How does the above description contrast with early mining operations in the American West? This is gold mining today, the ads proclaim—beautiful hills, waving fields of grass, prancing mule deer, a glimmering lake . . .
—T. H. Watkins, "Hard Rock Legacy," National Geographic, March 2000

The correct answer to this open question is the following.

Although there are no options attached, we can say the following.

The above description contrast with early mining operations in the American West in that the formerly conditions of the old west were completely different than the "beautiful hills, waving fields of grass, prancing mule deer, a glimmering lake . . ." description by T.H. Watkins.

Indeed, it was the opposite. American settlers that decided to bet on the west and the "gold fever," found difficult conditions and economic hardships. That was not an easy time and required extra work to find the gold.

And let's have in mind that many people that went to the west were people that have been suffering from the difficult conditions in the Plains during the so-called "Dust Bowl" period in which drought and the lack of rain killed animals and affect the production of crops.

in contrast, the biological controls are self-sustaining, inexpensive and very effective once established. biological control could be used on thousands of golf course acres, improving their biodiversity and quality as wildlife habitat. in the process, the golf industry will be shown to be leaders in an environmental stewardship program of benefit not only to the lands they manage but also to the watersheds in which they exist.

the effect of the ming leaders banning ships with more than two masts was that there was no further construction of ships masts, because there was a surplus. ming emperors disallowed foreign exploration