Answer: C. His reputation for clever dealing betrays him when he tells the truth.
The statement in letter c shows irony because it presents contrasting events. Mr. Hauchecorne is a clever person however the irony strikes on him when nobody believes him and makes fun of his cleverness when he said the truth about the string.
I believe that an unhappy ending can do that.
When a story has a happy ending, then you finish it and you feel satisfied and joyful about how the story ended. On the other hand, if the story ends in an unhappy manner, you start thinking about the resolutions and imagining what could lead to such an ending and how it could be fixed.
Using words to communicate with another person
Answer: B. The work was cruel and inhumane.
Explanation:
Slaves were often subject to work that was too cruel and inhumane to be given to humans of higher social standards. They were forced to work in weather conditions that would be detrimental to a human's health and were subjected to working hours that left little time for rest.
Coupled with this was physical and mental abuses in terms of beatings and intimidation that made the work much harder to do. This is why slave work was said to be grueling.