Choose the option that best expresses the meaning of the term "draconian law" in English usage.

Introduction / Context:
The adjective draconian is frequently used in news reports, political commentary, and legal discussions. It comes from the name of Draco, an ancient Athenian lawmaker known for issuing very harsh penalties. When examinations ask about the meaning of draconian law, they want you to recall this historical background and understand that the word refers to extreme severity, not ordinary strictness or mildness.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The key term is draconian law.
• Draconian is derived from the name Draco, associated with harsh punishments.
• The options contrast severity, leniency, formality, and enforcement.
• We assume a modern journalistic or academic context where the term criticises a law that is too harsh.

Concept / Approach:
In contemporary English, draconian is used to describe measures, laws, or rules that are excessively harsh or severe. For example, a draconian punishment might be a life sentence for a minor crime. When people call a law draconian, they usually mean that the law imposes penalties far out of proportion to the offence and may infringe on freedoms. The word does not refer to whether the law is written or oral, nor to whether it is enforced or ignored. It especially does not mean lenient. Therefore, an extremely severe and harsh law is the correct explanation of draconian law.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that historically, Draco was known for very harsh legal codes, which is why draconian has the sense of excessive severity. Step 2: Identify that, in modern usage, the term is largely negative, criticising laws or measures that are too strict. Step 3: Examine the options for a phrase that explicitly mentions extreme severity and harshness. Step 4: Option B, an extremely severe and harsh law, matches this understanding exactly. Step 5: Confirm that the other options shift the meaning to formality, informality, or leniency, which do not align with the historical and modern sense of draconian.

Verification / Alternative check:
Look at example uses: Critics described the new internet censorship rules as draconian laws that severely restricted free speech. Here, draconian clearly refers to harshness, not to whether the law is written or oral. If we replace draconian laws with extremely severe and harsh laws, the sentence still conveys the same idea. However, substituting written but never enforced laws, purely oral laws, or lenient and forgiving laws would completely change the meaning and no longer justify the criticism expressed by critics described. This confirms Option B as the only suitable answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
A law that is written but never enforced: This is wrong because draconian focuses on severity of punishment, not on enforcement levels. A rarely enforced law could still be draconian in nature, but the definition is about harshness, not application.
An informal or purely oral law: This is wrong because the term does not describe the form of the law. Both written and oral laws may be draconian if they are excessively harsh.
A very lenient and forgiving law: This is clearly the opposite of draconian. Leniency and forgiveness conflict with the idea of harsh penalties.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students guess that draconian simply means strict, which leads them to underestimate the level of harshness implied. Others may confuse it with archaic or old fashioned. To avoid confusion, remember the connection with Draco and imagine punishment that is shockingly severe or cruel. In exam contexts, any phrase that emphasises extreme severity, harshness, or cruelty will be closer to the correct meaning of draconian than mild or neutral wording.

Final Answer:
Draconian law refers to An extremely severe and harsh law.