'not any happier' is not idiomatic.

if you were able to narrow it down to choice a) or b) and had to guess, i would always guess for the the more concise answer. i've found that the more concise answer tends to be correct when it comes to GMAT SC.

I say A, because "not any" sounds redundant.

Hi,

correct answer is A) but...
I am just wondring if E) was "not as happy as do people who live" instead of "are people", is it correct?

317. Freedman’s survey showed that people living in small towns and rural areas consider themselves no happier than do people living in big cities.
(A) no happier than do people living
(B) not any happier than do people living
(C) not any happier than do people who live
(D) no happier than are people who are living
(E) not as happy as are people who live

why "than do people" not "than ARE people"..people are happy not do happy?

Hi,

correct answer is A) but...
I am just wondring if E) was "not as happy as do people who live" instead of "are people", is it correct?

317. Freedman's survey showed that people living in small towns and rural areas consider themselves no happier than do people living in big cities.
(A) no happier than do people living
(B) not any happier than do people living
(C) not any happier than do people who live
(D) no happier than are people who are living
(E) not as happy as are people who live

Options D and E get cancel out first as they are not at all parallel. Both the options use 'who' to modify the people living in big cities.
'Not any happier' is not idiomatic hence we are left with option A.

Just for information
if the option A is "no happier than people living", is it going to be still correct?

Thanks
user123321

Between A and D.... A is parallel to the ques.... people living in X... than do people living in....

C,D and E out not parallel

Not any happier is not a correct idiom So correct option is A

Hope that help