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The selection of the answer highlighting that Near Eastern civilizations relied on a wider variety of grains and domesticated animals is well-founded because it emphasizes the diversity in agricultural practices between these two regions.

Early Mesoamerican civilizations, such as the Maya and the Aztecs, primarily focused on staple crops like maize (corn), beans, and squash, relying heavily on these three crops as the basis of their diets and economies. In contrast, Near Eastern civilizations, such as those in ancient Mesopotamia, had access to a broader range of agricultural products, including various grains like wheat and barley, as well as a more extensive repertoire of domesticated animals, which included sheep, goats, and cattle.

This distinction is significant in understanding how different environmental factors, geographical contexts, and available species influenced agricultural practices in these regions, contributing to their respective societies' development and sustainability. By utilizing a wider range of resources, Near Eastern civilizations could support larger populations and develop more complex economies and social structures.