Final answer:
The answer is A) Before: 90% in rural areas, After: 50% in rural areas. This significant shift led to many social and economic changes as cities grew and urban life became predominant.
Step-by-step explanation:
Before the Industrial Revolution, a large majority of people lived in rural areas. After the onset of the Industrial Revolution, there was an immense rural-to-urban shift as people moved from the countryside to cities for work. The correct answer is A) Before: 90% in rural areas, After: 50% in rural areas. This urbanization was primarily driven by the demand for labor in the new factories that were being established in cities and the advancements in farming technology which reduced the need for labor on farms.
As a result, urban areas grew rapidly, and social and economic changes followed. The form and function of cities evolved; the family size typically decreased due to economic changes, and incomes generally increased. The shift also brought about a significant change to the social fabric, with the creation of different classes of urban workers and the development of new social norms and lifestyles.