Regarded by analysts to be the result of tensions during the

Question

Regarded by analysts to be the result of tensions during the Cold War, the spy novel reached the zenith of its sales in the 1960s, when most Americans perceived the U.S.S.R. like a constant threat.
 
A. Regarded by analysts to be the result of tensions during the Cold War, the spy novel reached the zenith of its sales in the 1960s, when most Americans perceived the U.S.S.R. like a constant threat.

B. The spy novel, regarded by analysts to be the result of 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 a constant threat.

C. Regarded by analysts as the result of 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. like a constant threat.

D. Reaching the zenith of its sales in the 1960s, the spy novel was regarded by analysts as the result of tensions during the Cold War, when most Americans perceived the U.S.S.R. as a constant threat.

E. Regarded by analysts as the result of 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 a constant threat.

u2lover · Answer

never mind... it's D

C is out because of "like constant threat"... meaning "similar to constant threat", which I guess, constant threat is the exact description -> "as" is better

Spy Novel didn't reach anything... its sales did and "regard to be", I believe, is incorrect idiom. so A B and C out

reading 2nd time... :oops:

sales can't be regarded by someone... it is the novel... something's missing in my brain today... may be it's reaching a boiling point... so I better stop :arh

sales can't be regarded by someone... it is the novel... something's missing in my brain today... may be it's reaching a boiling point... so I better stop :arh

paddyboy · Answer

I'll go with D.

Tough choice b/w D and E. IMHO the question is: Is the 'sales of the spy novel' the result, or is it the 'spy novel' that is the result.

Wouldn't be surprised if it were E, though... plz post OE along with OA whenever its to be done...

freetheking · Answer

IMO, E.

sales of the novel should be the subject of both main clause and modifying phrase.

shoonya · Answer

D it is.

Can't be E.

E - Regarded by analysts as the result of tensions during the Cold War, "sales of the spy novel reached"...

it sounds like the sales of the spy novel were regarded by the analysts as the result of tensions.

freetheking · Answer

It does sounds like the sales of ~ by the " analysts ".
Analysts regarded its sales as the result of the tensions => make sense!

u2lover · Answer

where is   "its"  ?

from your sentence it isn't clear who do "sales" belong to... 

I picked E initially, but then rethought what it says and settled on D

freetheking · Answer

What I meant was
"Analysts regarded sales of the novel as the result of the tensions"

u2lover · Answer

yeah... I think I should go back to my origirinal E... not only because of this but because of the fact that original uses 1960s as a period when Americans were afraid of USSR, not during Cold War... but still kind of :boom

b/w D and E... lesson learned... stick to your first strike :!:

MA · Answer

go with E. D is in passive. also "reaching..." doesnot sounds good.

Kishore · Answer

I initially chose the choice  D . cos the structure seems to be logical. Such as Cold War....When Americans.......

However "Reaching the Zenith...in 1960's" prompted me to change my mind to  E .

jaynayak · Answer

Will go with E.

IMO others have modifier problem.

The spy novel was not the result of Cold war. But Cold war or the perception of the cold war could result in the high sales of spy novels.

mailtheguru · Answer

I want to go with B here. Everything seems good, and i can live with the book reaching its zenith of sales.

prachipareekh · Answer

E - correct - idiomatic and free of modifier errors.

A - incorrect - correct idioms are 
1). "to regard as" not "to regard to be". 
2). "to perceive as" not "to perceive like". 
 
B - incorrect - "regarded by analysts to be the result of tensions during the Cold War" incorrectly modifies "the spy novel" instead of "sales of the spy novel"

C - incorrect - same modifier error as in B. Further "perceived....like" is unidiomatic. 

D - incorrect - "reaching the zenith of its sales in the 1960s" incorrectly modifies "the spy novel". It should modify "sales of spy novel"

swiss0204 · Answer

will go with E.

though there is no grammar errors in D,
E makes the sentence more meaningful than D does.

I think ETS would agree
Logic > Grammar.

D sounds weird,

Reaching the zenith of its sales in the 1960s, the spy novel was regarded by analysts as the result of tensions during the Cold War, when most Americans perceived the U.S.S.R. as a constant threat.

Can the spy novel itself reach the zenith ?

Though we can see its sales in the choice D, (its= novel's), we can't ignore the existence of reachingwhich is supposed to modify the spy novel.

:wink:

Yurik79 · Answer

sales of the spy novel  ...  Regarded    as the result of tensions 
E it is

ps_dahiya · Answer

OA is E.

OE:
The original sentence contains several errors. First, the proper idiom is "to regard as" not "to regard to be". Second, the initial modifier "regarded by analysts to be the result of tensions during the Cold War" should modify "sales" and not "the spy novel." 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 analysts to be the result of tensions during the Cold War" incorrectly describes the spy novel when it should modify sales of the spy novel. Moreover, the modifier use of "regarded . . . to be" is unidiomatic.

(C) The modifier "regarded by analysts as the result of tensions during the Cold War" incorrectly describes the spy novel when it should modify sales of the spy novel. Additionally, the phrase "perceived the U.S.S.R like" is unidiomatic.

(D) The modifier "reaching the zenith of its sales in the 1960s" incorrectly describes the spy novel when it should modify sales of the spy novel.

(E) CORRECT. "Sales" is correctly positioned as the subject of the opening modifier. Additionally, the phrases "regarded by analysts as . . ." and "perceived the U.S.S.R as" are idiomatic.