A clock gains 5 minutes every hour. If it was set correctly 9 hours ago, how far from the correct time is it now?

Correct answer: Option C — 45 minutes fast. Total gain = rate × elapsed time = 5 × 9 = 45 minutes. Option A (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 B (40 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 (50 minutes fast) is rejected because it does not equal the computed result; it represents a counting, direction, leap-year, interval, or hand-motion error.