Question

In 1981 children in the United States spent an average

of slightly less than two and a half hours a week doing
household chores; by 1997 they had spent nearly six
hours a week.

A. chores; by 1997 they had spent nearly six hours
a week
B. chores; by 1997 that figure had grown to nearly
six hours a week
C. chores, whereas nearly six hours a week were
spent in 1997
D. chores, compared with a figure of nearly six hours
a week in 1997
E. chores, that figure growing to nearly six hours a
week in 1997

Answer 1

D. chores, compared with a figure of nearly six hours

a week in 1997.

Step-by-step explanation:

The use of past perfect in the second sentence of the example provided is incorrect since that action developed after the first one. In other words, children spent less than 2 and a half hours a week doing household chores in 1981 and 16 years later (in 1997) this figure increased to 6 hours a week.