OG 250 would

250. 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. (A) had expected it to and its business will improve (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 D:would: OG: would rather will refer to a promised but uncertain future event 以上是OG的解释。我想问WOULD不是因为主句是过去式，所以才用WOULD？这是不是也是一种虚拟，还是只是表达一种不确定的希望？谢谢。