Comparing trade balances across years and countries

Steps:

• Identify trade balance as surplus (positive: exports exceed imports) or deficit (negative: imports exceed exports).
• Examine Brazil's data: positive value in 2005 indicates surplus; negative value in 2014 indicates deficit.
• Check other countries briefly to confirm no similar pattern fits the options.
• Conclude based on direct comparison of signs and magnitudes where relevant.

Why B is correct:

• Trade balance definition shows surplus when exports > imports (positive figure) and deficit when imports > exports (negative figure), matching Brazil's shift from positive 2005 to negative 2014.

Why the others are wrong:

• A: Argentina's surplus was smaller in 2014 than in 2005.
• C: Ecuador had surpluses in both years.
• D: Mexico's deficit was smaller in 2005 than in 2014.

Final answer: B