Comparing percentage wage increases across professions

Steps:

• Identify wage data for 1985 and 2015 for professionals (e.g., doctors, lawyers) and manual workers (e.g., fork-lift drivers).
• Calculate percentage increase for each group using formula: ((2015 wage - 1985 wage) / 1985 wage) × 100.
• Compare percentage increases: professionals show higher values than manual workers.
• Confirm no other options hold based on absolute wages or unrelated comparisons.

Why D is correct:

• Percentage increase measures relative growth; the table data shows professionals' incomes rose more proportionally than manual workers', per the standard percentage change formula.

Why the others are wrong:

• A: Table shows fork-lift drivers' absolute wages higher in 2015, but percentage increase may not exceed professionals'.
• B: No data compares fork-lift wages directly to 2015 minimum wages.
• C: Table lacks post-2015 data; comparison is only up to 2015.

Final answer: D