Sentence Correction

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.
(A) 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 the economy might not be as
weak as previously thought to be by some
analysts

OA-A
MIght is the past of may but none of the choices have 'had previously thought' and the correct answer has 'previously thought'
how do we know that the anaylst thinking was done before suggesting about the economy. Is it through 'previously'?

amnesty17 wrote: MIght is the past of may but none of the choices have 'had previously thought' and the correct answer has 'previously thought'
how do we know that the anaylst thinking was done before suggesting about the economy. Is it through 'previously'?

The portion in red overly constrains the use of might.
In the OA, might serves to express PRESENT action:
The surge and the drop SUGGEST (right now) that the economy MIGHT NOT BE (also right now) weak.
For a fuller explanation of the OA, check my post here:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/og-12th-13-p ... tml#559026