The pattern is: each term equals the previous term plus consecutive powers of 2. 2+1=3, 3+2=5, 5+4=9, 9+8=17. The next term is 17+16=33. Option A is correct.
The differences between consecutive terms double each time: 3-2=1, 5-3=2, 9-5=4, 17-9=8, so the next difference should be 16, giving 17+16=33. This is a classic doubling-difference series pattern.