How would he explain it to himself? exemplifies ______?

Jame’s heart beat madly as he and Alice approached the beeping metal detector at the entrance. The oblivious swinging door hugged the couple with inviting, outstretched arms and ushered them into the lobby in genial welcome. The receptionist asked James to surrender any valuable items he had; if they got lost, management would be liable.

James looked at Alice, his wife returned his guilt-stricken, dubious look with an innocent, trusting smile. What would he do if jewels went missing? How would he explain it to himself? What would he have gained by his mischief? What had come over James so shamelessly to decide to rob his own wife? The swindled woman stood innocently beside her unrepentant husband as he took the key to their room with hands the shook slightly.

A. Hyperbole
B. Parallelism
C. Rhetorical question
D. Understatement

Correct Answer:

Option C – Rhetorical question

Explanation

A rhetorical question may have an obvious answer, but the questioner asks it to lay emphasis to the point. In literature, rhetorical question is self-evident, and used for style as an impressive persuasive device.