Identify the figure of speech in the following sentence-
The teacher went to the zoo with an army of children.
a) Metaphor
b) Simile
c) Personification
d) Irony

Hint: ‘An army of children’ is the figure of speech used in the given sentence. ‘An army of children’ refers to a large number of children. Here, we can see a comparison between an army and a group of children.

Complete answer:
 As given in the hint, the given sentence represents a comparison between two, unlike things.
In the given question- We know that the teacher, ‘X’ went to the zoo with ‘an army of children’. The comparison between the army and children focuses on the energetic yet destructive nature of the children.
Let’s examine the given options-
Option a- ‘Metaphor’ is a figure of speech that illustrates a comparison between two distinct things or objects to represent the hidden similarities between the two. ‘An army of children’ is a metaphor as we can see a comparison between two, unlike things. Hence, it is the correct option.
Option b- ‘Simile’ is a figure of speech that shows a comparison between two things with the help of ‘like, as or than’. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
Option c- ‘Personification’ is a figure of speech that attributes human feelings and emotions to non-living things. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
Option d- ‘Irony’ is a figure of speech that focuses on narrating or writing something that signifies the opposite meaning or popularly known as ‘sarcasm’. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
So, the correct answer is “Option a”.

Note:
The comparison shown between two objects in a metaphor is false and incorrect in the literal sense but it is used in a rhetorical way to disclose the similarities between two objects.