Question

a more unscrupulous person than myself would have palmed it off long ago. he would have told himself with hateful casuistry that the coin was none the worse for the air - hole in it, and that, if everybody who came into possession of it pressed it on to the next man, nobody would be injured by its circulation.
in this portion of the passage, \palmed it off\ differs from \handed it off\ in having what sort of connotation?
a it suggests greater friendliness and compassion.
b it suggests being high - handed and snobbish.
c it suggests being cunning and underhanded.
d it suggests being cheap and silly.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze the connotation of "palmed it off". The passage mentions an "unscrupulous person" using "hateful casuistry" to pass the coin. "Palmed off" implies deception or trickery to get rid of something, suggesting cunning (using deceit) and underhanded (dishonest) behavior.

• Option A: "Friendliness and compassion" is opposite, as the person is unscrupulous. Eliminate.
• Option B: "High - handed and snobbish" relates to arrogance in authority, not the deceit here. Eliminate.
• Option D: "Cheap and silly" doesn't match the deceitful nature of passing off a flawed coin with trickery. Eliminate.
• Option C matches the underhanded, cunning connotation of "palmed it off".

Answer:

C. It suggests being cunning and underhanded.