Read the passage below:
Early twentieth-century sociologists often viewed urbanization as a purely disruptive force, one that inevitably severed traditional community bonds. However, Dr. Aris Thorne’s seminal study of industrial neighborhoods challenged this narrative. Thorne argued that city dwellers did not simply lose their social structures; rather, they constructed new, *elastic* networks of mutual aid and kinship that adapted to the pressures of factory life. These networks were not fragile, but resilient, bending under economic hardship without breaking.
As it is used in the passage, the word *elastic* most nearly suggests that the social networks were characterized by which of the following qualities?
- Afragility and instability
- Bartificiality and manufacturing
- adaptability and resilienceAnswer
- Dimpermanence and volatility
Answer
The correct answer is the option stating that the social networks were characterized by adaptability and resilience.
The correct answer is the option stating that the social networks were characterized by adaptability and resilience. The passage explicitly links the 'elastic' nature of the networks to their ability to adapt to industrial pressures and notes they were 'not fragile, but resilient, bending under economic hardship without breaking.' This context establishes a connotation of flexible strength and durability.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Connotation and Tone of Words in Context
Estimated Time:1m 5s