The correct answer is D: Arabs in the region wanted to gain independence from the Turkish leaders of the Ottoman Empire. The Arabs had been ruled by the Ottoman Empire since the 16th century, and, although they had been loyal to their Ottoman overlords, by the 20th century they had started to entertain the idea of becoming independent (inspired by Western ideas). This rise of Arab nationalism, which was promoted by the elites, was also fostered by the completion, in 1908, of the Hejaz railway, which connected Medina and Damascus (the central Arabian interior). Many tribes from this area thought that the new railway could mean more Ottoman presence and interference, and opposed it. Therefore, when the First World War broke out, the Arabs saw an ideal opportunity to rebel against the Ottoman Empire, by allying with the British.