For a random sample of 70 European cities, the linear correlation coefficient between the number of sucides last year and the number of residents that regularly attend church services in the city was found to be r = 0.653.

a. What does this imply?

b. Does this suggest a high number of residents who regularly attend church services in a city results in a high number of suicides? Why or why not?

c. What is a likely lurking variable?