One way in which soviet leader mikhail gorbachev and chinese leader deng xiaoping are similar is that both
(1) granted autonomy to satellite countries
(2) promoted a multiparty political system
(3) encouraged religious dissenters to seek freedom
(4) incorporated capitalist ideas into communist societies

What makes Mikhail Gorbachev and the Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping similar is that, both of them have incorporated capitalist ideas into communist societies. The answer for this would be option 4. Mikhail Gorbachev is known as a former statesman of Soviet and Deng Xiaoping is also a former statesman of China.

Transcontinental railroad was the most effective way to travel.