option drag a copy and then hit commmand D to duplicate that step. (repeat till enough copies are made.
or
at the top select effect
distort and transform
transform...
enter number of desired copies
check the preview button
then play with scale and a move settings to your liking.
Thats how I would go about something like that. Or you could always use the pen tool to make all your shapes. then make a selection of all the shapes and go to the align palette and try distribute left or horizontal distribute center.
Lots of ways to do things like that. Just have to decode which one works best for what specific thing you are doing.