【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】 Grammatical Construction; Rhetorical Construction
   This sentence uses a special inverted structure, putting the predicate (Making things even more difficult) before the verb (has been) and the subject. In this construction, the subject (general market inactivity) can be directly compared with paralysis. Such contrasts are best made using phrases that are adjacent, not separated by other material (here, the adverb lately). If a more normal clause structure is used, making things even more difficult becomes a modifier, not the main predicate, so it should be dearly set off from the rest of the clause with a comma.
   A   This inverted structure makes general market activity the subject of Making things even more difficult. This would be legitimate by itself, but it requires general market inactivity to be next to both if not paralysis (for contrast) and which (marking a relative clause modifying inactivity). It cannot be next to both of these simultaneously.
   B   This is a run-on sentence, with two independent clauses (Making things even more difficult there is general market inactivity, f not paralysis, and lately it has provided little in the way of pricing guidance) conjoined merely by a comma, rather than by a coordinating conjunction, such as and. Also, the initial topic phrase (Making things even more difficult) is awkward without a following comma.
   C   The initial topic phrase (Making things even more difficult) should be followed by a comma.
   D   Correct. The topic phrase (Making things even more difficult) is properly separated from the subject by a comma, and inactivity and if not paralysis are adjacent for the clearest connection between them.
   E   This is a sentence fragment.
   The correct answer is D.