An effective use of financial leverage means that the use of borrowed funds (debt) contributes positively to the firm's return on equity. Option A indicates that the organization has a rate of return on equity (ROE) of 20%, which is higher than the rate of return on assets (ROA) of 15%. This suggests that the use of leverage (debt) has enhanced the returns to equity holders, which is a hallmark of effective financial leverage. Options B, C, and D do not directly address the relationship between ROE and ROA or the positive impact of debt on equity returns.