Simon Company's year$-$end balance sheets follow.

At December $31$ Current Year $1$ Year Ago $2$ Years Ago

Assets

Cash $ $30,268$ $ $34,694$ $ $34,729$

Accounts receivable, net $84,32061,91645,843$

Merchandise inventory $106,01680,22948,319$

Prepaid expenses $9,4648,8373,859$

Plant assets, net $268,012243,703218,050$

Total assets $ $498,080$ $ $429,379$ $ $350,800$

Liabilities and Equity

Accounts payable $ $125,262$ $ $72,565$ $ $45,379$

Long$-$term notes payable $91,76698,75779,853$

Common stock, $$10$ par value $162,500162,500162,500$

Retained earnings $118,55295,55763,068$

Total liabilities and equity $ $498,080$ $ $429,379$ $ $350,800$

For both the current year and one year ago, compute the following ratios:

$(1-$a$)$ Compute the current ratio for each of the three years.

$(1-$b$)$ Did the current ratio improve or worsen over the three$-$year period?

$(2-$a$)$ Compute the acid$-$test ratio for each of the three years.

$(2-$b$)$ Did the acid$-$test ratio improve or worsen over the three$-$year period?