What rhetorical device is illustrated by pairing education benefits with underfunding to highlight a contradiction?

• A. Ethos
• B. Pathos
• C. Juxtaposition
• D. Logos

Answer: (C)

Juxtaposition is the rhetorical device at work here. It relies on placing two related ideas—education benefits and underfunding—side by side to highlight their tension or contradiction. By directly contrasting the hoped-for outcomes of education with the reality of insufficient funding, the audience can clearly see the mismatch, which makes the argument more persuasive without needing to spell out every logical step.

Ethos, pathos, and logos focus on credibility, emotion, and logical reasoning, respectively. The effectiveness of this example comes from the visible clash between what is claimed or promised and what is actually happening, rather than appeals to credibility, emotion, or pure logic.