Explanation
This question addresses a specific window of time, one
that seems to correspond to third of the three "phases" discussed in the second
paragraph. Going back to that paragraph, we confirm what the author has to say
about this period: the price gaps in commodities markets fell again (since the
world war period was over) by 76 percent, due mostly to cheaper transport and
partly to favorable trade policies. Let's see which answer choices are
consistent with these statements. Choice (A) is correct. Choice (B) is a
distortion, because it's the price gaps that were made smaller, not the prices
themselves; some prices probably went up as the gaps shrunk. Choice (C) might
be plausible, but it has no support in the passage. Choice (D) is inaccurate,
since we are talking about just the third phase, not overall. Choice (E) is out
of place, because that figure refers to a different comparison in time, in the
next paragraph.
The correct answer is (A).
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