Which appeal is being made when a builder emphasizes local hiring to win a contract from the zoning board?

The correct choice highlights the strategy of appealing to the biases and sentiments of the audience—in this case, the zoning board—by emphasizing local hiring. This approach relies on the belief that local workers are more desirable than outsiders, tapping into community pride and preferences for supporting the local economy. By showcasing a commitment to hiring locally, the builder aims to resonate with the board's potential biases, which may favor community benefits over broader considerations. This tactic leverages the emotional appeal that can stem from favoring local interests, which often aims to foster a sense of loyalty or obligation within decision-making bodies.

While other options pertain to different emotional appeals, such as evoking feelings of compassion or status, they do not capture the specific strategy of leveraging local sentiment for advantage in decision-making as effectively as the appeal to prejudice does in this context.