Identify the figure of speech used in the following sentence:
In the exam hall Kunal had plenty of time and no answers; at home he had plenty of answers and no time.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Antithesis
The sentence has two matching halves. “In the exam hall” is set against “at home”, and “plenty of time and no answers” against “plenty of answers and no time”. The balance makes the contrast sharp.
| Figure | What it is | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Oxymoron | two opposite words put side by side | Dadi’s mango pickle has a sweet sourness that everyone loves. |
| (2) Metaphor | a hidden comparison: it says one thing is another, without “like” or “as” | Mira’s diary is a locked treasure box of secrets. |
| (3) Climax | ideas arranged in rising order of importance | Kavin won the class quiz, then the school final and at last the national title. |
| (4) Antithesis (answer) | two opposite ideas placed side by side in a balanced way | Our coach praises in public and scolds in private. |