“In the latter half of the twentieth century, the dramatic reduction in infant mortality and the control of infectious diseases through antibiotics and vaccines led to a significant increase in average life expectancy. Consequently, populations lived long enough to experience chronic, non-communicable conditions that were less common in earlier historical eras. Conditions such as coronary heart disease and Alzheimer's disease emerged as leading causes of death, particularly in wealthier nations, requiring long-term medical management rather than short-term cures.”
—Adapted from a global health history report, 1998
Which of the following developments in the late twentieth century most directly explains the trend described in the passage?
- The rise of diseases associated with increased longevity due to medical and technological advances.Answer
- BThe expansion of the Green Revolution, which eliminated all environmental and health risks from industrial agriculture.
- CThe biological exchanges of the Columbian Exchange, which introduced modern vaccines and antibiotics to global populations.
- DThe complete homogenization of global culture, which established equal health outcomes across all regions.
Answer
The rise of diseases associated with increased longevity due to medical and technological advances.
The correct answer is correct because medical breakthroughs in the mid-to-late twentieth century, such as vaccines and antibiotics, successfully controlled many infectious diseases, resulting in a demographic transition. As populations lived longer, chronic diseases associated with aging and longevity—such as heart disease and Alzheimer's—became the leading causes of death, particularly in wealthier countries with advanced healthcare infrastructure.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Diseases of Longevity and Medical Advances
Estimated Time:45s