Final answer:
To "earn a benchmark" means a. achieving a financial goal.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of the article "The End of the World (Or, I Bounced a Check—Now What?)," to "earn a benchmark" means a. achieving a financial goal.
For example, if the goal is to save $10,000, once the person reaches that amount, they have earned the benchmark.
So, the correct answer is A) Achieving a financial goal.