Ben packed a big umbrella because the radio warned of heavy rain. The sun shone all day, so he opened the umbrella for shade. What makes this ironic?

Lina spilled orange juice down her clean white shirt. She looked at the stain and said, "Wonderful. Exactly what I wanted today." What does Lina really mean?

The reader is told the gift box is empty. Maya hugs the box, smiles, and tells her brother she will open her surprise after dinner. Why is this moment ironic for the reader?

The town's new fire station opened with a big program. That same night, a small fire started in the station's own kitchen. Which expectation does the ending reverse?

Rain soaked the drums and the marchers stopped. Dan looked at the gray sky and said, "Great weather for a parade." What does his remark add to the mood of the scene?

Carla lifted her school bag and groaned, "This bag weighs a ton." Which device is she using, and why?

The new swimming coach refuses to go into water deeper than her knees. Which device does this situation use, and why?

Section Malaya won the tidiness banner on Friday. On Monday morning their room had the most litter in the building. Which detail creates the irony?

Noel studied until two in the morning so he would not fail the quiz. He slept through his alarm and missed the quiz completely. What was expected, and what happened instead?

The reader is told the puppy is hiding under Ana's bed. Ana walks around the garden calling its name and says it must have run to the road. What does the reader know that Ana does not?

The bus leaves in two minutes and the class is still packing. Their teacher folds her arms and says, "Take your time, everyone." What is she really telling them?

Mr. Reyes reminds the library every hour to keep quiet. Reaching for a book, he knocked a whole shelf onto the tiles with a crash. Why is this ironic?

Weather reporter Tess told viewers that Saturday would be dry and warm. She walked home Saturday in a downpour with no umbrella. What makes this ironic?

A story about a careful, list-making boy ends with the line: "He had remembered everything except the list." Why did the writer save this line for the end?

Situation: the town's only umbrella seller stands in the rain with nothing over his head. Which change would remove the irony?

A sign warning people about the slippery floor was taped flat on the wet tiles. Three teachers slipped while bending down to read it. Why is this ironic?

Ana saved coins for a year to buy a bicycle. The morning after she bought one, her uncle arrived with a bicycle he had ordered for her birthday. What makes this ironic?

Tito rubbed his eyes at four in the morning and mumbled, "I love waking up this early." How should the reader take his words?

The reader is told the picnic is on Sunday. On Saturday the twins pack rice cakes, sit at the gate, and wonder why nobody has come. What effect does the reader's extra knowledge create?

The bus has not moved for an hour in heavy traffic. A passenger leans back and says, "We are certainly flying today." What is the passenger telling the others?

Ramon promised to guard the classroom plants while everyone was away. He forgot them for two weeks, and the plants that survived were the ones he had never watered. What makes this ironic?

Marta looked at her flooded shoes and said, "What a perfectly dry morning." Her words match what she really feels.

A tour guide leads visitors around the old fort, then admits he cannot find the way back to the entrance. Which mismatch makes this ironic?

Ito reminds his family every day not to waste water. His sister finds the kitchen tap running all afternoon while he naps. What does the irony show about Ito?

The meeting lasted three hours in a hot room. Walking out, Dela said, "Well, that was the shortest meeting of my life." What is she doing with these words?

The reader is told the last chair in the hall has a cracked leg. A visitor walks past four good chairs and sits on that one. What does the reader expect while reading?

The raincoat maker sold every coat in his shop before the storm. He was the only person in the market who came home soaked. Why is this ironic and not just bad luck?

The prize for the neatest handwriting was a certificate with the winner's name spelled wrongly. Why is this ironic?

Dina spent the whole morning telling her friends she never gets nervous on stage. Her hands shook so hard she dropped the microphone. What does the reader understand about Dina?

A story opens: "Of all the boys in the barangay, Elmo was the finest swimmer." The story ends with Elmo being pulled from the shallow creek by his little sister. Why is the opening line important?

A signboard at the town's Dry Season Festival was blown down by the heaviest rain of the year. What kind of mismatch does this show?

Ravi tripped over the wire and switched off the whole display. His teammate stared at the dark screen and said, "Nice job." What does the teammate mean?

An announcer at the school program said the sound system was the most reliable in the province. The speakers went silent one minute later. What effect does the timing create?

In a story, the reader learns on page one that the treasure map is a copy of a school map. The characters spend the next pages digging in the field. Why does the reader smile?

"I have called your name a thousand times," said Lola from the kitchen. Lola's words say the opposite of what she means.

The shelf leaned forward and books slid off one end. "Careful, that shelf is very sturdy," said Ador. What is he warning his cousin about?

A small shop sells alarm clocks of every size. Its owner arrives late every single morning. Where is the mismatch in this situation?

A boy spends all week building a strong kite for the windy season. Which added detail would make his story ironic?

A story ends with the town's loudest complainer about noise buying a set of drums. What does the ending make the reader feel about him?

A doctor tells patients to walk every day. Every morning she drives the two hundred meters from her house to the clinic. What makes this ironic?