When the Conventional Retail Inventory Method Is Used, Markdowns Are

When the conventional retail inventory method is used, markdowns are commonly ignored in the calculation of the cost to retail ratio because

A) there may be no markdowns in a given year.
B) this tends to give a better approximation of the lower of cost and market.
C) mark-ups are also ignored.
D) this tends to result in the showing of a normal profit margin in a period when no markdown goods have been sold.