In line 3, the word “their” refers to the expression “venerable principals” from line 2.

Text 6 to answer questions 38 and 39.

1 For centuries, the fact that diplomats represented
venerable principals – from powerful monarchs to
established states – guaranteed their protected and
4 privileged status. Whereas long-standing rules of diplomatic
immunity and privileges by and large continue to be upheld
in interstate relations, popular perceptions of diplomats have
7 changed in recent decades. To the extent that diplomats are
perceived as symbols of disliked countries, religions or
“-isms”, the quality of standing for others has been
10 transformed from a rationale for diplomatic immunity to a
rationale for political violence. No longer being inviolable
symbols, diplomatic representatives have increasingly
13 become highly vulnerable symbols.

Stanzel, V. New Realities in Foreign Affairs: Diplomacy in the 21st Century. SWP Research Paper 2018, RP 11, November 2018,with adaptations.