This is an official question from Test Code 37, Section 3, Question 4.

The proper usage is see as. For example, we might say:

I see you as a friend.
Jonathan was seen as the class clown.

With this information, we can eliminate answer choices C, D, and E.

When we reduce to two choices, generally speaking, the shorter of the two is better. With that in mind, we could safely save time and pick A.

Alternatively, we can note that the phrase "as if they are" is incorrect. It should be "as if they were." For example, we might say:

John treated me as if I were a leper. (I'm not a leper, but he treated me as if I were one).