What Is the First Step in the Mechanism of the Dehydration

Multiple Choice

What is the first step in the mechanism of the dehydration reaction of a tertiary alcohol with sulfuric acid to form an alkene?

A) the loss of $\mathrm{OH}^{-}$ to form a carbocation
B) the protonation of the hydroxyl group
C) the loss of the proton from the hydroxyl group to give an alkoxide ion
D) the removal of a $\beta$ -hydrogen from the alcohol