Question

Although germs do not select hosts based on their social status or relative wealth, how might such factors in the premodern world have influenced an individual’s exposure and vulnerability to infectious diseases such as the plague? How do they affect the likelihood that people will contract infectious diseases today?

a) Social status determined access to healthcare, affecting vulnerability.
b) Wealth ensured isolation from disease, regardless of social status.
c) No correlation between social factors and disease exposure in the premodern world.
d) Modern healthcare systems eliminate social disparities in disease vulnerability.

Answer 1

Factors such as social status and relative wealth could have influenced an individual's exposure and vulnerability to infectious diseases like the plague in the premodern world. In today's world, social factors still play a role in disease vulnerability but modern healthcare systems work to eliminate social disparities.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the premodern world, factors such as social status and relative wealth could influence an individual's exposure and vulnerability to infectious diseases like the plague.

For example, social status could determine access to healthcare, affecting vulnerability. Wealth, on the other hand, did not necessarily ensure isolation from disease.

In today's world, social factors still play a role in disease vulnerability to an extent, but modern healthcare systems aim to eliminate social disparities in disease vulnerability