Regarded by publishing analysts to be increased by international tensi

"Regarded to be" is incorrect.

Regarded by publishing analysts to be increased by international tensions during the Cold War, sales of the spy novel reached the zenith in the 1960s, when most Americans perceived the U.S.S.R. like a constant threat.

(A) Regarded by publishing analysts to be increased by international tensions during the Cold War, sales of the spy novel reached the zenith in the 1960s, when most Americans perceived the U.S.S.R. like

(B) The spy novel, regarded by publishing analysts to be increased by international tensions during the Cold War, reached the zenith of its sales in the 1960s, when most Americans perceived the U.S.S.R. to be

(C) Regarded by publishing analysts as increased by international tensions during the Cold War, in the 1960s the spy novel reached the zenith of its sales, when most Americans perceived the U.S.S.R. as : in 1960s should modify when did the sales reach their Zenith. Also the modifier "when most American should be next to 1960s.

(D) Reaching the zenith of its sales in the 1960s, the spy novel was regarded by publishing analysts as increased by international tensions during the Cold War, when most Americans perceived the U.S.S.R. as --> This should be next to 1960s. It also changes the meaning.

(E) Regarded by publishing analysts as increased by international tensions during the Cold War, sales of the spy novel reached their zenith in the 1960s, when most Americans perceived the U.S.S.R. as
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Is the sales regarde by publuishing analysts?
or the novel.
As the correct answer says regarded is modifting sale.

(E) Regarded by publishing analysts as increased by international tensions during the Cold War, sales of the spy novel reached their zenith in the 1960s, when most Americans perceived the U.S.S.R. as

Check colored part :
What is regarded as increased : it is sale not the book itself..

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

The original sentence contains several errors. First, the proper idiom is "regard X as Y" not "regard X to be Y."  Second, the use of "the zenith" is awkward here when used in reference to the sales of the spy novel; sales reached "their zenith" would be preferable.  Third, the proper idiom is "to perceive as" not "to perceive like." 

(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence. 

(B) The modifier "regarded by publishing analysts to be increased by international tensions during the Cold War" incorrectly suggests that "the spy novel" has "increased"; the modifier should describe sales of the spy novel. In addition, "regard X to be Y" and "perceive X to be Y" are not the correct idioms.

(C) The modifier "regarded by publishing analysts as increased by international tensions during the Cold War" incorrectly suggests that "the spy novel" has "increased"; the modifier should describe sales of the spy novel.

(D) This sentence incorrectly refers to "the spy novel" as being "increased by international tensions during the Cold War."  The word "increased" must be applied to the sales of the spy novel.  

(E) CORRECT. "Sales" is correctly positioned as the subject of the opening modifier. Additionally, the phrases "regarded by publishing analysts as . . ." and "perceived the U.S.S.R as" are idiomatic.
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Why is incorrect that "when" is next to 1960, instead of Cold War?
I understand that 1960 is when most Americans perceived the USSR as ....

Thank you in andvanced!

It isn't? When is correctly placed after 1960s

Why did we go for Option E and not B?

The spy novel, regarded by publishing analysts to be increased by international tensions during the Cold War, reached the zenith of its sales in the 1960s, when most Americans perceived the U.S.S.R. to be

Option B here means 'The spy novel' reached the zenith. In the actual sentence it is the sales of spy novel and not spy novel that reached the zenith.

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