Sentence Correction

Based on recent box office receipts, the public's appetite for documentary films, like nonfiction books, seems to be on the rise.
A)like nonfiction books
B)as nonfiction books
C)as its interest in nonfiction books
D)like their interest in nonfiction books
E)like its interest in nonfiction books

[spoiler]OA: Later. Please discuss each option choice [/spoiler]

Thanks

Hi,
appetite for documentaries is compared with interest in non fiction. We are comparing phrases here. So, 'like' is used.
public is collective noun and taken as singular when taken as a whole.
Hence, E

[spoiler]D and E are strong contenders but its is more appropriate than their in this case.
IMO E[/spoiler]

Well, I am a little confused here. "Like" should generally be used to compare nouns immediately following it. But this question has a pronoun ,"its", following "Like". So, does it imply that "Like" can be used to compare everything other than actions (verbs). Also, do we use "As" to compare actions ?


Cheers
----------
It is never too late for anything !

IMO: E

Public - its