According to a new report by the surgeon general, women with

[BTGmoderatorDC]

According to a new report by the surgeon general, women with less than a high school education had three times the likelihood that they would begin smoking as women who went to college.

(A) had three times the likelihood that they would begin smoking
(B) had three times the likelihood of beginning smoking
(C) were three times more likely to begin to smoke
(D) were three times more likely that they would begin to smoke
(E) were three times as likely to begin smoking

OA E

Source: GMAT Prep

[deloitte247]

In Option A - Incorrect;
We have a situation that expresses the matter that has happened in the past with the use of the word had and would. Moreso, it doesn't explain any other thing aside the underlined statement in the original question.

Moving downward to Option B - Incorrect;
We have a case of inconsistent usage of the word verbs "had" and "beginning" respectively which has one in the past tense and the other, present continuous tense. It means we have to keep searching to other options in the question.

In Option C - Incorrect;
The statement here does not seek to place women who went to college over the ones who could only manage high school. It only intends to make it an equivalent so the adverb "as" would have fit in very well more than adjective "more".

Option D - Incorrect;
The same position stated in the previous Option above applies here too. The use of "more" is inconsistent with the real statement.

Option E - Correct;
From here, all parts of the statement is in agreement with what's been said and intended in the original statement. Note the word "as" which seeks to place women with high school education side by side with those with college certificate.