Question

Using the information you've acquired, identify how advances in science led a longer life expectancy during the Industrial Revolution.
People of all classes started to eat more food every day, leading to a longer life.
Increased wages of factory workers meant that they could afford to pay for doctors and medicines if they became ill.
Rapid urbanization stemming from scientific advances in factories led to an increase in hazardous living and working conditions.
Once it was proven that germs cause disease, governments began to pass laws to improve sanitation in industrial cities.

Answer 1

Here’s a brief evaluation of each statement and how it relates to life expectancy during the Industrial Revolution:

1) "People of all classes started to eat more food every day, leading to a longer life."
- Misleading. Agricultural improvements and cheaper food (potatoes, grain) did raise overall food supply and helped reduce famine risk for many, which contributed to population growth and better nutrition for some groups. But not “people of all classes” — many urban workers still had poor diets and malnutrition. So better food supply helped, but unevenly.

2) "Increased wages of factory workers meant that they could afford to pay for doctors and medicines if they became ill."
- Largely false. Wages for many factory workers were low and unstable for much of the period, so access to doctors and medicines remained limited. Medical care improved later as public health systems and employer/charitable provisions developed, but rising wages were not the main scientific driver of longer life.

3) "Rapid urbanization stemming from scientific advances in factories led to an increase in hazardous living and working conditions."
- True, but it’s a negative effect. Urbanization produced overcrowding, poor sanitation, polluted water, and dangerous factories, which often lowered life expectancy for the working classes until public-health reforms arrived.

4) "Once it was proven that germs cause disease, governments began to pass laws to improve sanitation in industrial cities."
- True. The acceptance of germ theory (mid–late 19th century) and related public-health science led to sewer systems, clean water supplies, waste removal, and sanitation laws — major drivers of the rise in urban life expectancy.

Summary: The strongest science-driven causes of increased life expectancy in the Industrial Revolution were improvements in public health/sanitation (after germ theory) and better food supply from agricultural advances. Urbanization and factory work initially worsened health for many, and better wages or medical access were not uniform causes.