Answer:
B) a euphemism
Explanation:
Euphemism refers to a manner of communication wherein the speaker rather than expressing something directly, which could be harsh, chooses to opt for a mild expression, conveying the same message indirectly in a toned down speech.
It represents a polite but indirect way of expressing something by the speaker, when the content of message could sound harsh, if directly expressed.
Such a technique makes the message sound more pleasant than it actually is. In the given case, the president reduced the major portion of the workers pay and quoted it as "temporary economic adaptation" rather than simply calling it a pay cut, since the latter expression might have sounded harsh to employees.
This is an example of a euphemism, wherein the speaker opted for a mellowed down expression.