Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
Bunuel wrote:
GMAT weekly questions
In 1973 mortgage payments represented twenty-one percent of an average thirty-year-old male's
income; and forty-four percent in 1984A. income; and forty-four percent in 1984
B. income; in 1984 the figure was forty-four percent
C. income, and in 1984 forty-four percent
D. income, forty-four percent in 1984 was the figure
E. income that rose to forty-four percent in 1984
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning of this sentence is key to solving the question; the intended meaning is that in 1973 mortgage payments made up twenty-one percent of an average thirty-year-old male's income, and in 1984 mortgage payments made up forty-four percent of an average thirty-year-old male's income.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Grammatical Construction• Semicolons and the “comma + conjunction” construction are used to link two independent clauses; commas are used to link an independent clause with a dependent one; comma cannot be used to join two independent clauses.
A:1/ This answer choice incorrectly uses a semicolon to join an independent clause to a dependent clause; remember, semicolons and the “comma + conjunction” construction are used to link two independent clauses; commas are used to link an independent clause with a dependent one; comma cannot be used to join two independent clauses.
B: Correct.1/ This answer choice uses the clause "the figure was forty-four percent", conveying the intended meaning - that in 1984 mortgage payments made up forty-four percent of an average thirty-year-old male's income.
2/ Option B correctly uses a semicolon to join two independent clauses.
C: Trap.
1/ This answer choice incorrectly uses the "comma + conjunction ("and" in this case)" construction to join an independent clause to a dependent clause; remember, semicolons and the “comma + conjunction” construction are used to link two independent clauses; commas are used to link an independent clause with a dependent one; comma cannot be used to join two independent clauses.
D:1/ This answer choice incorrectly uses a comma to join two independent clauses; remember, semicolons and the “comma + conjunction” construction are used to link two independent clauses; commas are used to link an independent clause with a dependent one; comma cannot be used to join two independent clauses.
E:1/ This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "that rose to forty-four percent in 1984"; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that "twenty-one percent of an average thirty-year-old male's income" rose to forty-four percent in 1984; the intended meaning is that in 1984 mortgage payments made up forty-four percent of an average thirty-year-old male's income.
Hence, B is the best answer choice.To understand the use of punctuation on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~10 minutes):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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