Selected income statement data follow for Harper Inc., for the year ended December $31(in$ thousands$).$

What $is$ the company$s$ times interest earned ratio?

Income before provisionInterestStatutoryProvision forNetfor income taxesexpensetax rateincome taxesincome$$1,025,959$$$29,6700\mathrm{.}37$$$332,410$$$693,548$

Select one:

$a.$

$34\mathrm{.}6$

$b.$

None $of$ these are correct.

$c.$

$35\mathrm{.}6$

$d.$

$24\mathrm{.}4$

$e.$

$11\mathrm{.}2$