Final answer:
The emergence of suburbia and the automobile culture improved the standard of living in U.S. cities by providing spacious and cleaner environments through suburban neighborhoods, single-family homes, parks, and improved utilities. The automobile culture further decentralized cities, allowing people to commute and engage in leisure activities outside of city limits.
Step-by-step explanation:
The emergence of suburbia and the automobile culture had a significant impact on the standard of living in U.S. cities. Suburbia allowed Americans to move away from congested city centers and live in more spacious and cleaner environments. This led to the development of suburban neighborhoods with single-family homes, parks, and improved utilities. The automobile culture further decentralized cities, as people could commute to work and engage in leisure activities outside of the traditional city limits.