, 2012

Consider placing each of the two numbers from each answer on a number line.

Numbers decrease in value as we move to the left along a number line.

Since the first number listed in the pair must be less than the second, we want the first number to be to the left of the second number on the number line.
The five possible answers are each given on the number lines shown.

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Hide/Reveal Description of Number Lines

In the first number line, the numbers placed, from left to right, are $-5$ and $0$.
In the second number line, the numbers placed, from left to right, are $-1$, $0$ and $7$.
In the third number line, the numbers placed, from left to right, are $0$, $\frac{1}{4}$ and $10$.
In the fourth number line, the numbers placed, from left to right, are $-3$, $-1$ and $0$.
In the fifth number line, the numbers placed, from left to right, are $-8$, $-2$ and $0$.

The last number line is the only one for which the first number listed ($-8$) is positioned to the left of (is less than) the second number ($-2$).