What best describes satire?

• A. Imitates a specific work to criticize that work
• B. Comments on social conventions or cultural conditions and can stand on its own
• C. Is identical to the original text
• D. Requires permission to exist

Answer: (B)

Satire uses humor, irony, or exaggeration to critique social conventions or cultural conditions and to prompt reflection or change. It typically targets broader society rather than a single text, and it can stand on its own as a complete piece of commentary. The description that best fits this is the one that notes satire comments on social conventions or cultural conditions and can stand on its own, capturing both its critical aim and its independence as a work. The other descriptions align with different forms: imitation of a specific work to criticize that work is more characteristic of parody; being identical to the original text isn’t satire because it involves no critique or transformation; and needing permission to exist is a matter of copyright, not a defining feature of satire.