Iron Chicken (EVA) – Marketing expenses

This is with reference to the thread by misterx, as the thread has been closed. This relates to the wording in the question.

https://opentuition.com/topic/iron-chicken-eva/#orb_custom_bb_new_reply_anchor

Mr. Ken Garrett explains that the “marketing spend was for years 2014 and 2015: that is what is meant by the phrase ‘each of the last two years”, which I do not agree. The meaning of “last two years” should be “the two years before this year”, and in the question, “this year” means 2015. This is so because Note 9 of the question mentions that R&D of $10m was “expensed during this year”, and in the official answer, the $10m is added back for NOPAT. This is evidence that the question considers “this year” as 2015.

To make my claim clear, please consider, for example, what the phrase “last year” would mean in the question. If “this year” means 2015 (as the question implicitly assumes), then “last year” would mean 2014. Following the sequence, “last two years” would mean 2013 and 2014.

I understand how “last two years” may mean 2014 and 2015 in the sense that “2015 has passed, therefore it is last year”, but the question already assumes that 2015 is this year, so this cannot be true.

I apologize for bringing up a thread that has been closed, but I would like a definite and convincing explanation.

Thank you.