Question

Among the first females awarded a degree from Oxford University, Dorothy L. Sayers proved to be one of the most versatile writers in post-war England. Sayers was born in 1893, the only child of an Anglican chaplain, and she received an unexpectedly good education at home. For instance, her study of Latin commenced when she was only six years old. She entered Oxford in

1912, at a time when the university was not granting degrees to women. By 1920, this policy had changed, and Sayers received her degree in medieval literature and modern languages after finishing university. That same year, she also received a master of arts degree. Sayers's first foray into published writing was a collection of poetry released in 1916. Within a few years, she began work on the detective novels and short stories that would make her
famous due to the creation of the foppish, mystery-solving aristocrat Lord Peter Wimsey. Sayers is also credited with the short story Mysteries about Montague Egg. In spite of her success as a mystery writer, Sayers continued to balance popular fiction with academic work; her translation of Dante's Inferno gained her respect for her ability to convey poetry in
English while still remaining true to the Italian terza rima. She also composed a series of twelve plays about the life of Christ and wrote several essays about education and feminism. In her middle age, Dorothy L. Sayers published several works of Christian apologetics, one of which was so well-received that the archbishop of Canterbury attempted to present her with a doctorate of
divinity. Sayers, for reasons known only to her, declined.

Which of the following sentences is the best summary of the passage?
A) Among the first females awarded a degree from Oxford University, Dorothy L. Sayers proved to be one of the most versatile writers in post-war England.
B) Sayers was born in 1893, the only child of an Anglican chaplain, and she received an unexpectedly good education at home.
C) Within a few years, she began work on the detective novels and short stories that would make her famous due to the creation of the foppish, mystery-solving aristocrat Lord Peter Wimsey.
D) In her middle age, Dorothy L. Sayers published several works of Christian apologetics, one of which was so well-received that the archbishop of Canterbury attempted to present her with a doctorate of divinity

Answer 1

The best summary of the passage is option A), which highlights Dorothy L. Sayers as an Oxford graduate and versatile writer in post-war England.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best summary of the passage is option A) Among the first females awarded a degree from Oxford University, Dorothy L. Sayers proved to be one of the most versatile writers in post-war England. This summary encapsulates Sayers's accomplishment as one of Oxford's first female graduates and her versatility as a writer in post-war England, which covers both her academic achievements and her writing career.

The option effectively summarizes the various aspects of Sayers's life and work mentioned in the passage, from her early education and pioneering degree, to her literary contributions in detective fiction, translations, religious plays, and essays, without dwelling on specifics that the other options do.