The source best supports which of the following inferences about sources of political authority in the period circa 600 (B) (C) E.–600 (C) E.?

(A) Rulers derived legitimacy for their rule by their sponsorship of religion and chief priests. (B) Rulers were limited in their political authority by powerful religious figures. (C) Rulers derived legitimacy for their rule through victories over foreign peoples. (D) Rulers derived legitimacy for their rule through the consent of those they governed.Explanation: This question asks about sources of political authority, as inferred from the passage. The passage is written by a chief priest of the Sassanid Empire, Kerdir, who has been promoted by various kings over the course of his lifetime. Therefore, the correct answer should reflect this interaction. Choice (A) is indeed supported by the passage, so keep it. Choice (B) inserts an opposite reading by stating that the priests exerted control over their rulers. While this may be historically true, it is not supported by the text, so eliminate it. Choice (C) mentions foreign peoples; even though the passage discusses suppression of non-Zoroastrian peoples, foreign peoples are not mentioned, so eliminate (C). Choice (D) discusses the consent of the governed, which is also not supported by the passage, so eliminate it. The correct answer is (A).