Final answer:
Life expectancy in the United States has generally increased over the past few decades, from 47 years in 1900 to 77 years in the early twenty-first century, although recent years have seen a slight decline.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to whether life expectancy in the United States has generally increased over the past few decades.
The answer to this is true. Life expectancy has indeed increased, going from an average of 47 years in 1900 to 77 years at the start of the twenty-first century, with most gains occurring during the twentieth century.
However, it's important to note that in recent years there have been signs of a decline, which is concerning and linked to issues such as rising poverty and lifestyle-related health problems. Nonetheless, over the course of several decades, the general trend has been an upward trajectory in life expectancy.