Read the text

Question

Even centuries after his death, William Shakespeare captivates readers and audiences with his eloquent sonnets and plays. Controversy surrounds the Bard, however, as many people question whether Shakespeare was really the person we believe him to be. Little was documented about Shakespeare's life, leaving a number of gaps and inconsistencies that scholars have attempted to fill. While there was indeed a man named William Shakespeare, some scholars believe that he is not the true author of the legendary works we know today.
Skeptics feel that Shakespeare, who did not advance past grammar school and had no known literary instruction, was not educated enough to have crafted such complex works as Hamlet and Twelfth Night. In addition, Shakespeare's plays often take place in foreign countries and involve nobility, while the actual Shakespeare did not travel much and did not have any connection to the court. What's more, no evidence exists of anything in Shakespeare's own handwriting, such as notes, diaries, or original manuscripts, a fact that furthers the controversial idea that Shakespeare was not really a writer.
While all of these points support the idea that someone else wrote the works of Shakespeare, many academics feel that this view reflects a poor understanding of the society in which he lived. Even though Shakespeare did not attend the equivalent of high school, he still received sufficient training to be a writer, including courses in Latin and These academics also contend that it makes sense that no examples of Shakespeare's handwriting have been unearthed; paper was expensive, so any paper he had used for notes was likely reused. Additionally, the discrepancy between Shakespeare's life and the settings he wrote about can be considered irrelevant. Many authors from Shakespeare's day wrote about foreign countries they had never visited and about a noble class of which they were not a part; these were popular topics at the time.
Which analysis is most strongly supported by the text?
A. Many researchers believe that William Shakespeare was the true author of the works we know, though they agree he most likely had help when writing about the noble class.
B. Some academics have long questioned whether William Shakespeare could be the true author of the plays we know, while others defend Shakespeare's education and experience.
C. While most scholars believe that William Shakespeare was a playwright, the plays Hamlet and Twelfth Night were most likely written by someone else.
D. Audiences and readers around the world revere the works of Shakespeare, but most scholars doubt that a man named William Shakespeare ever existed.

Which quote from the article best helps support the analysis chosen above?
A. "Skeptics feel that Shakespeare, who did not advance past grammar school and had no known literary instruction, was not educated enough to have crafted such complex works as Hamlet and Twelfth Night."
B. "In addition, Shakespeare's plays often take place in foreign countries and involve nobility, while the actual Shakespeare did not travel much and did not have any connection to the court."
C. "While all of these points support the idea that someone else wrote the works of Shakespeare, many academics feel that this view reflects a poor understanding of the society in which he lived."
D. "Even centuries after his death, William Shakespeare captivates readers and audiences with his eloquent sonnets and plays. Controversy surrounds the Bard, however, as many people question whether Shakespeare was really the person we believe him to be."

Answer 1

The analysis most strongly supported by the text is:

B. Some academics have long questioned whether William Shakespeare could be the true author of the plays we know, while others defend Shakespeare's education and experience.

The quote that best helps support this analysis is:

C. "While all of these points support the idea that someone else wrote the works of Shakespeare, many academics feel that this view reflects a poor understanding of the society in which he lived."

This quote indicates that there are differing views among scholars about Shakespeare's authorship, with some questioning it and others defending his capability based on his education and background.