Choose the term for an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its contrary (e.g., "not a bad performance"):
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Litotes
- Step 1: Analyze the grammatical and rhetorical form of the given expression: an affirmative sentiment ("a good performance") is conveyed by denying the opposite negative quality ("not bad").
- Step 2: Identify the rhetorical term: this classic form of ironical understatement, where a statement is asserted by negating its contrary, is known as litotes.
Answer
Litotes.
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