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In the context of the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA), a loan originator is allowed to inquire about a borrower's marital status to ensure compliance with fair lending practices. The correct option encompasses both married and unmarried categories, which aligns with the requirements of HMDA reporting.

HMDA requires that lenders collect specific demographic information about applicants, including marital status, to help monitor access to credit and ensure fair lending. The classification of "married or unmarried" helps to capture a comprehensive view of applicants' statuses without limiting the query to only a single point, like indicating whether they are divorced, single, or separated. This broader classification covers various marital statuses while also emphasizing the importance of understanding how these classifications might affect a borrower’s eligibility or terms of loan products.

The other options, while they are specific types of marital status, do not encompass the full scope required by HMDA. They might focus only on certain states rather than the overall categories necessary for accurate reporting and compliance. Therefore, the inclusion of both "married or unmarried" provides the necessary flexibility and coverage that HMDA requires for thorough processing and reporting.