In juvenile offenses, overall arrests declined from 16% to 12%.

In juvenile offenses, overall arrests declined from 16% to 12%.

• A. Increased from 16% to 12%
• B. Decreased from 16% to 12%
• C. Increased from 12% to 16%
• D. Stayed at 16%

Answer: (B)

Reading directional change in percent values is what's being tested here. The data show arrests moving from 16% down to 12%, which is a decrease of 4 percentage points and represents a downward trend. That makes the statement describing a decrease from 16% to 12% the correct one. The other options describe the opposite direction (increasing from 16% to 12%, or 12% to 16%) or no change (staying at 16%), none of which matches the observed decline.

Reading directional change in percent values is what's being tested here. The data show arrests moving from 16% down to 12%, which is a decrease of 4 percentage points and represents a downward trend. That makes the statement describing a decrease from 16% to 12% the correct one. The other options describe the opposite direction (increasing from 16% to 12%, or 12% to 16%) or no change (staying at 16%), none of which matches the observed decline.