Read the passage from “Abolishing the Penny Makes Good Sense.”
Even England, as tradition-bound a nation as they come, is more progressive in this matter than the United States. Years ago, the smallest unit of British currency was the farthing, equal to one-quarter of what was then called a penny. As England grew richer, the farthing gave way to the half-penny, then to the old penny, and finally to the new penny, which is the equivalent of 9.6 farthings. During this same time, all the stodgy United States did was abolish the half-penny.
What claim does the author make in this passage?
A. As a nation grows more wealthy, it must change its coins to adapt.
B. Fractional coins, such as quarter- and half-pennies, are worthless.
C. Other countries have eliminated low-value coins despite traditions.
D. The United States is far behind England in terms of currency policy.
I think it's B
No, the claim made in this passage is not that fractional coins, such as quarter- and half-pennies, are worthless. The author actually states that England has changed its coins over time as it grew richer, suggesting that fractional coins have value.
The correct claim made in this passage is C. Other countries have eliminated low-value coins despite traditions. The author highlights that even tradition-bound England has made changes to its currency, eliminating lower-value coins like the farthing, while the United States only abolished the half-penny.
The claim made by the author in this passage is C. Other countries have eliminated low-value coins despite traditions.
To get to this answer, let's analyze the passage together. The author mentions how England, despite being a tradition-bound nation, has been more progressive in currency matters compared to the United States. They provide examples of the evolution of British currency from the farthing to the new penny, which is equivalent to 9.6 farthings. The author then contrasts this with the United States, stating that all they did was abolish the half-penny.
Based on this information, the claim made by the author is that other countries, like England, have eliminated low-value coins despite their traditions. This implies that the United States has not taken similar measures, suggesting they are behind in terms of currency policy. Therefore, option C, "Other countries have eliminated low-value coins despite traditions," is the correct answer.