According to some analysts, the gains in the stock market reflect growing confidence that the economy will avoid the recession that many had feared earlier in the year and instead come in for a “soft landing,” followed by a gradual increase in business activity.

(A) that the economy will avoid the recession that many had feared earlier in the year and instead come
(B) in the economy to avoid the recession, what many feared earlier in the year, rather to come
(C) in the economy’s ability to avoid the recession, something earlier in the year many had feared, and instead to come
(D) in the economy to avoid the recession many were fearing earlier in the year, and rather to come
(E) that the economy will avoid the recession that was feared earlier this year by many, with it instead coming

The original sentence successfully avoids the problems that may occur in a long sentence with multiple modifiers. Two subordinate clauses begin with that, and one of them is contained within another. That many had flared earlier in the year clearly defines the recession. That the economy will avoid ... and instead (will understood) come... is the subordinate clause that follows the main clause; its subject, economy, is followed by two parallel verbs, will avoid and (will understood) come. Instead before the second verb properly indicates contrast.

A Correct. This sentence contains two correct subordinate clauses introduced by that.
B What cannot replace that, the economy to avoid the recession is awkward and unclear; rather to come does not complete the second part of the sentence idiomatically
C Earlier in the year should follow many had feared, rather than preceding it; instead to come does not complete the second part of the sentence idiomatically
D The recession must be followed by that-, were fearing is the wrong tense; rather to come does not complete the second part of the sentence idiomatically
E The passive voice construction that was feared is weak and wordy; with it instead coming is awkward, wordy, and ungrammatical

The correct answer is A.

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