Which statement best describes thomas paine's use of evidence in the passage? paine used empirical evidence to support the claim that the continental army had performed creditably. paine used empirical evidence to support his claim that howe's army had decisively defeated the continental army. paine used anecdotal evidence to support his claim that the continental army had performed creditably. paine used anecdotal evidence to support his claim that howe's army had decisively defeated the continental army.