A: I would say 1 because the $n$ states can be connected through $ε$ moves and hence all of these will be combines to a single start state in DFA.
A: In the worst case this can remain $2^n$ - that is no minimization can be possible. We can see this in the following example
This work is licensed under the CC By-SA 3.0 , without all the cruft that would otherwise be put at the bottom of the page.
Sister Sites: GATE CSE Wiki, GATE CSE, Aptitude Overflow