the aunt, checking the cushion - making of the seat. “why are those sheep there?” she asked. “i don’t agree with you,” said the bachelor. “perhaps you would like to tell them a story,” was the aunt’s retort. “tell us a story,” demanded the bigger of the small girls. “once upon a time,” began the bachelor, “there was a little girl called bertha, who was extraordinarily good.” the children’s momentarily - aroused interest began at once to flicker; all stories seemed dreadfully alike, no matter who told them. which statement best explains the situational irony that occurs in the passage? the bachelor fears that the children will not like his story, but they do. the aunt does not expect the bachelor to tell a story, but he does.

Explanation:

Situational irony occurs when the opposite of what is expected happens. The aunt challenges the bachelor to tell a story perhaps thinking he won't or can't, but he does start telling one.

Answer:

The aunt does not expect the bachelor to tell a story, but he does.