Answer: b. raise large herds of cattle
Step-by-step explanation:
When California was under the Spanish, they gave away a lot of land to former soldiers in order to get them to stay there. When Mexico became independent, they continued this policy and this gave way to the rise of Rancheros.
Rancheros raised large herds of cattle and sheep on the land given to them by the Spanish and then the Mexicans. These lands were called ranchos and were usually close to water and grazing sources to enable ease of feeding the large herds of cattle and sheep.