Question

Which line in this excerpt from “The Gun” by Philip K. Dick is an example of euphemism? The Captain peered into the eyepiece of the telescope. He adjusted the focus quickly. "It was an atomic fission we saw, all right," he said presently. He sighed and pushed the eyepiece away. "Any of you who wants to look may do so. But it's not a pretty sight." "Let me look," Tance the archeologist said. He bent down to look, squinting. "Good Lord!" He leaped violently back, knocking against Dorle, the Chief Navigator. "Why did we come all this way, then?" Dorle asked, looking around at the other men. "There's no point even in landing. Let's go back at once." "Perhaps he's right," the biologist murmured. "But I'd like to look for myself, if I may." He pushed past Tance and peered into the sight.

Answer 1

"But it's not a pretty sight."

A euphemism is an understatement used to sound more polite when having to give bad or embarrassing news. The statement "it's not a pretty sight" is a  euphemism because the sight is actually horrendous. When the archaeologist looks through the telescope he is so shocked by what he sees he jumps back. They then discuss how their mission is pointless because of the destruction. This all shows that the sight through the telescope is worse than not pretty.

Answer 2

But its not aa pretty sight