Urbanisation

55 per cent

Step 1: The chapter provides a specific statistic from the UN's Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Step 2: According to this report, around 55 per cent of the world's population currently lives in urban areas or cities. Step 3: This figure is expected to rise to 68 per cent in the coming decades. Step 4: 35% and 45% are too low, while 75% is the projected future figure which is also not accurate. Step 5: Knowing this statistic helps understand the scale and speed of global urbanisation.

Better social integration among people of different castes and religions

Step 1: The chapter lists several positive impacts of urbanisation. Step 2: In cities, people from many castes, religions, and cultural backgrounds live and work together. Step 3: This creates better understanding among people and helps break down social and cultural barriers. Step 4: Growth of slums, disintegration of joint families, and increase in crime rates are all listed as NEGATIVE impacts of urbanisation. Step 5: Therefore, better social integration is the only positive impact among the options given.

Individual life / loss of community spirit

Step 1: The chapter discusses negative impacts of urbanisation in detail. Step 2: One impact is that in cities, the concept of neighbourhood and community life is almost absent. Step 3: Urban life is described as highly monotonous where people are more self-centered with no concern for others. Step 4: This can have a negative psychological effect on individuals. Step 5: Environmental pollution refers to pollution from industries and vehicles; high cost of living refers to financial difficulties – these are different problems. The self-centered nature of urban life falls under 'individual life.

Plague, typhoid, dysentery and diarrhoea

Step 1: The chapter specifically discusses the water and sanitation problems caused by urbanisation. Step 2: In overpopulated urban areas, inadequate sewage facilities cause sewage to flow into nearby streams, rivers, lakes, or seas. Step 3: This contamination of water sources leads to the spread of communicable (infectious) diseases. Step 4: The chapter specifically names plague, typhoid, dysentery, and diarrhoea as diseases that spread due to poor sanitation. Step 5: Malaria and dengue are mosquito-borne, cancer and diabetes are lifestyle diseases – both are not mentioned in this context.