In the 1980s advertising revenues accounted for approximately 40% of operating profits of a typical local newspaper ; in the 1990s this proportion increased to 57%.


A] newspaper; in the 1990s this proportion increased to 57%.

B] newspaper; in the 1990s they increased by 57%.

C] newspaper, in the 1990s they increased to 57%.

D] newspaper; increasing to 57% in the 1990s.

E] newspaper, which increased to 57% in the 1990s.






[spoiler]The OA is the sentence itself i.e A.

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[spoiler]Option B: 'they' a pronoun is ambigious as it is unknown that 'they' refers to what, advertising revenues or the operating profits...

Option C: same as option B...

Option D: semicolon not required as in the second clause as mentioned in the option, the overall clause cannot stand on its own. There is no subject or the clear verb. Moreover, it seems to be a modifier and so a comma should be placed and not a semi-colon.

Option E: The use of a comma and then a which, modifies the word newspaper meaning that the newspaper increased to 57% in the 1990's and not the ratio. It changes the meaning of the sentence.[/spoiler]


Hope this helps...