Answer: ```sql CREATE OR REPLACE TABLE table_name ( employeeId STRING, startDate DATE, avgRating FLOAT ) ```

## Explanation Option E is correct because: 1. **`CREATE OR REPLACE TABLE`** - This syntax creates a table regardless of whether it already exists. If the table exists, it will be replaced; if it doesn't exist, it will be created. 2. **Column definition syntax** - The parentheses with explicit column definitions `(employeeId STRING, startDate DATE, avgRating FLOAT)` properly defines the table schema. 3. **Creates an empty Delta table** - By default in Databricks, when you create a table using SQL DDL without specifying a data source, it creates a Delta table. Let's analyze why the other options are incorrect: **Option A**: `CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS` - This only creates the table if it doesn't exist, but the question asks for code that works "regardless of whether a table already exists." **Option B**: Uses `AS SELECT` syntax which requires data to populate the table, not creating an empty table. Also includes `USING DELTA` which is unnecessary as Delta is the default. **Option C**: Invalid syntax - `WITH COLUMNS` is not valid SQL syntax in Databricks. **Option D**: `CREATE TABLE table_name AS SELECT` - This creates a table with data from the SELECT statement, not an empty table. Also lacks the `OR REPLACE` clause. **Key points**: - `CREATE OR REPLACE TABLE` handles both creation and replacement scenarios - Explicit column definitions create an empty table - Delta is the default table format in Databricks, so no explicit `USING DELTA` is needed - The syntax in Option E follows standard SQL DDL conventions for Databricks

Author: Keng Suppaseth