Which statement about marriage across cultures is true?

Which statement about marriage across cultures is true?

• A. It exists in every society.
• B. It exists only in western societies.
• C. It is illegal in many places.
• D. It is a recent phenomenon.

Answer: (A)

Marriage is a social institution that appears in every human society, though its forms and customs differ. Across cultures, societies create recognized unions to regulate sexual relations, shape family ties, and organize inheritance or alliances. Because of these universal functions, the statement that marriage exists in every society is true. The other ideas don’t fit because marriage is not confined to the West; non-Western cultures have long-standing marriage traditions with their own rules. It’s not illegal in many places; while some restrictions or different legal recognitions exist, the concept of a socially recognized union is widespread. And it isn’t a recent development—marriage has been part of human societies for thousands of years, long before modern times.

Marriage is a social institution that appears in every human society, though its forms and customs differ. Across cultures, societies create recognized unions to regulate sexual relations, shape family ties, and organize inheritance or alliances. Because of these universal functions, the statement that marriage exists in every society is true.

The other ideas don’t fit because marriage is not confined to the West; non-Western cultures have long-standing marriage traditions with their own rules. It’s not illegal in many places; while some restrictions or different legal recognitions exist, the concept of a socially recognized union is widespread. And it isn’t a recent development—marriage has been part of human societies for thousands of years, long before modern times.