Final answer:
The statement is false; advancements in communication and transportation technologies have greatly increased our ability to connect with and learn about different cultures around the world. The correct option is B.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that communications, information, and transportation technologies have decreased people's ability to learn about and connect with unfamiliar cultures is false. The advent of technologies such as the printing press, the telegraph, radio, television, fax machines, the internet, smartphones, and social networks has significantly increased the global interconnectedness of cultures.
These inventions have made it progressively more challenging for governments to censor media and limit internet access, thus aiding in the spread of ideas and creating a platform for events like the Tiananmen Square protests, the Arab Spring, and the Egyptian Revolution of 2011 to become internationally known.
Moreover, through technological advancements, people can now communicate instantaneously via telephone, video, and text, contributing to what some sociologists suggest might be the emergence of a global culture.
In today's world, with reduced trade barriers and improved communications and transportation, people are more aware of what is available globally, contributing to a cultural diffusion and transformation. These technologies have also transformed how people communicate, work, learn, entertain, and navigate their day-to-day lives, sometimes causing friction with traditional face-to-face interactions, particularly in societies with strict social norms.
Conversely, they also empower individuals, such as young women in controlled environments, to explore newfound freedoms and access information that would otherwise be unavailable to them.