There was already a 3% decrease in functional illiteracy (1975-1980) that shows functional illiteracy is not constant and it might change in future, hence option B. My second option was option C but year 2000 survey is out of scope.

According to a 1980 survey, ten percent of all United States citizens over the age of sixteen are functionally illiterate. Therefore, if the projection that there will be 250 million United States citizens over sixteen in the year 2000 is correct, we project that 25 million of these citizens will be functionally illiterate.

The key word is the projection


(B) From 1975 to 1980 there was a three-percent decrease in the rate of functional illiteracy among United States citizens over the age of sixteen.


(C) Many United States citizens included in the 1980 survey would also be included in a survey conducted in the year 2000.

C does not say anything about a rate. The inclusion of people in both survey does not help us

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