In “The Penny May Be Worthless, But Let’s Keep It Anyway,” the author argues that the United States should discourage the use of pennies, but not ban them.
Which details are relevant to the author’s claim?
Select all that apply.
A. In addition, banning pennies is poor public policy because so many U.S. individuals adore the coins.
B. Some are concerned about the environmental damage caused by mining minerals for coins that are so little used.
C. If the above estimate that handling pennies adds several seconds to every transaction is correct, then by rounding down, companies would increase the number of customers each cashier can handle and also make patrons happier.
D. The nickel, comprising three-quarters copper and one-quarter nickel, currently costs 6.3 cents to make – which is practically a steal compared with the 11 cents it cost in 2011.
E. The penny is a symbol of the United States and its history, and it should be kept as a reminder of the nation’s past.
F. The penny is a nuisance, and it costs more to make than it is worth.
Answer: B, C, D, E
A. In addition, banning pennies is poor public policy because so many U.S. individuals adore the coins.
B. Some are concerned about the environmental damage caused by mining minerals for coins that are so little used.
C. If the above estimate that handling pennies adds several seconds to every transaction is correct, then by rounding down, companies would increase the number of customers each cashier can handle and also make patrons happier.
The relevant details to the author's claim are:
A. In addition, banning pennies is poor public policy because so many U.S. individuals adore the coins.
C. If the above estimate that handling pennies adds several seconds to every transaction is correct, then by rounding down, companies would increase the number of customers each cashier can handle and also make patrons happier.
D. The nickel, comprising three-quarters copper and one-quarter nickel, currently costs 6.3 cents to make – which is practically a steal compared with the 11 cents it cost in 2011.
The author's claim is that the United States should discourage the use of pennies but not ban them. To determine which details are relevant to the author's claim, we need to identify the details that support or align with the idea of discouraging the use of pennies rather than banning them.
Based on this criteria, the relevant details are:
A. In addition, banning pennies is poor public policy because so many U.S. individuals adore the coins.
C. If the above estimate that handling pennies adds several seconds to every transaction is correct, then by rounding down, companies would increase the number of customers each cashier can handle and also make patrons happier.
These details both provide reasons supporting the idea of discouraging the use of pennies without banning them. Option A highlights the sentimental value many individuals attach to pennies, making a ban unpopular. Option C suggests that removing the pennies from circulation would decrease transaction times and potentially improve customer satisfaction.