Final answer:
Illinois's land was organized into townships and sections for land distribution, not into the specific sections and districts as presented in the multiple-choice options. Each township contained 36 sections of one square mile each, not the 23, 24, or 25 sections as suggested.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1949, Illinois was not specifically divided into the sections described in the options provided (23 sections, 7 districts; 25 sections, 7 districts; 25 sections, 5 districts; 24 sections, 5 districts). Instead, Illinois land was organized according to a grid system based on townships, which are square parcels of land six miles wide. Each township was further divided into 36 one-square-mile parcels known as sections. These sections, each consisting of 640 acres, could be subdivided into quarter sections of 160 acres and even quarter-quarter sections of 40 acres. This division was critical for land distribution and ownership purposes, especially for homesteaders and ranchers looking to purchase land for farming or ranching respectively.