much as i admire him as a pop singer, i don't like him as a

这题确实应该选C.
意思是:
尽管他身为一个演员我很敬重他,但是作为一个人,我不是很喜欢.
这句话里必须搞清楚as的用法是不同的
对于I admire him as a pop singer而言,这里as是表示"作(为),看成"的意思,它的作用接近介词.后面I don't like him as a man也是这个意思.
第一个as用作连词,引导让步状语从句,表示"尽管,虽说"(此时句子有一部分倒装),例如:
Intelligent as she was, she had not much insight.尽管她很聪明却不太有洞察力.
Poor as he was, he was honest.他虽说穷却很诚实.
语法我是在里查的,张道真的书很适合作语法参考书,建议学英语的你买一本:)