Rationale
Lorca, the oldest son of a wealthy landowner, studied literature and law at the University of Granada before turning to writing full-time.
This revision effectively combines the two sentences by maintaining proper grammatical structure and ensuring clarity. It uses a participial phrase that smoothly integrates the information about Lorca's background and his education, leading logically into his career shift.
A) Lorca, the oldest son of a wealthy landowner, studied literature and law at the University of Granada before turning to writing full-time.
This option is the best choice because it combines the two sentences into a single, fluid statement. The use of a participial phrase ("the oldest son of a wealthy landowner") provides essential context without creating separate clauses, enhancing readability and coherence.
B) Lorca was the oldest son of a wealthy landowner. He studied literature and law at the University of Granada. He later turned to writing full-time.
While this option correctly conveys the information, it does not combine the sentences effectively. The separate statements create unnecessary fragmentation, making the narrative feel disjointed and less engaging.
C) Lorca was the oldest son of a wealthy landowner, he studied literature and law at the University of Granada before turning to writing full-time.
This choice creates a run-on sentence by improperly connecting two independent clauses with just a comma. This grammatical error can confuse readers and disrupt the flow of information, making it less effective than the correct answer.
D) The oldest son of a wealthy landowner, Lorca studied literature and law at the University of Granada. He turned to writing full-time, later.
Though this option starts with a participial phrase, it separates the final action into a new sentence, which disrupts the narrative flow. The placement of "later" is also awkward and adds unnecessary complexity to the sentence.
Conclusion
The best way to revise and combine the sentences is option A, which provides a cohesive and clear statement about Lorca's background, education, and career transition. By effectively using a participial phrase, this revision enhances readability and maintains the narrative flow, making it the most suitable choice among the options presented.