Some significant population changes are associated with modernization. Population growth occurs as the death rate declines and life expectancy increases. Between the thirteen and seventeenth centuries, for example, Europe had a life expectancy as low as twenty years; by 1930, life expectancy had increased to over sixty years and now stands at seventy-three years. The population moves from rural to urban areas. Whereas most members of traditional societies work the land, most members of modern societies live and work in towns and cities, where industry and jobs are located.
Class structures are altered by modernization. Traditional society is characterized by a bipolar class structure-the wealthy at one end, the poor masses at the other. Modernization brings an expansion of the middle and upper classes. As more emphasis is placed on personal effort and achievement, social mobility increases and inequality generally declines.
The political institution is altered by modernization. The role of the state expands as it becomes more centralized and more involved in social and economic affairs. At the same time, modernization promotes political democracy, even though the extent of democratization varies considerably from society to society. Although political power is not equalized as a result of modernization, power is more widely distributed.
Modernization transfers education from the family to a formal system of education. Education is no longer designed just for theprivileged few but for the entire society; primary education, in fact is intended for all members of a modernizing society. A literate population is absolutely necessary to create a workforce suitable for an industrialized economy.
Modernization also affects family life. The nuclear family replaces the extended family. Because the economy ceases to be based on a familial division of labor, people must move to cities to work. Extended family ties become less necessary and much harder to maintain, and much of their intimacy can be lost. With modernization, functions formerly taken up by families are adopted by other institutions. For example, government assumes more responsibility for the elderly, schools take care of children’s educational needs, and the mass media provide entertainment. These social and cultural changes are usually associated with modernization. Does this mean that all of tem will occur in every society that is undergoing modernization? Will they be expressed in the same specific ways in all societies? These questions have been debated by sociologists.
1. As a society becomes more modernized, ______.
A) people tent to live longer and urban population grows larger B) more people are working the land to increase the food supply C) people are happier and enjoy more material comfort D) the gap between urban and rural areas enlarges
2. It can be inferred from the passage that in a modern society ______.
A) there is no longer inequality
B) there are only two classes---the wealthy at one end and the poor at the other
C) one has more chance to succeed than in a traditional society if he works hard
D) the government has less control over political affairs
3. Which of the following statements is true about the changes brought by modernization?
A) One of the results brought by modernization is that everyone can go to school.
B) Modernization brought change in division of labor, which n turn results in an altered pattern of family life.
C) A typical modern family consists of grandparents, parents and children.
D) People are less busy as the government has taken up most of the responsibility in taking care of the young and the old. 4. It is implied in the passage that_______.
A) sociologists believe that every modernizing society will undergo the same process
B) there is no definite answer as to whether modernization will bring the same changes to all the modernizing societies
C) different society will undergo different cultural and social changes in the course of modernization
D) all the changes mentioned in the passage will occur in any modernizing society
5. in the passage, te author is mainly concerned with______.
A) modernization and population changes
B) social and cultural changes of modernization
C) modernization and changes in family life
D) modernization and social development