B. Direct quote. Without evidence that this was said by an expert in the field, it can't be C, an expert option. And since in fact no one else is mentioned to be speaking, B is the only choice.
Answer:
It all depends on their various roles and the storyline of that story in the first place.
It is a noun because that is the main thing in you story/sentence
Answer:
In effect, eliminating the penny means all retail prices would end in zero or five. Some prices would rise a few pennies; some would be rounded down. Prices that end in 99 cents are common, and penny proponents have argued that eliminating pennies would amount to a one-cent sales tax.