Final answer:
The development that most directly explains the presence of scholars in China is the Catholic Church's response to the Protestant Reformation, where it sought new converts outside of Europe to counteract the rise of Protestantism. Option b is the answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The development in Europe in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries that most directly helps to explain the presence of the scholars shown in the image of China is B. The Protestant Reformation led the Catholic Church to seek new converts outside of Europe. The Protestant Reformation, which began in 1517 with Martin Luther's criticisms of the Catholic Church, eventually led to a broad schism within Christianity. This division compelled the Catholic Church to look beyond Europe's borders in search of new adherents, in part to counter the spread of Protestantism.
In addition to the religious motivation, the age of exploration and colonial expansion also drove Europeans to distant lands, including China. European powers, like Spain with its considerable New World wealth, were determined to spread Catholicism and establish their influence globally.
Consequently, the Catholic Church and various European countries sent missionaries to Asia, including China, to convert people to Catholicism and establish a religious presence. Such efforts often included scholars, artists, and other educated individuals who would represent the Church and its teachings.