Janelle ran the half-block from the subway station to the office. Thank you very much, subway, Janelle thought. Thanks for picking today, of all days, to get stuck for twenty-six minutes. That was very considerate of you. Thanks for picking the very day we have a new supervisor coming to work, someone I really want to impress.

Question

She had risen before daylight that morning, planning to arrive to work even earlier than usual. She had planned to be at her desk, already hard at work, when the new supervisor arrived for the day. And now here she was, prompt, predictable Janelle, running late for the first time in her life.
Janelle entered the building and hurried to the elevator. A small crowd stood waiting for it. No, she decided; too slow. She would take the stairs, all sixteen floors of them. There was no time to waste.
By the time Janelle reached her floor, she was out of breath. She sprinted to her desk and threw herself into her chair.

Her coworker Mark leaned over from the next desk.

“Hi, Janelle,” he said. “Everything okay? I’ve never known you to be even a minute late.”

“I’m fine,” she said, busying herself with her computer. “Has the new supervisor come around yet?”

“The new supervisor?” Mark asked. “You mean the one starting next Monday?”

“Next Monday?” asked Janelle. “You mean, a week from today?”

“Yes,” said Mark. “It’s right here on the calendar.” He peered at Janelle. “You didn’t think it was today, did you?”

“Oh, no,” said Janelle. “Of course not. I would never make such a silly mistake.”

Question
Use the story to answer the question.

Why are the italicized lines in the first paragraph ironic?

(1 point)
Responses

The reader does not expect Janelle to be thinking anything.
The reader does not expect Janelle to be thinking anything.

It is unexpected that Janelle is taking the subway to work.
It is unexpected that Janelle is taking the subway to work.

The reader knows something that Janelle does not.
The reader knows something that Janelle does not.

Janelle’s words are the opposite of what she means.
Janelle’s words are the opposite of what she means.

Answer 1

The correct response is:

The reader knows something that Janelle does not.

This is ironic because while Janelle is stressing over being late for the new supervisor's arrival, the reader knows that the supervisor is not starting until the following week. This creates a situation where Janelle's anxiety is misplaced, and the reader has insight into the situation that Janelle lacks.