Question

Well, that's how we are at present. 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. Which choice would be a synonym for the word "unscrupulous," as it is used in this part of the passage?

A) controlling
B) devious
C) familiar
D) honest

Answer 1

B) devious

Step-by-step explanation:

The word, 'unscrupulous,' as used in the sentence implies dishonesty or deviousness. The speaker in the passage draws a contrast between himself and a more dishonest person.

The more dishonest person uses unsound reasoning to back up his decision to engage in a morally unjust and questionable conduct. He decides to pass over a faulty coin to others, reasoning that nobody will be harmed by it. This understanding of the context helps us draw the conclusion that unscrupulous is synonymous with dishonest or devious.