Question

read the passage below and respond to the question that follows.
sudan and egypt have quarreled for decades over a region called halaib. this triangle of land along the red sea is rich in the mineral manganese, which is essential to iron and steel production. it is also used as an additive in unleaded gasoline. the sudanese government claims the land rightfully belongs to sudan, but it currently belongs to egypt.
this reading describes a border dispute. what is the cause of this dispute?
natural resources
ethnic conflict
religious beliefs
different political ideologies

Explanation:

The passage mentions that the region of Hala’ib is rich in manganese (a mineral), which is a natural resource. There is no mention of ethnic conflict, religious beliefs, or different political ideologies in the text as causes for the dispute. The focus is on the land (which has a natural resource - manganese) and who it belongs to.

Answer:

Natural resources