Topic: Degree of Comparison,

Best Answer Explained in Below-:

The correct choice for the sentence is A) "appealing" because it maintains the grammatical structure and meaning of the sentence. The phrase "are as alive and appealing today" uses the present participle "appealing," which functions as an adjective to describe the noun implied by "Shakespeare's plays."

In this context, "alive" and "appealing" work together to indicate that Shakespeare's plays continue to resonate, engage, and attract audiences just as they did during his lifetime. This contrasts with the other options:

- B) "appeal" would create an incorrect noun phrase, as it does not fit the grammatical parallel structure with "alive."
- C) "appealed" is the past tense, which implies a completed action and does not appropriately convey the ongoing relevance of the plays.
- D) "the appeal of" introduces an additional noun phrase that disrupts the cohesive flow of the sentence.

Thus, the choice "appealing" effectively communicates that Shakespeare's works remain dynamic and relevant, aligning perfectly with the sentence's intended meaning.