sample of the city's residents. Which one of the following procedures would be most appropriate for obtaining a sample of the town's residents? A) Survey every 8 th person who walks into city hall on a given day. B) Survey a random sample of persons within each geographic region of the city. C) Survey the first 300 people listed in the town's telephone directory. D) Survey a random sample of employees at the old city hall.

The most appropriate procedure for obtaining a representative sample of the town's residents is: **B) Survey a random sample of persons within each geographic region of the city.** **Explanation:** - **Option A:** Surveying every 8th person who walks into city hall may introduce bias because individuals visiting city hall might have specific characteristics that are not representative of the entire population (e.g., older adults, individuals dealing with specific municipal issues). - **Option B:** By surveying a random sample within each geographic region, you ensure that all areas of the city are represented in the sample. This method, known as **stratified sampling**, helps in capturing the diversity of the population and reduces sampling bias. - **Option C:** Relying on the telephone directory excludes individuals without landlines or those who prefer mobile phones, potentially missing segments of the population and reducing the sample's representativeness. - **Option D:** Surveying only employees at the old city hall limits the sample to a specific group that likely does not reflect the broader population of the city. **Conclusion:** Option B ensures that the sample is diverse and representative by including individuals from all geographic regions, making it the most suitable choice for obtaining an accurate reflection of the town's residents. **Answer:** B) Survey a random sample of persons within each geographic region of the city.