The quote from Shakespeare, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet," is used by Julia Alvarez to support the idea that names do not define a person's true identity or worth. Thus, the correct answer is:
D. It challenges readers to consider how names are important and to what degree they affect who people are, contributing to the central idea of the text.
This choice captures the complexity of the relationship between identity and names, which is a central theme in Alvarez's work. Names can carry significant cultural, personal, and social meanings, prompting a deeper reflection on how they influence perceptions and experiences.