Question

question 5

\closely following the leasing came the period of drilling which brought with it the town building phase. drilling crews brought young men attracted to the new oil pool by the wages. a large pool such as cushing might attract from fifty to one hundred thousand persons to an area previously sparsely populated...once begun the boom town grew rapidly in two or three months. but whether the town ever passed from wooden shacks to a little city depended on the size of the oil pool from which it sprang. unless the oil pool was of considerable size, most of the population would leave when the drilling ceased.\
chronicles of oklahoma, december, 1939

which statement best describes the typical oil boom town of early oklahoma?

most became huge cities, such as tulsa and earlsboro, dependent on the oil business.
the permanent growth of an oil town was based on the productivity of the oil pool.
most laborers were migrant workers from western agricultural businesses.
oil towns on native american lands were slow to grow into large cities.

Explanation:

Analyze the historical source text

The passage from Chronicles of Oklahoma (December, 1939) describes the lifecycle of early Oklahoma oil boomtowns. It states: "But whether the town ever passed from wooden shacks to a little city depended on the size of the oil pool from which it sprang. Unless the oil pool was of considerable size, most of the population would leave when the drilling ceased."

Evaluate the answer choices

Using the Oklahoma Economic Geography knowledge point:

• Option 1 suggests most became huge cities, which contradicts the text stating that population would leave unless the pool was of considerable size.
• Option 2 states that permanent growth depended on the productivity (size) of the oil pool, directly matching the text: "whether the town ever passed... to a little city depended on the size of the oil pool."
• Option 3 mentions migrant workers from western agricultural businesses, which is not supported by the text.
• Option 4 discusses Native American lands, which is not the focus of this passage.

Select the correct option

The second option is the most accurate description based on the provided historical text.

Answer:

• (A) Most became huge cities, such a Tulsa and Earlsboro, dependent on the oil business.
• (B) The permanent growth of an oil town was based on the productivity of the oil pool. (Correct answer)
• (C) Most laborers were migrant workers from western agricultural businesses.
• (D) Oil towns on Native American lands were slow to grow into large cities.