The worksheet asks you to identify examples of
Irony. Irony happens when the opposite of what you expect occurs, or when someone says one thing but means another. Let’s look at each scenario and decide if it’s ironic.
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11. A teacher forgets her homework and isn’t able to grade the students’ papers.
→ This is ironic! You expect a teacher to remember homework — it’s their job. But she forgot hers, so she can’t do her job. Opposite of what should happen.
12. Mr. Thompkins asks if instructions are clear. Nick says, “As clear as mud.”
→ This is verbal irony. “Clear as mud” means it’s *not* clear — he’s saying the opposite of what he means. Mud is muddy, not clear.
13. “Perhaps you’ve heard of World War II? It was a little scuffle between a couple of countries.”
→ This is verbal irony. WWII was a huge global war — calling it a “little scuffle” is sarcastic and means the opposite.
14. The president disguises himself, then someone complains about him while he’s listening.
→ This is situational irony. He’s trying to stay hidden, but ends up hearing people criticize him — which is funny and unexpected.
15. Mrs. Rockefeller calls her huge diamond ring “just a trinket” and says she doesn’t wear it.
→ Verbal irony. She’s downplaying something very valuable. “Trinket” means cheap jewelry — but it’s clearly expensive. She means the opposite.
16. A ski area closes because of heavy snowfall.
→ Not ironic. Ski areas need snow — but if there’s too much, it might be unsafe or impossible to operate. This is logical, not opposite of expectation.
17. Patrick borrowed his brother’s bike without permission, it got stolen, and he lies by saying “It isn’t my bike.”
→ Not ironic. This is just lying or being sneaky. Irony would be if, say, the brother got mad because Patrick didn’t borrow it — but that’s not what happened.
18. John says “All the good seats are taken” when only one person is seated in a nearly empty theater.
→ Verbal irony. He’s exaggerating or joking — there are plenty of good seats. He means the opposite of what he says.
19. Family is sad their dog ran away — but audience knows the dog is safe and being helped.
→ Dramatic irony. The characters don’t know the truth, but the audience does. That creates irony because we know more than they do.
20. You see a cat chasing a large dog across the yard.
→ Not ironic. Cats usually run from dogs — so this is surprising, but not necessarily ironic unless it’s part of a bigger story where it’s the opposite of what should happen. By itself, it’s just unusual.
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✔ So the ironic situations are:
11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19
✘ Not ironic:
16, 17, 20
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Final Answer:
11. Yes
12. Yes
13. Yes
14. Yes
15. Yes
16. No
17. No
18. Yes
19. Yes
20. No
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of irony worksheet.
