In the diagram, each of the five squares is $1 \times 1$. What percentage of the total area of the five squares is shaded?
(A) $25 \%$
(B) $30 \%$
(C) $35 \%$
(D) $40 \%$
(E) $45 \%$

![](https://cdn.mathpix.com/cropped/2024_04_20_6ed09463f225f8ba1f07g-044.jpg?height=271&width=271&top_left_y=1309&top_left_x=1342)
Since each of the five $1 \times 1$ squares has area 1 , then the shaded area is 2 .

Since the total area is 5, the percentage that is shaded is $\frac{2}{5}=0.4=40 \%$.

ANSWER: (D)