A. have increased from 18 percent of the state’s general fund in 1962 to 48 percent by 2002

whenever we are talking about a specific time (1962 and 2002 in this case), simple past tense (increased) should be used; not present perfect tense (have increased).

B. have increased from 18 percent of the state’s general fund in 1962 to being up to 48 percent by 2002

idiom error

C. have increased from 18 percent of the state’s general fund in 1962, and by 2002 were up to 48 percent
idiom error


D. increased from 18 percent of the state’s general fund in 1962, and by 2002 were 48 percent

idiom error

E. increased from 18 percent of the state’s general fund in 1962 to 48 percent by 2002

The simple past works fine here.

This question tests our ability of grammatical construction and idioms. From the non-underlined portions, California has already come to rely on personal incomes and statement after semicolon is there to explain so, therefore statement after semicolon should be in tense form to indicate that taxes increase before.

Further as the precise timeline is specified "from 1962 to 2002", we can use simple past tense. Right idiom is From X to Y.

Options A,B & C - can be eliminated on the basis of tense structure

Option D - Incorrect idiom, right form should be from X to Y

Option E - Correct tense structure and correct idiom usage 'from X to Y'