Who is the author of the novel "The Sellout", which won the Man Booker Prize?

Introduction / Context:
This question concerns a modern satirical novel that achieved a major international honour. "The Sellout" is a biting satire about race and politics in the United States, and it became widely known after winning the Man Booker Prize. Identifying Paul Beatty as its author adds an important piece to an exam candidate's knowledge of recent prize winning fiction.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The novel mentioned is "The Sellout".

- The options list four authors whose works are linked with the Booker Prize.

- Only one of these authors actually wrote "The Sellout".

- The question is simple title to author recognition with no extra context required.

Concept / Approach:
The core idea is to distinguish Paul Beatty from other Booker winners. He became the first American writer to win the prize for "The Sellout". Aravind Adiga won for "The White Tiger", Eleanor Catton for "The Luminaries", and Howard Jacobson for "The Finkler Question". By remembering each author's primary winning title, a candidate can easily match Beatty with "The Sellout".

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that "The Sellout" is a satirical novel set in the United States and is known for its bold treatment of race relations. Step 2: Remember that Paul Beatty wrote this novel and received the Man Booker Prize for it. Step 3: Check the other options and mentally pair them with their own Booker winning works. Step 4: See that none of the other three authors wrote "The Sellout", so Paul Beatty is the only option that fits.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification is straightforward if one remembers the news coverage describing Beatty as the first American writer to win the Booker for "The Sellout". Lists of Booker winners organised by year consistently pair his name with this title. In contrast, Aravind Adiga, Eleanor Catton, and Howard Jacobson each appear beside different book titles, not this one.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Aravind Adiga won the Booker Prize for "The White Tiger", which deals with class and corruption in India.
Eleanor Catton is known for "The Luminaries", a long nineteenth century set novel, not for "The Sellout".
Howard Jacobson won for "The Finkler Question" and has no connection with this American satire.

Common Pitfalls:
Because all the names provided in the options are Booker associated authors, candidates sometimes randomly choose one rather than linking each author to the correct winning title. To avoid this, students should memorise at least one key work for each major prize winning author, which makes such questions easier to answer accurately.

Final Answer:
The novel "The Sellout" is written by Paul Beatty.