Gunther’s first day teaching kindergarten was best described as controlled chaos. By afternoon, there was paint in places Gunther could never have predicted—including, somehow, on the ceiling. But the art mishap did not even rank very high, comparatively, on the minor crisis scale. Pitted against happenings such as the safety scissor haircut, the toilet jam extravaganza, and the great lunch spill of 12:33…few events could clear the high bar of being worthy of specific notice. What purpose does the author’s use of an oxymoron serve in this paragraph? (1 point)

Question

It makes a thoughtful point.
It highlights emotion.
It implies a contradiction.
It adds humor.

Answer 1

The author's use of an oxymoron, "controlled chaos," primarily serves to imply a contradiction. This phrase suggests that despite the apparent disorder and mayhem of teaching kindergarten, there is an underlying element of management and organization, reflecting the complex nature of the situation.