WAEC 2021 Literature in English · Question 38

I feel a million times better than I felt yesterday is

Options

  1. A.an apostrophe
  2. B.a euphemism
  3. C.an irony
  4. D.a hyperbole

Answer: D. a hyperbole

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Step 1: Analyze the question We are asked to identify the figure of speech in the sentence: "I feel a million times better than I felt yesterday."

Step 2: Explain the concepts

  • Apostrophe: Addressing an absent person, a dead person, or an abstract idea as if it were present and could respond (e.g., "O Death, where is thy sting?").
  • Euphemism: Using a mild or polite expression in place of a harsh or unpleasant one (e.g., "He passed away" instead of "He died").
  • Irony: Saying the opposite of what you mean, or a situation where the outcome is the opposite of what is expected (e.g., saying "What lovely weather!" during a storm).
  • Hyperbole: Deliberate, extravagant exaggeration used for emphasis, not meant to be taken literally.

Step 3: Apply to the sentence

  • No one is being addressed, so it is not an apostrophe.
  • Nothing harsh is being softened, so it is not a euphemism.
  • The speaker means what they say in spirit (they feel much better), and there is no contrast between meaning and statement, so it is not irony.
  • "A million times better" cannot be measured literally. Feeling is not quantifiable in this way, so this is a deliberate exaggeration to stress how much better the speaker feels. That is hyperbole.

Step 4: Answer The correct option is D. a hyperbole.

Exam tip: Look for numbers or extreme words like "million," "forever," "never-ending," or "a thousand times." These are strong signals of hyperbole. Remember: Hyperbole = Huge exaggeration.

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