问一下关于预测时态用法的语法题

ericphantom

先贴两道题，第一题是PREP，答案是B
The company announced that its profits declined much less in the second quarter than analysts had expected it to and its business will improve in the second half of the year.
B. had expected and that its business would improve
C. expected it would and that it will improve its business
D. expected them to and its business would improve
E. expected and that it will have improved its business


第二题是OG的 ,选A
A surge in new home sales and a drop in weekly unemployment claims suggest that the economy might not be as weak as some analysts previously thought.
B. claims suggests that the economy might not be so weak as some analysts have previously thought
C. claims suggest that the economy might not be as weak as have been previously thought by some analysts
D. claims, suggesting about the economy that it might not be so weak as previously thought by some analysts
E. claims, suggesting about the econonmy might not be as weak as previously thought to be by some analysts


这两题我觉得答案倒是不难选，但是有一点不明白，都是在动作发生前有专家预测，为什么不都使用完成时呢？这种预测词如何分辨使用过去时和完成时？


PS: 第二题还想问一下as……as 和 so …… as 是说否定情况就用so…… as 么？不太明白。谢谢

holacraig

第一题中主句时态是过去时（announced），预测发生在这之前就用了过去完成时；第二题中主句是一般现在时，所以预测部分用过去时就可以了。（个人愚见）

puqiandi

感觉用完成时的情况比较多，我也不清楚
so …… as 是as....as......的否定情况对的。