Question

which quote from the text best supports the claim? *

the people of hims are the syrians, non - muslims, who had been under byzantine rule. - heraclius gathered a large byzantine army... numbering about 200,000. this army he put under the command of one of his choice men... the moslems gathered together and the byzantine army marched against them.

the battle they fought at al - yarmuk was one of the fiercest and bloodiest kind.... in this battle 24,000 moslems took part. the byzantines and their followers in the battle tied themselves to each other by chains, so that no one might set his hope on flight. by allahs help, some 70,000 of them were put to death.

when heraclius massed his troops against the moslems and moslems heard that they were coming to meet them at al - yarmuk, the moslems refunded to the inhabitants of hims the land tax they had taken from them saying, \we are too busy to support and protect you. take care of yourselves.\ but the people of hims replied, \we like your rule and justice far better than the state of oppression and tyranny in which we were. the army of heraclius we shall indeed... repulse from the city.\

when by allahs help the \unbelievers\ were defeated and the moslems won, they opened the gates of their cities, went out with the singers and music players who began to play, and paid the land tax.

Explanation:

To determine which quote supports a claim (likely about the battle at al - Yarmuk or the conflict between Byzantines and Moslems), we analyze each option:

• The first option describes the gathering of armies but not the outcome or intensity of the battle.
• The second option details the fierceness of the battle at al - Yarmuk, the number of Moslems involved, the Byzantines' tactic (chaining themselves), and the large number of Byzantines killed. This provides concrete details about the battle, which is likely relevant to a claim about the battle.
• The third option focuses on the tax refund and the people of Hims' preference for Moslem rule, not the battle itself.
• The fourth option describes the aftermath of the Moslems' victory, not the battle action.

Answer:

The quote that best supports the claim is: "The battle they fought at al - Yarmuk was one of the fiercest and bloodiest kind. … In this battle 24,000 Moslems took part. The [Byzantines] and their followers in the battle tied themselves to each other by chains, so that no one might set his hope on flight. By Allah's help, some 70,000 of them were put to death."