Final answer:
The most northern New England state is Maine, known for being the least populated state in the region with a large forested area and an economy focused on wood product manufacturing.
Step-by-step explanation:
Maine is the most northern New England state. As you move north from Boston, the terrain becomes more rugged and the soil less fertile, leading to fewer economic reasons for people to live in northern New England. The states of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine have always been less populated than the southern New England states.
Maine is the least populated state in this region, with about 90 percent of its land forested, which makes it the most forested of the United States. The vast 'Empty Quarter' in western Maine consists of five million acres of privately owned forest with no permanent human inhabitants. Maine's leading economic activity is manufacturing, primarily focused on paper and other wood products. Therefore, answering the student's question, c. Maine is the correct choice.