Q. In 1973 mortgage payments represented twenty-one percent of an average thirty-year-old male’s 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


C sounds (after income) unfinished sentence. forty-percent what?
however, B is correct because it is parallel.
The sentence starts with "in the 1973...." and B) starts after income " in 1984..." Besides, "the figure" explicitly replace the meaning of "..of an average thrity-yaer-old male's income.

we are comparing figures of 1983 and 1984, hence "the figure was" is required.

(A) income; and forty-four percent in 1984 - Use of and after semi colon is wrong.

(B) income; in 1984 the figure was forty-four percent - Correct, it shows two independent clauses joined by a semi colon.

(C) income, and in 1984 forty-four percent - IInd part is incomplete

(D) income, forty-four percent in 1984 was the figure - second part seems to be modifying income.

(E) income that rose to forty-four percent in 1984- adjectival clause modifying'income' changes the meaning.

The part after semi colon should always be a 'stand alone' sentence.

By this logic, we can eliminate A

C and D are illogical and does not make sense.

E looks like as if it is the income that rose and not the mortage payments.

So we are left with B, which is concise and makes sense.

(A) income; and forty-four percent in 1984 => not proper use of ;, should be 2 independent clause.

(B) income; in 1984 the figure was forty-four percent - CORRECT.

(C) income, and in 1984 forty-four percent => not parellal and structre is wrong

(D) income, forty-four percent in 1984 was the figure => modifying income, should modify %.

(E) income that rose to forty-four percent in 1984 = that is wrong, rose is also wrong.