Which explains why Ottoman leaders began a policy of deportation and extermination of Armenians within their empire?

They asserted that Armenians were trying to forcibly convert Turks to Islam.
They feared that Armenians were supporting Russia, an Ottoman enemy in World War I.
They claimed that Armenians were trying to establish their own state within the Ottoman Empire.
They argued that Armenians were spreading anti-Turk propaganda among the Ottoman population.

for futures, I took a test. B is right

The Ottoman leaders began a policy of deportation and extermination of Armenians within their empire because they claimed that Armenians were trying to establish their own state within the Ottoman Empire.

The correct answer is: They claimed that Armenians were trying to establish their own state within the Ottoman Empire.

To arrive at this answer, one can examine the historical context of the Ottoman Empire during World War I. The Ottoman leaders, particularly the Young Turks, feared the disintegration of their empire. They were concerned about various nationalist movements within their territories, including among the Armenians.

The Armenians had long desired autonomy or independence, and some of them had started advocating for an independent Armenian state within the Ottoman Empire. This ambition was viewed as a threat to the unity and sovereignty of the empire.

The Ottoman leaders became suspicious of the Armenian population and labeled them as a fifth column. They claimed that the Armenians were plotting to establish their own independent state and were collaborating with the Ottoman Empire's enemies, particularly Russia.

This fear of secession, coupled with the belief that the Armenians were aligned with the Ottomans' enemies, led to the implementation of a policy of deportation and extermination. This policy, known as the Armenian Genocide, resulted in the deaths and forced displacement of millions of Armenians.

In summary, Ottoman leaders began a policy of deportation and extermination of Armenians within their empire because they claimed that the Armenians were trying to establish their own state within the Ottoman Empire, which threatened the unity of the empire.

https://www.history.com/topics/armenian-genocide