A clock gains 6 minutes every hour. If it was set correctly 12 hours ago, how far from the correct time is it now?

Correct answer: Option D — 72 minutes fast. Total gain = rate × elapsed time = 6 × 12 = 72 minutes. Option A (72 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 (66 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 C (78 minutes fast) is rejected because it does not equal the computed result; it represents a counting, direction, leap-year, interval, or hand-motion error.