SC -1

[abhasjha]

In the mid- 1960's a newly installed radar warning system mistook the rising of the moon as a massive missile attack by the Soviets.

(A) rising of the moon as a massive missile attack by the Soviets
(B) rising of the moon for a massive Soviet missile attack
(C) moon rising to a massive missile attack by the Soviets
(D) moon as it was rising for a massive Soviet missile attack
(E) rise of the moon as a massive Soviet missile attack

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HI abhasjha,

This SC is built on idiom and style rules.

1) Idiom: When using the word "mistook" (or a variation), the phrase is "mistook ______ FOR _______." Eliminate A, C and E.

2) Style: With the remaining two answers, we have to choose between "rising of the moon" and "moon as it was rising." I don't really "like" either phrase, but the second one feels redundant (the extra "it" and the "was" - since we already have the word "mistook" that establishes a past event). Eliminate D.

Final Answer: B

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

[GMATGuruNY]

In the mid- 1960's a newly installed radar warning system mistook the rising of the moon as a massive missile attack by the Soviets.

(A) rising of the moon as a massive missile attack by the Soviets
(B) rising of the moon for a massive Soviet missile attack
(C) moon rising to a massive missile attack by the Soviets
(D) moon as it was rising for a massive Soviet missile attack
(E) rise of the moon as a massive Soviet missile attack

A: mistook...as a massive missile attack
E: mistook...as a massive Soviet missile attack
Here, mistook as is unidiomatic.
The correct idiom is to mistake X for Y.
Eliminate A and E.

C: the moon rising to an attack
Here, to an attack seems to be serving as an adverb modifying rising, implying that the moon was RISING TO AN ATTACK.
Not the intended meaning.
Eliminate C.

D: it was rising for a massive Soviet missile attack
Here, for a massive Soviet missile attack seems to be serving as an adverb modifying was rising, implying that the moon WAS RISING FOR A MASSIVE SOVIET MISSILE ATTACK.
Not the intended meaning.
Eliminate D.

The correct answer is B.

[kutlee]

moreover 'the rising' (gerund) is parallel to 'attack'