<p>Neither painting, when regarded as apainting, appears [like the masterpieces they are].
A. like the masterpieces they are
B. to be the masterpiece that it is
C. like they are masterpieces
D. like a masterpiece
E. to be the masterpieces they are</p>
<p>Why is the correct answer B? How to explain "that it is" in B?
Thank you!</p>
<p>I would choose D.</p>
<p>The correct idiom is “appears to be” so it is B or E. Plus “like” is used for comparison. It is not like a masterpiece. It is a masterpiece.</p>
<p>Now you must decide whether the subject is singular or plural. The subject is the indefinite pronoun “neither” and it is always singular. The “a painting” in the phrase separated by commas hints at this. So if “neither” is singular, then the noun and verb must be singular. Choice (B) is correct.</p>
<p>^^ couldn’t have said it better myself</p>