Which line from from act 1 of the importance of being earnest is a paradox ? a) “it is awfully hard work doing nothing.” b) “i have something very particular to say to mr. worthing.” c) “you are not quite old enough to do that.” d) “it may be necessary to do something desperate.”

A) “it is awfully hard work doing nothing.”

As a literary device, a paradox is a statement that may seem silly, self-contradictory, and usually opposite to what is commonly believed or accepted by society, but that has a great potential to be true. This type of device tends to make people think differently or see things from a new perspective.

Sentence A is an example of that, as "hard work" and "do nothing" may seem two completely opposite concepts, however, could it be possible that they are related? For example, when you "do nothing" or be lazy for a period of time, the duties end up piling up (such as homework), and then when you have no other choice but to do the tasks, it becomes even more hard to do them and become an "awfully hard work".

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