Concept:When converting an assertive sentence to an interrogative, the meaning and tone must stay the same. A rhetorical question often uses a negative structure to express strong feeling.
Rule / Clue:Use "Is it not..." to turn a statement of concern into a question that expects agreement. This keeps the original emphasis on "profound concern."
Explanation:The given assertive sentence shows deep worry about stagnant literacy. Option C ("Is it not a matter of profound concern...") perfectly retains that tone as a rhetorical question.
Option A changes the focus to "Does it matter" and loses the sense of deep concern.
Option B uses "Why", which asks for a reason instead of expressing the same worry.
Option D is grammatically correct but lacks the rhetorical force of Option C. It sounds like a simple yes/no question, not the original emphasis.
Therefore, only Option C transforms the sentence while preserving both meaning and emotion.
Answer:Option C: Is it not a matter of profound concern that the rural literacy rate remains stagnant despite several interventions?