Cells discharge fastest in parallel arrangement with lamps drawing maximum current

Steps:

• Identify that cell discharge rate depends on current drawn from the circuit.
• Calculate total current for each arrangement using equivalent resistance and voltage.
• Compare currents: higher current means faster discharge.
• Select arrangement with lowest total resistance and highest effective voltage supply.

Why C is correct:

• Cells in parallel double the current supply while lamps in parallel halve resistance, maximizing total current per Ohm's law (I = V/R).

Why the others are wrong:

• A: Series cells and lamps increase voltage but also resistance, limiting current.
• B: Series cells raise voltage, but parallel lamps reduce resistance only partially, yielding moderate current.
• D: Parallel cells boost current, but series lamps increase resistance, reducing overall current.

Final answer: C