A researcher is analyzing the relationship between the percentage of a country's GDP spent on research and development (R&D) and the number of patent applications filed per million people. The researcher posits that while increased R&D spending is generally associated with more innovation, the efficiency of this spending can vary, suggesting that a higher percentage of R&D spending does not guarantee a proportionally higher rate of patent applications.
**R&D Spending vs. Patent Applications (2023)**
| Country | R&D Spending (% of GDP) | Patent Applications (per million people) |
|---|---|---|
| Country A | 1.8% | 150 |
| Country B | 2.5% | 300 |
| Country C | 2.4% | 310 |
| Country D | 3.2% | 350 |
| Country E | 3.1% | 345 |
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to illustrate the researcher's claim about the variable efficiency of R&D spending?
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A
Country B and Country C had similar R&D spending percentages (2.5% and 2.4%, respectively), but Country C had a slightly higher number of patent applications per million people.
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B
Country D had the highest R&D spending at 3.2% and also had the highest number of patent applications at 350 per million people.
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C
Country A had the lowest R&D spending at 1.8% and the lowest number of patent applications at 150.
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D
The difference in patent applications between Country E (345) and Country D (350) is minimal compared to their difference in R&D spending.