Sentence Correction

Dean Jones wrote:Dear Friends,

I was having problems in answering the following question.

In California today, Hispanics under the age of eighteen account for more than 43
percent, compared with a decade ago, when it was about 35 percent.
A. In California today, Hispanics under the age of eighteen account for more than 43
percent, compared with a decade ago, when it was about 35 percent.=> 43% compare with a decade ago
B. Of the Californians under the age of eighteen, today more than 43 percent of them are
Hispanic, compared with a decade ago, when it was about 35 percent.=> Hispanic compare with a decade ago
C. Today, more than 43 percent of Californians under the age of eighteen are Hispanic,
compared with about 35 percent a decade ago. => "Hispanic" compared with "35%"
D. Today, compared to a decade ago, Californians who are Hispanics under the age of
eighteen account for more than 43 percent, whereas it was about 35 percent.
E. Today, Hispanics under the age of eighteen in California account for more than 43
percent, unlike a decade ago, when it was about 35 percent. => 43% unlike a decade ago


Please help.

OA after some discussions.

My choice was option C

Regards
Deano.

VivianKerr wrote:The problem with A is that they account for "more than 43 percent." But "43 percent" of what, exactly? We're missing a comparison, and E has the same issue.

B - "when it was" disrupts the comparison, and the modification in the first clause if awkward
C - Correctly compares "43 percent today" with "35 percent a decade ago"
D - We want to compare the FIGURES not the time periods.