A comparison of the world's richest and poorest countries reveals that the poorest countries tend to be/have all of the following, except: be largely rural. have large populations and high fertility rates. be heavily dependent on subsistence agriculture. have a socialist government.

The statement that the poorest countries tend to be/have all of the following, except "have a socialist government" is the correct choice. While many poor countries may have various forms of government, including socialist systems, there is no consistent correlation between being a poor country and having a socialist government. Poor countries can have a range of political systems, including democratic, authoritarian, and others, and the economic challenges they face are often due to a variety of factors beyond just their political ideology. The other characteristics listed—being largely rural, having large populations and high fertility rates, and being heavily dependent on subsistence agriculture—are more commonly associated with poorer countries.