Consequences of Population Distribution Practice Test

A secondary-source excerpt notes that in Country X, 70% of the population lives on a narrow coastal plain with mild climate and port access, while the interior plateau remains sparsely settled due to aridity and limited roads. The author argues that this uneven distribution shapes national development by channeling investment and jobs to coastal cities and leaving interior regions with fewer services and slower growth. Which consequence of this population distribution pattern is most consistent with the author’s claim?

A secondary-source excerpt reports that in a large country, settlement is concentrated in a humid eastern lowland, while the arid west has widely spaced towns. The author argues that this uneven distribution affects disaster vulnerability: hazards in the lowland can disrupt more people and critical systems than similar events in the west. Which consequence best matches the author’s point?