Oil-rich countries in the middle east cover about 4% of earth’s total land area but possess about 48% of the world’s known oil reserves. what is the main reason for the high concentration of reserves in this part of the world?
a. geological processes
b. population growth
c. technology advancements
d. weather conditions

the first phase of the government’s plan for settlement was building the transcontinental railroad. the railroad provided a way to bring settlers and manufactured goods west and ship their agricultural and mining produce east. the transcontinental railroad was an essential artery for rapid development of the frontier.

the second phase of the government’s plan was a liberal land distribution policy that made it possible for many people to homestead. with these two key elements—transportation and cheap land—the government rapidly achieved its goal of persuading people to move west, settle on farms, and push back the frontier.

true. earthquakes are felt whenever there is a slip around a fault in the rocks below the earth. this reorientation of faults create sesmic waves and is known as earthquake, the severity of which is measured in richter scale. these are more prominent in hilly regions as the rocks usually form faults to balance the pressures on it.