The sculptural process in which the artist carves only in shallow depth is called a. freestanding b. high relief c. in the round d. pinch e. bas-relief

I believe the correct answer is E. bas-relief.

bas-relief (meaning: low relief) is one of the sculpture technique, alongside high-relief and intaglio, in which figures and elements are just barely more distinguished than the background (usually overall flat).  Bas-relief technique is really old, the earliest known bas-reliefs are on the walls of caves and can also be found in Roman or Greek sculpture (for example: bas-relief sculptures of Poseidon, Apollo and Artemis on Parthenon).