Read the excerpt from Dispatches. By autumn, what had begun as an adventurous expedition had turned into an exhausting, indecisive war of attrition in which we fought for no cause other than our own survival. Which statement best explains the paradox in the excerpt? a. it is odd that war should ever be viewed as an adventurous expedition. b. it is unusual that soldiers should ever be forced to fight merely to survive. c. it is surprising that the expedition turned out to be so exhausting and difficult. d. it is unfortunate that the soldiers did not have the easy time they had anticipated.

A). It is odd that war should ever be viewed as an adventurous expedition.

Explanation:

Paradox is demonstrated as the literary device in which the author presents a statement that is self-contradictory or incongruous juxtaposition of ideas which captures the readers' attention and reveal a latent truth.

As per the question, option A i.e. 'it is odd that war should ever be viewed as an adventurous expedition' most appropriately elaborates the use of paradox in the given excerpt. The author incongruously juxtaposes the conventional idea of war by presenting it as an 'adventurous expedition' which eventually turn into an 'exhaustion and war of attrition' to highlight the serious concern that 'the causes for the war dampens over time and gradually all that is significant is staying alive'('no cause other than our own survival'). Thus, option A is the correct answer.