- <em>by providing supporting evidence of a prince believed to be clever because he chose a good servant</em>. This is the correct option.
The author tells that one can judge a prince's intellingence through the servants he chooses. If a prince can choose a capable and faithful servant, the prince's high level of intelligence will be percieved. After this explanation, the writer gives an example. The prince of Siena has chosen a capable and faithful servant, Antonio da Venafro. Everyone knows about this. Therefore, noone will doubt that the prince of Siena is not intelligent. He is actually intelligent. He can think for himself or he can learn from others about the difference between good and bad in a servant.
These options are wrong:
-by explaining the prince of Siena’s reasons for choosing Antonio da Venafro as his servant. The reasons are not explained. The writer uses this to exemplify his claim: a prince's intelligence can be measured by the choice he makes of his servants.
-by suggesting a solution to the problem of princes having to select intelligent and honest servants. The writer gives some tips to choose a good servant but this is not his claim. In fact, the writer's focus in on princes' intelligence. Besides, the servants should be honest and capable, not intelligent.
-by comparing and contrasting the qualities of Pandolfo Petrucci with those of his servant Antonio da Venafro. There is not any comparison in the text. It is assumed that Pandolfo Petrucci is intelligent and that his servant is faithful and capable.
