By the time Columbus arrived, how did most North American tribes live?

The answer is correct because by the time Columbus arrived in 1492, many Native American tribes in North America had developed semipermanent settlements. These communities typically consisted of a mixture of agricultural practices and seasonal hunting and gathering. Tribes like the Powhatan in the Northeast and various groups in the Mississippi River Valley had established villages where they cultivated crops such as maize, beans, and squash, known as the "Three Sisters."

While some tribes did engage in nomadic lifestyles, particularly those located in more arid regions like the Great Plains, semipermanent settlements were common among many of the tribes encountered by Europeans at that time. These settlements were conducive to agriculture and allowed for more structured social and political organization, as opposed to fully nomadic lifestyles or isolated family units which lacked the same level of social complexity.

The implications of living in semipermanent settlements also meant that these tribes had developed trade networks, cultural practices, and political systems that facilitated interaction both among themselves and with European colonizers. This context highlights the richness and diversity of Native American societies just prior to European contact.