OG12-50~求教~谢谢！

端木瑶

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 "softlanding,"
followed by a gradual increase in business activity.
(A)         that the economy will avoidthe recession
that many had feared earlier in the year and
instead come
(B)         in the economy to avoid therecession, what
many feared earlier in the year, rather to come
(C)         in the economy's ability toavoid the recession,
something earlier in the year many had feared,
and instead to come
(D)         in the economy to avoid therecession many
were fearing earlier in the year, and rather
to come
(E)         that the economy will avoidthe recession that
was feared earlier this year by many, with it
instead coming


请教一下各位咯~A选项里面had feared为什么是用过去完成时啊~这个要怎么解释啊~？迷糊了~
谢谢咯~

线香花火

有 earlier in the year , 这是一个时间标志词，并不是一定要有过去时才能用过去完成时，根据句意fear是发生在gain 之前的事，所以用过去完成时