Which statement is part of the unpaid interns rules?

• A. They must be paid at least minimum wage
• B. They must be compensated with stock options
• C. They must benefit the intern
• D. They must replace a regular employee

Answer: (C)

The main idea tested is that unpaid internships are allowed only if the intern is the primary beneficiary of the arrangement. When an internship is unpaid, the training and experience the intern gains must be the focus—similar to what they’d receive in a classroom or training program—while the employer should not derive an immediate advantage. The intern should learn and develop skills, not simply fill a regular worker role; the work performed should not displace regular employees, and there’s typically no guarantee of future employment.

That’s why this statement is the best fit: the internship must benefit the intern. It captures the essence of when an unpaid arrangement is permissible under typical internship rules.

The other options don’t fit because they either imply mandatory compensation or benefits for the company rather than the intern, or they describe outcomes that would undermine the unpaid-intern framework (for example, replacing a regular employee would show the employer gains an immediate benefit, which is contrary to the unpaid-intern criteria).