Question

How did mass production affect consumers?
As factories became more efficient, they hired fewer workers, making jobs scarce.
The prices of mass-produced goods decreased, making many items more affordable.
Assembly lines reduced the variety of goods produced, so consumers had fewer choices.
Mass-produced goods tended to have more defects, leaving consumers with worthless products.

Answer 1

Correct answer: The prices of mass-produced goods decreased, making many items more affordable.

Brief explanation: Mass production (especially assembly-line techniques) greatly increased output and lowered per-unit costs through economies of scale and specialization of labor, so manufacturers could sell goods at lower prices and many items became accessible to more consumers.

Why the other statements are incorrect or misleading:
- “As factories became more efficient, they hired fewer workers, making jobs scarce.” — Not generally true: efficiency often reduced the need for skilled artisans but expanded overall employment by creating many factory jobs and enabling new industries.
- “Assembly lines reduced the variety of goods produced, so consumers had fewer choices.” — Mass production standardized items, but it also made many products widely available; variety often increased as producers could afford to offer multiple models and consumers had access to more goods overall.
- “Mass-produced goods tended to have more defects, leaving consumers with worthless products.” — Mass production typically improved consistency and lowered defect rates through repetition and later quality-control methods; defects were usually less common, not more.