Concept:Carboxylic acids can be reduced to primary alcohols, so ethanoic acid can be converted into ethanol in the laboratory.Explanation:Reduction of ethanoic acid with a strong reducing agent such as lithium aluminium hydride gives ethanol.The reaction is:CH3COOH+4[H]LiAlH4CH3CH2OH+H2OThis is a suitable laboratory method because the reduction is controlled.Oxidation of a primary alkanol produces an alkanal or an alkanoic acid, not ethanol.Oxidation of alkenes gives diols or cleavage products, not ethanol.Hydration of ethene can form ethanol, but it is mainly an industrial method using steam and a catalyst.Hence, ethanol is best prepared in the laboratory by reduction of ethanoic acid.Answer:A. reduction of ethanoic acid