SIMCAT 12 [Centre Proctored] (11th Oct - 15th Oct)

Q25)  Lasting almost 10 years from late 1929 until about 1939 and affecting nearly every country in the world, The Great Depression was marked by steep declines in industrial production and in prices, deflation, mass unemployment, banking panics, and sharp increases in rates of poverty and homelessness. In the United States, where the effects of the depression were generally worst, between 1929 and 1933 industrial production fell nearly 47 percent, gross domestic product declined by 30 percent, and unemployment reached more than 20 percent. By comparison, during the Great Recession of 2007–09, the second largest economic downturn in U.S. history, GDP declined by 4.3 percent, and unemployment reached slightly less than 10 percent. 

I chose option 3 as I felt that the passage was predominatly the comparision between two Economic recessions. But explanation says that 'US' part is missing in it. But isn't US just an example? And examples are best kept out while framing the summaries?

Also, option 1 mentions that it is the 'longest'. How can we assume that? There could be some recession which is longer than 10 years but didn't affect so much as The Great Depression.