What a … ! the more you look, the less you see

Analyze the question The sentence is "What a ____! The more you look, the less you see." You need the word that best describes a situation where the more you do something, the less you get from it.

Explain the concept A paradox is a statement or situation that seems self-contradictory or absurd, yet may be true. Here, looking more would normally mean seeing more, but the sentence says you see less. That is a contradiction in terms.

Check each option

• A. wonder: something amazing, but it doesn't imply any contradiction.
• B. miracle: an extraordinary event that seems to defy natural law, usually a positive one. It doesn't capture the idea of two things that oppose each other.
• C. challenge: a difficult task, but the sentence is not describing difficulty.
• D. paradox: a seemingly contradictory situation. This matches "the more you look, the less you see."

Answer The correct option is D. paradox.

Exam tip When a sentence describes something that seems to contradict itself, such as "the more... the less...", think paradox. Related words are irony (the opposite of what is expected) and contradiction.