Comprehension
Read the below passage and answer the questions that follow.
After almost 10 minutes of standing in line at a coffee shop, Ritchie Torres realised he only had cash in his pocket- a form of payment no longer accepted by this store. ”It was a humiliating experience,” he said. ”I remember wondering aloud, how could a business refuse to accept cash, which is legal tender?” Torres is a City Council member in New York. He says his constituents, especially seniors, have also complained about a spurt of cashless stores. So, Torres led the charge on a bill to ban businesses from rejecting cash.
 ”A cashless economy is not an inclusive economy,” said Tazra Mitchell, Policy Director at the research and advocacy group DC Fiscal Policy Institute. Excluding people from paying with cash means, ”essentially discriminating against people who are low-income, people who are homeless, also undocumented,” she said. Getting a credit or debit card often requires a form of ID, a utility or another bill, money to deposit and a financial history. Mitchell said that in Washington, D.C., nearly a third of residents rely on cash every day because they don’t have a card or even a bank account. In fact, as cities have cracked down on the cashless economy and spurred new conversations about whom it leaves out, some of the biggest names that tried going cashless... have reversed their policies in favour of accepting cash. Credit card companies, which get a cut every time a card is swiped, have rewarded the cashless trend. For example, in 2018, Visa paid $10,000 each to 50 businesses that stopped accepting cash. And some store owners have argued, cash is inefficient. For example, it slows down the line, requires armoured cars, and attracts break- ins or skimming by workers. 
And indeed, cash is becoming less popular among U.S. shoppers. The Federal Reserve found in 2018 that cash had stopped being the No. 1 payment choice overtaken by debit cards. But cash is still the most common way people pay amounts under $10 or $25-especially among those older than 55 and younger than 25. And some people prefer cash for privacy reasons to protect their purchase history from being tracked by advertisers or banks. 
Cash also might carry potential psychological and financial benefits for consumers. Cash is, ”going to feel much more painful to give up because we can see it outflow from our hand,” said Avni Shah, Assistant Professor of Marketing at the University of Toronto. Her research found that when people pay in cash, they are more mindful of their spending willing to spend less to begin with- but they also value their purchases more and feel more loyal to the seller. 
Shah acknowledged that different businesses may have priorities other than loyalty, such as convenience and speed of getting the customer in and out of the store. Opponents of the bans on cashless establishments have argued that businesses should be able to make these decisions for themselves.
Question: 1

The move towards a cashless society has been propelled by all of the following, EXCEPT:

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When identifying exceptions, look for information that is mentioned in contrast to the other factors discussed in the passage.
Updated On: Apr 17, 2025
  • convenience and speed of transactions
  • the prevention of theft by workers and break-ins
  • incentives by credit card companies to move to a cashless pay system
  • the problems associated with acquiring a debit or credit card
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

The passage mentions that the move to a cashless society has been propelled by factors like convenience, speed, and incentives by credit card companies, but it also acknowledges the problems associated with acquiring a debit or credit card, which is NOT a driving factor.
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Question: 2

"Torres led the charge" (paragraph 1) means that he:

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"Led the charge" is an idiomatic expression that means to take the lead or initiate a movement.
Updated On: Apr 17, 2025
  • got consumers to boycott
  • initiated a move
  • accused cashless businesses
  • approached the authorities
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

The phrase "led the charge" refers to initiating or leading a movement. Torres initiated a move to challenge cashless businesses, which aligns with the context of the passage.
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Question: 3

The passage presents all of the following arguments against cashless societies, EXCEPT that they:

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Look for answers that do not align with the overall argument presented in the passage.
Updated On: Apr 17, 2025
  • violate the privacy of consumers by recording their transactions
  • discriminate against consumers who are unable to acquire a credit card
  • promote the interests of credit card companies above those of consumers
  • encourage large banks and advertisers to track consumer data
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

The passage does mention concerns about privacy and discrimination, but it does not discuss the encouragement of large banks and advertisers to track consumer data as a negative argument against cashless societies.
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Question: 4

Studies show that one advantage for store owners who accept cash from buyers is that:

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Look for details in the passage that discuss specific benefits mentioned by the author for accepting cash payments.
Updated On: Apr 17, 2025
  • they earn the loyalty of their customers
  • they incur lower transaction fees than other stores
  • they can tap into the market for the young and very old
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

The passage highlights that store owners who accept cash benefit from lower transaction fees, which is why this is seen as an advantage.
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Question: 5

The attitude of the writer of the passage towards those who cannot get a credit card can be best described as:

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"Empathy" refers to understanding and sharing the feelings of others, which is the tone the author takes towards those unable to get a credit card.
Updated On: Apr 17, 2025
  • Apathy
  • Compassion
  • Empathy
  • Pity
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

The author demonstrates understanding and empathy towards people who are unable to obtain a credit card, recognizing their situation without demeaning them.
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