Using context clues from the last lines in the excerpt, the word "belies" most likely means disguises reveals underscores reinforces honors

the answer is:

to persuade readers that a conquering prince must destroy a former republic if he hopes to hold it.

in the excerpt from "the prince," the author niccolò machiavelli suggests that to take possession of a city and endure the control over it, it is necessary to destroy it first. otherwise, people who have known freedom will eventually turn against the new rulers and fight back to recover their power.

1: we       2: its     3: their           4: him     5: his/her

he is a good writer and his works should not be questioned