Even though interest rates rose last year, they were not nearly as high as the early 1980s, when the economy tumbled into a recession and markets were depressed.

A) they were not nearly as high as the early 1980s, when

B) they were not nearly as high as interest rates in the early 1980s, when

C) they were not nearly at the levels they were in the early 1980s, at the time when

D) they had not approached the high levels of the early 1980s, during the time in which

E) the high level of the early 1980s were not being approached, when

OAB

Can't we assume in A that interest rates after as high as is omitted, but the presence is implied?

Please explain.

Many thanks in advance.

Kavin