Final answer:
The Neolithic period is distinguished from the Paleolithic period by the development of agricultural practices, marking the Neolithic Revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
Traditionally, the Neolithic period has been distinguished from the Paleolithic period mainly by the development of agricultural practices. Consequently, the correct answer to the question is b. Agricultural practices. This transition marked a significant change in human history, known as the Neolithic Revolution, and involved the shift from nomadic hunting and gathering to settling down and farming. Neolithic settlements show signs of permanent structures, grain storage, domesticated animals, and advanced stone tool use designed for farming and building. In contrast, Paleolithic societies were characterized by a hunter-gatherer lifestyle with less sophisticated stone tools, and while they did create representational art, such as cave paintings, their subsistence strategy did not include agriculture.