Question

read this paragraph from chapter 5 of the prince
there are, for example, the spartans and the
romans. the spartans held athens and thebes,
establishing there an oligarchy: nevertheless they lost
them. the romans, in order to hold capua, carthage,
and numantia, dismantled them, and did not lose
them. they wished to hold greece as the spartans
held it, making it free and permitting its laws, and did
not succeed. so to hold it they were compelled to
dismantle many cities in the country, for in truth there
is no safe way to retain them otherwise than by ruining
them. and he who becomes master of a city
accustomed to freedom and does not destroy it, may
expect to be destroyed by it, for in rebellion it has
always the watchword of liberty and its ancient
privileges as a rallying point, which neither time nor
benefits will ever cause it to forget. and whatever you
may do or provide against, they never forget that.
which statement best summarizes the central idea of
the paragraph?
the spartans and the romans are alike in how
they retain possession of newly acquired states.
the spartans and the romans are alike in their
approach to ruling newly acquired states
observing what happened to the spartans and the
romans shows that it is best to destroy a newly
acquired state that is accustomed to freedom
observing what happened to the spartans and the
romans shows that it is best to establish an
oligarchy in a newly acquired state that is
accustomed to freedom

Explanation:

1. Analyze Option A: The paragraph shows Spartans lost the states they held with an oligarchy, while Romans succeeded by dismantling. So their methods to retain states were different, not alike. Eliminate A.
2. Analyze Option B: As above, Spartans (oligarchy) and Romans (dismantling) had different approaches to ruling new states. Eliminate B.
3. Analyze Option C: Spartans lost Athens/Thebes (didn't destroy, established oligarchy), Romans succeeded with Capua etc. by dismantling. The text concludes that to hold a state accustomed to freedom, destroying it is best (else it will rebel). This matches the idea of observing Spartans and Romans showing destroying is best for such states.
4. Analyze Option D: The Spartans' approach (oligarchy) failed, and the text says not destroying a free - accustomed state leads to being destroyed by it. So establishing oligarchy is not the best. Eliminate D.

Answer:

C. Observing what happened to the Spartans and the Romans shows that it is best to destroy a newly acquired state that is accustomed to freedom.