What does the phrase below tell us about the ruler? Heaven sent down calamities, using our ruler, who possessed of its favor.

(A) He had the Mandate of Heaven. (B) He was an absolute monarch. (C) He had lost the blessing of the gods. (D) He was killed as a result of natural disasters.Explanation: This choice describes the ruler as having heaven’s favor, which is synonymous with the Mandate of Heaven. Choice B is more suited to a discussion of Western history and is irrelevant. The careful reader will see in the text that “calamities” were sent to the previous, not the current, ruler (C). There is no indication that the ruler was killed (D).