Question

which of these was a corrupt business practice that frank norris exposed in the octopus?
○ railroad companies selling land to farmers and secretly keeping legal ownership of the land
○ railroad companies receiving land grants from the government and attempting to sell the land
○ railroad companies charging farmers and ranchers to transport goods and livestock to their land
○ railroad companies purchasing land from the government and improving the land

Explanation:

In The Octopus, Frank Norris exposed corrupt railroad practices. The first option describes railroad companies selling land to farmers while secretly retaining legal ownership, which is a corrupt practice (deceiving farmers about land ownership). The other options: receiving land grants to sell (not inherently corrupt as land grants were given for development, though misusing could be, but the first is more directly corrupt), charging for transport is a normal business (unless extortionate, but the first is about fraudulent ownership), and purchasing/improving land is a legitimate practice.

Answer:

A. railroad companies selling land to farmers and secretly keeping legal ownership of the land