War and Peace is a long novel ____by Leo Tolstoy ?

The correct option in the sentence "War and Peace is a long novel ____ by Leo Tolstoy" is A) written. This choice is appropriate because it accurately maintains the sentence's grammatical structure and meaning.

The phrase "is a long novel" introduces a state or condition, and we need a past participle that can function as a complement to the verb "is." The word "written" is the past participle form of "write," making it suitable to describe the action performed on the noun "novel." Thus, the complete sentence reads: "War and Peace is a long novel written by Leo Tolstoy," meaning that Tolstoy is the author of the novel in question.

Analyzing the other options further clarifies why they are incorrect. Option B) "it was written" introduces a new subject and changes the verb tense, making the sentence unnecessarily complex. Option C) "was written" also alters the sentence’s structure, removing the present-tense aspect that "is" conveys. Option D) "wrote" is the past tense and does not fit grammatically after "is." Therefore, "written" is the most fitting choice, allowing the sentence to convey a clear, concise meaning.