Question:

Which of the following is a valid defense to an age-discrimination claim?

a)It is legal to hire younger applicants when all else is equal because they will stay with the company longer than persons near normal retirement age.

b)Younger persons can be preferred over persons near normal retirement age because health declines rapidly for older persons.

c)The younger person whom the plaintiff claims was illegally treated better than she is also over age 40.

d)Some individuals over a particular age possess a disqualifying trait that cannot be ascertained except by reference to age.