A historian charted military spending (% of GDP) in four years: 1940, 2.1%; 1945, 39.0%; 1950, 5.0%; 1955, 11.5%. The historian concluded that the 1945 figure was extraordinarily high. The strongest support is ______
Which choice most logically completes the text using the data above?
- A
the 1955 figure of 11.5%.
- Bcheck_circle
the 1945 figure of 39.0%—nearly 18x the 1940 level and over 3x the 1955 level.
- C
the 1950 figure of 5.0%.
- D
the 1940 figure of 2.1%.
Explanation
"Extraordinarily high" is supported by 1945's massive ratios versus surrounding years.