Answer:
(c) A firm will only borrow at short-term rates when the yield curve is downward-sloping.
Explanation:
"While normal curves point to economic expansion, downward sloping (inverted) curves point to economic recession.
This yield curve is used as a benchmark for other debt in the market, such as mortgage rates or bank lending rates, and it is used to predict changes in economic output and growth. [...]
A normal yield curve is one in which longer maturity bonds have a higher yield compared to shorter-term bonds due to the risks associated with time. An inverted yield curve is one in which the shorter-term yields are higher than the longer-term yields, which can be a sign of an upcoming recession. In a flat or humped yield curve, the shorter- and longer-term yields are very close to each other, which is also a predictor of an economic transition. "
Reference: Chen, James. “Yield Curve.” Investopedia, Investopedia, 9 Oct. 2019