Answer:
D) Gwendolyn Brooks, a shy woman who did not stand out in the crowd, was a well-known American poet.
Explanation:
This is the original sentence:
Gwendolyn Brooks was shy, and she did not stand out in a crowd, yet she was a well-known American poet.
This is A, revision one:
Brooks was a well-known American poet. She was very shy.
This is not a good edit, because it would cut of the fact that she didn´t stand out. The part about not standing out is necessary to fully empathize the author´s point.
This is B, revision two:
Gwendolyn was a shy person who did not stand out in a crowd.
This edit completely cuts out the fact that she was a well known poet, therefore, it cannot be the correct answer.
This is C, revision 3:
Gwendolyn Brooks is one of my favorite American poets. She was shy as a young girl.
While it says she was a poet, it takes away the meaning from the original sentence. It cannot be used.
This is D, revision 4, and our correct answer:
Gwendolyn Brooks, a shy woman who did not stand out in the crowd, was a well-known American poet.
This edit keeps the meaning of the original sentence, however, it allows the sentence to flow smoother.