Which scenario is an example of a negative contrast?

The scenario that accurately depicts a negative contrast is one where an individual experiences a decline in performance following a negative change in their situation. When an employee gets a demotion, this often comes with reduced responsibilities, lower status, and potentially a decrease in motivation or confidence. As a result, the demotion negatively impacts the employee’s job performance, highlighting a contrast to their previous performance level when they held a higher position.

In contrast, the other options either describe improvements following a change or do not effectively illustrate a negative contrast. For instance, the improvement in performance after a promotion suggests a positive progression rather than a decrease. The student's lower score indicates a drop but does not compare contrasting levels of performance tied to a significant change in status. Similarly, while the athlete's performance might be negatively affected after losing sponsorship, the scenario doesn’t directly focus on the contrast between two distinct levels of performance in relation to a demotion. The essence of negative contrast lies in the clear distinction between prior high performance and the subsequent decline due to adverse changes, which is precisely captured in the demotion scenario.