I think "depicted as" is an idiom
not sure about "depicted to be"

still I am finding B most appropriate
because of parallelism
ie
in films || in reality

B is passive also

whats the OA?

I will go with C as the emphasis in the main clause should be on Coyotes rather than films -- I believe the passive form here is acceptable.

(A)

IMO C

OA is A. Can any one explain?

C is Passive.. while A is active

Even I chose B initially but 'depicted to be' is wrong , no matter how correct the rest of the sentence is.

The only issue with A I find is that the verb is in the present continuous tense of mourn. Given the choice of choosing best among these - I would go with A.

-pradeep

I will go with C

adding further explanation to old thread

(A) films about the American West depict coyotes as solitary animals howling mournfully on the tops of distant hills :correct
(B) in films about the American West coyotes are depicted to be(depicted AS :'to be' incorrect idiom) solitary animals that (who coyotes or solitary animals?)howl mournfully on the tops of distant hills
(C) coyotes are depicted as solitary animals howling mournfully on the tops of distant hills in films about the American West( verb-object r far away- it makes the first clause passive.)+Since the first clause ends in "films about the American West," the modifying phrase appears to modify the films. But we know the sentence intends to modify coyotes not films
(D) films about the American West depict coyotes as if they (no need of conditional 'if')were solitary, mournfully howling animals on the tops of distant hills
(E) films about the American West depict coyotes to be solitary and mournfully howling animals on the tops of distant hills

our purpose is to discuss not to give an idea. so, pls, give idea, even though we can not go to an end, a choice.

why C is wrong?