Question

what was the greatest challenge the ancestral pueblo people faced when they built permanent settlements in the southwest? choose 1 answer: a they often needed to defend their towns and fields from other groups. b they couldn’t move as easily if nearby resources became limited. c they depended on farming, and a lack of rain could lead to food shortages. d they had to find enough wood and stone to build homes in a dry region.

Explanation:

The Ancestral Pueblo people in the Southwest relied heavily on farming. The region's arid climate meant that rainfall was inconsistent, and a lack of rain would directly impact their crop yields, leading to food shortages. Option A: There's less evidence of frequent conflicts requiring defense as a primary challenge. Option B: While permanent settlements limit movement, resource limitation's impact on movement isn't the greatest challenge compared to food security from farming. Option D: Finding wood and stone, though a task, is less critical than ensuring food supply through successful farming, which is highly dependent on rain. So the greatest challenge ties to their farming - based subsistence and rain - related food shortages.

Answer:

C. They depended on farming, and a lack of rain could lead to food shortages.