Question

Which phrase from the excerpt is an example of verbal irony?

Then as to the females, it would, I think, with humble submission, be a loss to the publick, because they soon would become breeders themselves: And besides, it is not improbable that some scrupulous people might be apt to censure such a practice, (although indeed very unjustly) as a little bordering upon cruelty, which, I confess, hath always been with me the strongest objection against any project, how well soever intended.

A-a loss to the publick
B-some scrupulous people
C-indeed very unjustly
D-strongest objection against

Answer 1

C- Indeed very unjustly

I just answered this question for someone els on here, so here you go, 


I hope this helped.

Answer 2

Answer: indeed very unjustly.

We must consider first that "A Modest Proposal" is in fact a satire. Swift's proposal to solving the economic problems of Ireland is to sell poor children as food to rich people. And in the excerpt, he exposes the idea of women as nothing but breeders. When the obvious though of possible protests to that degrading situation, he then says that such behavior is "indeed very unjustly" complained about. That contrast between something so horrific and such a simple answer as if there was nothing wrong with it is what shows clearly the irony of the text.

Answer: C - indeed very unjustly.