The correct answer is A. 6,500.

Explanation: To calculate the cash paid to suppliers, use the formula:

$\text{Cash paid to suppliers} = \text{Cost of goods sold} + \text{Increase in inventory} - \text{Increase in accounts payable}$

Substituting the given values:

$6,000 + 3,000 - 2,500 = 6,500$

• Option B (9,000) is incorrect because it excludes the increase in accounts payable, effectively calculating purchases from suppliers instead of cash paid to them.
• Option C (11,500) is incorrect because it adds, rather than subtracts, the increase in accounts payable, leading to an overstatement of cash paid.