Final answer:
In 2015, venture capital firms funded nearly 8,000 (Option b) deals, showing the variable nature of investments with high risk but potential for significant returns.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 2015, venture capital firms funded nearly 8,000 deals. The investment landscape for venture capital can be quite volatile, with substantial fluctuations from year to year. For instance, according to the National Venture Capital Association, more than $48.3 billion was invested in 2014. Despite the high risk, as many startups fail within a short period, investors are attracted to the potential of significant returns from successful companies like Netflix or Amazon.com.