Eastern europe has remained less economically developed than western europe because the market economy of western europe provides a food shortage eastern europe industrialized sooner the soviet union and its collapse hindered development the eu prevents former soviet countries from joining

It was actually “The Soviet Union and its collapse hindered development.” Hope this helps!

The soviet union and its collapse hindered development

Explanation:

After the collapse of the soviet union, eastern Europe was rendered helpless and collapse without the economic power of the strong nation and hence, as a result, western Europe progressed much. As western Europe was much more open to the transoceanic trade and benefited from it. And later on the exploration of the Americas and the African and the Asian continents the western side progressed far more and hence the availability of resources provided the western Europe power to sustain.

1. antarctica2. saudi arabia

I'm pretty sure it's c. extremely gradual but not 100% sure though.