Final answer:
HC employs more than 500 workers as it is categorized as one of the large firms. Thus, the closest option that is over 500 is 1000 employees.
Step-by-step explanation:
While the specific employee count for HC is not explicitly stated, the information provided allows for a reasonable inference regarding the scale of its workforce. The mention of HC being categorized as one of the 17,000 large firms provides a key clue. It is noted that slightly less than half of all workers in private firms are employed by large firms with over 500 employees. Given that HC falls into the category of large firms, it is logical to deduce that its employee count surpasses the 500 mark.
Among the provided answer choices, option B—1000 employees—is the only one exceeding 500 and aligns with the inferred range for HC's workforce size. This deduction is grounded in the context of the broader distribution of workers in private firms, and the designation of HC as a large firm further supports the notion that its employee count falls within the higher range.
While the exact number remains unspecified, the conclusion drawn is a reasonable and justifiable estimation based on the information provided. This method of inference is a common analytical approach when details are not explicitly stated, allowing for a pragmatic interpretation of the available data to arrive at a plausible conclusion. In this case, the inference leads to the reasonable assumption that HC employs more than 500 workers, and option B, with 1000 employees, is the most fitting choice among the given options.