Question

Jim had not yet seen his beautiful present. She held it out to him eagerly upon her open palm. The dull precious metal seemed to flash with a reflection of her bright and ardent spirit.

"Isn't it a dandy, Jim? I hunted all over town to find it. You'll have to look at the time a hundred times a day now. Give me your watch. I want to see how it looks on it."

Instead of obeying, Jim tumbled down on the couch and put his hands under the back of his head and smiled.

"Dell," said he, "let's put our Christmas presents away and keep 'em a while. They're too nice to use just at present. I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs."

—"The Gift of the Magi,"
O. Henry

Which sentence best describes the irony in the passage?

It is ironic that Jim and Della will not be able to use their presents until the future.
It is ironic that Jim cannot use Della’s present because he sold his watch to get her present.
It is ironic that Jim wanted his present so badly but no longer wants it.

Answer 1

It is ironic that Jim cannot use Della’s present because he sold his watch to get her present.

Explanation: This situational irony arises because each sacrificed the very thing the other's gift was meant to complement — Jim sold his watch to buy Della’s combs, so he can’t use the watch chain she bought for him.