Which of the following groups had the higher social status under the Yuan dynasty?

Under the Yuan dynasty, the social hierarchy was heavily influenced by the Mongol ruling class, which favored certain groups over others. The highest social status was generally held by the Mongols themselves, followed by various groups categorized by their ethnicity and connections to the Mongolian rulers.

Among the groups listed:

1. Song scholar-officials - They were part of the Han Chinese elite before the Mongol conquest and lost much of their power under the Yuan dynasty.
2. Southern Chinese merchants - They held a certain degree of wealth but did not have high social status compared to the ruling class.
3. Northern Chinese nobles - They were generally more favored due to their connections to the Mongols and the prevailing political structure.
4. Turks and other Muslims - This group was often favored by the Mongols, as they were seen as allies and were sometimes placed in positions of power due to their skills and alliances.

Among these groups, the northern Chinese nobles and the Turks and other Muslims typically had higher social status during the Yuan dynasty than the Song scholar-officials or southern Chinese merchants. However, Turks and other Muslims were often more favored than the northern Chinese nobles due to their role within the Mongol regime.

So, to answer your question, out of the listed groups, the Turks and other Muslims generally held higher social status under the Yuan dynasty.