Question

which of the following factors most influenced the adoption of largely mobile lifestyles by early societies in the great basin and great plains? choose 1 answer: a the climate of the great plains consisted of periods of drought, making farming impossible. b religious beliefs stipulated that devout individuals should live nomadic lives. c frequent earthquakes and flash floods made stone houses and pueblos unsustainable. d the arid great basin limited farming opportunities close to major waterways, making permanent settlements undesirable.

Explanation:

• Option A: The Great Plains had some farming (e.g., with buffalo grasslands and some agriculture possible in certain areas), so "farming impossible" is incorrect.
• Option B: There's no broad religious mandate across early Great Basin/Plains societies requiring nomadic life; religious beliefs weren't the primary driver for mobility.
• Option C: Earthquakes and flash floods aren't defining environmental factors of the Great Basin/Plains that drove mobile lifestyles; these regions are more characterized by aridity and grasslands.
• Option D: The Great Basin is arid, and waterways were limited. Permanent settlements rely on stable farming, which was hard here. So limited farming near waterways made permanent settlements undesirable, pushing for mobile lifestyles (e.g., following game, seasonal resources).

Answer:

D. The arid Great Basin limited farming opportunities close to major waterways, making permanent settlements undesirable.