European interest in the middle east intensified after oil was discovered in the region.
a. true
b. false

The answer is true.  When oil was discovered many countries in Europe were in need of it to fuel the production of their industries.  This gave countries in the Middle East power to negotiate deals with these countries.  To this day, they supply a large portion of oil to the world.

a progressive tax is a tax that imposes a lower tax rate on low-income earners compared to those with a higher income, making it based on the taxpayer's ability to pay. that means it takes a bigger percentage from high income earners than it does from low income people.