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Difficulty: HardFigurative Language and Figures of Speech in Context

Read the passage excerpt below:

"When the investigative committee finally released its long-awaited report on the municipal contract scandal, the spokesman declared that the administration welcomed the findings, noting with apparent satisfaction that the inquiry had merely uncovered 'a few administrative irregularities.' However, seasoned political analysts recognized this statement as a masterclass in euphemism, designed to mute the public outcry over systemic embezzlement."

In the context of the passage, the phrase "a few administrative irregularities" is used primarily to:

  1. soften the severity of widespread corruption by presenting it as minor procedural errors.Answer
  2. B
    provide an accurate technical summary of minor record-keeping mistakes made by staff.
  3. C
    demonstrate that the administration was entirely unaware of any financial impropriety prior to the report.
  4. D
    criticize the investigative committee for failing to conduct a thorough financial audit.

Answer

The phrase is used primarily to soften the severity of widespread corruption by presenting it as minor procedural errors.
The correct answer captures how the spokesman uses euphemism to downplay systemic embezzlement as mere procedural flaws, thereby attempting to defuse public anger.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the expression within its passage context.
The spokesman uses the phrase 'a few administrative irregularities' to describe the findings of an investigation into systemic embezzlement.
Understanding the contrast between the spokesman's mild phrasing and the severe crime of embezzlement reveals the underlying purpose.
2
Identify the literary device highlighted by the writer.
The text explicitly identifies the statement as a 'masterclass in euphemism' intended to 'mute public outcry'.
A euphemism replaces unpleasant or offensive truths with mild, indirect, or vague expressions.
3
Deduce the contextual function of the phrase.
Framing massive theft as mere administrative errors minimizes the severity of the offense to manage public reaction.
This directly matches the pragmatic intent of euphemistic language in political spin.

Key Concept

Contextual meaning and pragmatic function of euphemism
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Topics

Figurative Language and Figures of Speech in Context

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