In reference to the current hostility toward smoking, mokers frequently expressed anxiety that their prospects for being hired and promoted are being stunted by their habit


In reference to" is considered wordy on GMAT. Also the sentence is a present progressive tense. See "being" used. HEnce Referring is happening at the same time.


Also This is subjunctive form and should be followed by that.

Hence E

Plenty of things are incorrect in original sentence:
1) Usage of "in reference to"
2) Tense usage "expressed"
3) IMO Hanging modifier phrase "In reference to the current hostility toward smoking" doesn't modify smokers, hence it is an awkward construction

Coming to choices C and E:

C) It introduces addition errors
1) "Express anxiety about" is not idiomatic. IMO - smokers can be either "anxious about" or they can "express anxiety that". "Express anxiety about" doesn't look right to me - However, this is just my opinion, probably somebody else on the forum, the native speakers can shed more light on this

2) The main error in C is - it starts the sentence by "When". I think a sentence starting by "When" introduces a subjunctive mood and the following grammatical construction doesn't reflect a subjunctive construction.

On the other hand answer choice (E) doesn't use "when" or a conditional phrase in the beginning hence it is a normal indicative sentence construction

That's my opinion, I will be happy to be corrected if I have written something incorrect