The correct answer is: a) Hunting and gathering.
Paleolithic people in Tamil Nadu likely subsisted on hunting and gathering. This is because the climate in Tamil Nadu is tropical, which means that there is a lot of vegetation and animals. Hunting and gathering was the most common way of life for people in the Paleolithic period, as it allowed them to obtain food without having to farm or raise animals.
Option b) Agriculture is incorrect because agriculture did not develop until the Neolithic period. Option c) Fishing is incorrect because there is no evidence that Paleolithic people in Tamil Nadu were fishermen. Option d) Trade is incorrect because there is no evidence that Paleolithic people in Tamil Nadu had a developed trade system.
Here is a brief explanation of each option:
- Hunting and gathering is the practice of obtaining food by hunting animals and gathering wild plants. It is the oldest and most basic form of subsistence.
- Agriculture is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. It is a more advanced form of subsistence than hunting and gathering.
- Fishing is the practice of catching fish. It is a common form of subsistence in many parts of the world.
- Trade is the exchange of goods and services. It is a complex economic activity that requires a developed system of exchange.