Step 1: Understanding settlement patterns.
Settlement patterns depend on geographical features like rivers, lakes, coasts, and mountains. A circular pattern of settlement develops when people settle around a central resource or feature that provides essential needs like water.
Step 2: Explanation.
A circular settlement pattern is most commonly found along rivers, where people build houses surrounding a water body for easy access to water for domestic and agricultural use. Over time, the settlement forms a circular or semi-circular pattern.
Step 3: Analyzing the options.
(A) Lake: Incorrect. Lakes usually lead to scattered settlements along the shore.
(B) River: Correct. Circular or ring-like settlements often develop along rivers.
(C) Coast: Incorrect. Coastal settlements are generally linear along the shoreline.
(D) None of these: Incorrect. The correct answer is (B) River.
Step 4: Conclusion.
Hence, circular patterns of settlements are found along rivers.