Give short shrift to means to give little attention, sympathy, or consideration. The correct answer is this meaning because the expression is used figuratively, not only by its literal words.

Examples:

• The committee gave short shrift to the weak proposal.
• In an HSC essay, Give short shrift to can express this meaning: to give little attention, sympathy, or consideration.
• When this expression appears in a passage, connect Give short shrift to with the idea of to give little attention, sympathy, or consideration.