Which would be the closest synonym for the word appealing, as it is used above?
thrilling *
inviting
sickening
ola
shocking
oops! you answered incorrectly. try again.

Attractive

Explanation:

As and adjective, the closest synonym would be attractive or interesting. But there are also, captivating, alluring and more. From the words in the question, I would say that closest one to the word appealing is Thrilling.

Verb form of this adjective is appeal and it is used when we are making some request.

For example, it could be used in sentence like this:

The life in the city is more attractive\appealing or thrilling than it is on the village.

b would have to be the answer

21 balloons is the story of professor william sherman's travels.

in 1883, he set off from san francisco for a balloon ride over the pacific and was found a month later floating with 21 balloons in the atlantic ocean. this seemed an astounding feat and everyone wanted to know what had happened.    

professor sherman was loyal, however, and said he would tell his tale first to the western american explorers club in san francisco, of which he was a member. this built up suspense for several chapters before he began to tell of the wonders of his adventures and the amazing island of krakatoa, an island which had just been blown up by a volcano.  

the residents of krakatoa are all millionaires who live under a "gourmet government" of their own devising. we get to see all the incredible adventures that creative people with unlimited resources would create according to the author.