Which trend describes changes in families, including higher divorce rates and greater cohabitation?

• A. Growth of communal living
• B. Growth of extended families
• C. Rise in arranged marriages
• D. Increase in divorces and decline in marriage

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is how family life is changing to be more flexible: divorce is more common and cohabitation with a partner outside of marriage has become a normal option. In many societies, marriage is still practiced, but it’s no longer the only path to forming a family. Higher divorce rates reflect changes in attitudes, laws, and economic independence that make ending a marriage easier and more socially acceptable. At the same time, people increasingly choose to live together without marrying, or delay marriage, making cohabitation a widespread alternative to traditional marriage. This combination signals a move away from the idea that marriage is the only legitimate foundation for a family, toward a greater variety of family arrangements. The other options don’t capture this specific shift: communal living focuses on sharing resources rather than changes in marriage and divorce; extended families highlight kin networks; arranged marriages relate to different cultural practices and don’t describe rising divorce and cohabitation in contemporary contexts.