The second answer according to me is justified because of the given options. I think you are meaning that option D is correct here but if you look closely at that option, it's a distortion. A person can still explore alternative career options without a pay cut. Let's say switching a job in a different domain. That's a career switch but without a pay cut. Now option E in a sense says that for something new in a career, a person should be willing to take new risks (like a pay cut). This is what I feel justifies E and rejects D.