A clock takes 27 seconds to strike 10 times. How many seconds will it take to strike 5 times at the same rate?

Correct answer: Option C — 12 seconds. 10 strikes contain 9 intervals, so one interval lasts 27/(9) = 3 seconds. 5 strikes contain 4 intervals, taking 12 seconds. Option A (13 seconds) is rejected because it does not equal the computed result; it represents a counting, direction, leap-year, interval, or hand-motion error. Option B (11 seconds) is rejected because it does not equal the computed result; it represents a counting, direction, leap-year, interval, or hand-motion error. Option D (14 seconds) is rejected because it does not equal the computed result; it represents a counting, direction, leap-year, interval, or hand-motion error.