Explanation:

- Let’s break it down: dispersed rural settlements mean homes and farms are spread out, not clustered together.

- This pattern usually happens where the landscape makes large, sprawling farms possible, or where the population density is naturally low.

- Andhra Pradesh tends to have more clustered, nucleated villages thanks to its fertile river valleys and irrigation systems.

- Karnataka also sees a lot of nucleated settlements, though the northern part has a few dispersed patterns.

- Kerala is really the standout here: settlements in Kerala are famously dispersed, mostly because of its unique geography—narrow stretches of land, plenty of water bodies, and equal land distribution. People’s homes, paddy fields, and gardens are kind of scattered everywhere instead of huddled together.

- Tamil Nadu, like Andhra Pradesh, mostly features nucleated villages, especially in the river valleys.

Correct Answer:

Option 3: Kerala