A clock gains 3 minutes every hour. If it was set correctly 15 hours ago, how far from the correct time is it now?

Correct answer: Option A — 45 minutes fast. Total gain = rate × elapsed time = 3 × 15 = 45 minutes. Option B (45 minutes slow) is rejected because it does not equal the computed result; it represents a counting, direction, leap-year, interval, or hand-motion error. Option C (42 minutes fast) is rejected because it does not equal the computed result; it represents a counting, direction, leap-year, interval, or hand-motion error. Option D (48 minutes fast) is rejected because it does not equal the computed result; it represents a counting, direction, leap-year, interval, or hand-motion error.