Master's degree program graduates' average annual salaries exceed bachelor's degree holders by more than 25%.

Suppose, MG = Master's degree program graduates, and BG = Bachelor's degree program graduates

A - Master's degree program graduates' average annual salaries exceed - Incorrect: Compares salaries of MG with BG.

B - Master's degree program graduates are earning average annual salaries exceeding - Incorrect: Same as above

C - Graduates of master's degree programs earn average annual salaries that exceed those of - Correct: 'Those' clearly refers to 'average annual salaries'. Here average annual salaries of MG is compared with those (annual average salaries) of BG.

D - The average annual salaries of graduates from master's degree programs exceed - Incorrect: Wrong comparison between salaries of MG with BG. Also 'graduates from' master's degree is not correct

E - The average annual master's degree program graduates' salaries exceed those of - Incorrect: The phrase 'The average annual master's degree program graduates' salaries' is awkward. 'The average annual salaries of master's degree program graduates' seems clearer.

Master's degree program graduates' average annual salaries exceed bachelor's degree holders by more than 25%.

A - Master's degree program graduates' average annual salaries exceed
--> wrong comparison

B - Master's degree program graduates are earning average annual salaries exceeding
--> wrong comparison

C - Graduates of master's degree programs earn average annual salaries that exceed those of
--> clearer than E

D - The average annual salaries of graduates from master's degree programs exceed
--> wrong comparison

E - The average annual master's degree program graduates' salaries exceed those of
--> the wordings average annual seems ambiguous. It should clearly modify Salaries as in C.

Doubts:
1) does C change the original meaning?
--> C is clear without any ambiguity that E presents.

2) what does THOSE (or THOSE OF) refer - how do we decide?
--> As per the sentence meaning those refers to Salaries.

Hi killer1387 and vk_vinayak

C - Graduates of master's degree programs earn average annual salaries that exceed those of - Correct: 'Those' clearly refers to 'average annual salaries'. Here average annual salaries of MG is compared with those (annual average salaries) of BG.

Could you explain why cannot THOSE refer to PROGRAMS or GRADUATES

C - Graduates of master's degree programs earn average annual salaries that exceed those of - Correct: 'Those' clearly refers to 'average annual salaries'. Here average annual salaries of MG is compared with those (annual average salaries) of BG.

Could you explain why cannot THOSE refer to PROGRAMS or GRADUATES

Here the subject is 'Graduates of master's degree programs'. So, one cannot pick a part of it and use pronoun for that. Hence 'those' cannot refer to 'programs'.

When you come to the point earn average annual salaries that, you know that 'that' refers to salaries, and it is the one that is being compared. So, it can be concluded that 'those' refers to salaries.

Hope it helps.

patanjali.purpose wrote:Hi killer1387 and vk_vinayak

C - Graduates of master's degree programs earn average annual salaries that exceed those of - Correct: 'Those' clearly refers to 'average annual salaries'. Here average annual salaries of MG is compared with those (annual average salaries) of BG.

Could you explain why cannot THOSE refer to PROGRAMS or GRADUATES

Graduates of master's degree programs earn average annual salaries that exceed those of bachelor's degree holders by more than 25%.

First of all, here we are comparing the salaries of two parties.
"that" modifies "salaries".

"those" is a demonstrative pronoun that is used to indicate a new copy or copies of the antecedent (= salaries).

Here, possible antecedents = graduates/salaries/programs

Graduates -> graduates of bachelor's degree holders -> conveys illogical meaning hence incorrect.

programs-> as explained by vk_vinayak

hence only possibility is "salaries" to convey logical meaning.

Hope this helps..!!