【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】Rhetorical construction; Agreement
Coordinated noun phrases in which singular nouns are linked by or are considered singular, so when the phrase any general inflation or deflation is a subject, it requires a singular verb. One of the answer choices incorrectly uses the word that. Another phrasing problem is with indicating/ indicated. Indicating works well as a verb form in the options where it occurs.
A Correct. Any general inflation or deflation is not a subject (it functions as the object of the preposition of), so there is no potential agreement problem.
B Were is incorrect as the agreeing form of be; it should be is.
C If that is taken as a demonstrative adjective modifying absence, it is inappropriate (the word the is required); if it is meant as a subordinating conjunction, it is incorrect because it is not followed by a clause.
D Having indicated is unclear and unnecessarily long. It appears to say, somewhat illogically, that the indication occurred at some unspecified time prior to the lack of change in April. Indicating works well alone and would be a preferable verb form here.
E Were here could only be meant either as a plural past-tense verb or as a singular subjunctive-mood verb (appropriate only in certain conditional contexts); in either case it is incorrect. Also, indicating works well, and the which-clause is unnecessary.
The correct answer is A.