Read the excerpt from "For the ERA"

Question

For instance, the Constitution guarantees due process
of law, in the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. But
the applicability of due process to sex distinctions is
not clear. Women are excluded from some state
colleges and universities. In some states, restrictions
are placed on a married woman who engages in an
independent business. Women may not be chosen for
some juries. Women even receive heavier criminal
penalties than men who commit the same crime.

Which best paraphrases this excerpt without
changing Chisolm's meaning?

A. The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments guarantee
due process of law, which should include sex
distinctions, but their application remains unclear
because women are excluded from some state
colleges and universities, some juries, some
business, and some courtrooms.

B. The Constitution guarantees equal protection
under the law, but the Fifth and Fourteenth
Amendments do not apply equally to women; for
example, women are not allowed to attend certain
schools, serve on certain juries, engage in
independent business, or even be given the same
penalty for the same crime a man commits.

C. Due process, guaranteed by the Constitution, is inconsistently applied to women, who are excluded from some colleges and universities and some juries, who may be restricted from engaging in a business, and who may be penalized more harshly than men for similar crimes.

D. While the Constitution was originally intended to include all United States citizens, amendments guaranteeing due process of law exclude women who want to attend college, serve on juries, run a business, or receive the same criminal penalties as men.

Answer 1

The best paraphrase of the excerpt without changing Chisolm's meaning is:

C. Due process, guaranteed by the Constitution, is inconsistently applied to women, who are excluded from some colleges and universities and some juries, who may be restricted from engaging in a business, and who may be penalized more harshly than men for similar crimes.

This option captures the main points about the inconsistency of due process as it applies to women and provides specific examples mentioned in the original excerpt.