Explanation

In the original statement, "He is one of the best students in the class," we are dealing with a comparative degree of the adjective "best." This indicates that he stands out among his peers, suggesting that there are several students who are also "good" but that he is recognized as being among the top.

When transforming this comparative structure into a positive degree adjective, we need a statement that captures the essence of "good" without the comparative nuances. The correct answer is "very few students in the class are as good as he."

This choice effectively conveys that while he performs at a high level, only a limited number of other students reach that same level of excellence. It indicates that he is not just good but exceptional, as it implies that the majority of his classmates do not attain his level of ability.

Options A and B suggest that he is equal to or not significantly better than most other students, which diminishes his status. Option D offers no valid alternative. Thus, option C accurately reflects the superiority of his performance in a way that aligns with the positive form of the adjective, allowing us to understand that he stands out among the class.