Final answer:
The exact real rate of return for a stock over the past year cannot be determined without specific data on dividends and capital gains for that year, which is not provided in the question or the reference material.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the real rate of return for a stock over the past year, one would need specific data about the stock's performance within that year, including any dividends paid and capital gains achieved. However, there is no explicit information provided in the question or the reference material that directly states the real rate of return for the past year. The references describe historical patterns and average returns over decades but do not give enough detail to answer the specific question. Without the exact percentage of dividends and capital gains for the year in question, it is impossible to provide a correct answer from the options given.