One factor to note in considering the future of marriage is that marriage exists in every society.

• A. Marriage exists only in industrialized societies.
• B. Marriage is optional in most societies.
• C. Marriage exists in every society.
• D. Marriage is illegal in some places.

Answer: (C)

Marriage as a social institution exists in every society, though its form and rules vary from culture to culture. Across cultures, people establish some recognized union that regulates mating, legitimizes children, and links families and inheritance. This universality means that, in considering the future of marriage, it’s best to recognize that the institution will persist in some form everywhere, even as the expectations and practices around it change over time. The other statements don’t fit that broad pattern: marriage isn’t confined to industrialized societies, it’s typically not merely optional in most societies, and while some specific practices may be restricted or regulated, the institution itself is not universally illegal.