$[$The following information applies to the questions displayed below.$]$

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

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

Assets

Cash $ $33,343$ $ $39,361$ $ $42,256$

Accounts receivable, net $93,76868,88154,701$

Merchandise inventory $116,69288,34560,610$

Prepaid expenses $10,5259,9274,513$

Plant assets, net $305,212275,848252,320$

Total assets $ $559,540$ $ $482,362$ $ $414,400$

Liabilities and Equity

Accounts payable $ $139,325$ $ $81,519$ $ $55,795$

Long$-$term notes payable $107,297109,83488,835$

Common stock, $$10$ par value $163,500163,500162,500$

Retained earnings $149,418127,509107,270$

Total liabilities and equity $ $559,540$ $ $482,362$ $ $414,400$

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 quick ratio for each of the three years.

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