Which of the following is not a barrier to cultural diffusion?

• A. Mountain ranges
• B. Linguistic differences
• C. Advances in transportation and communication
• D. Cultural values

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is how barriers influence the spread of cultural traits. Barriers limit diffusion by making contact, travel, or communication harder, which slows or prevents the sharing of ideas, practices, and technologies.

Mountain ranges act as physical barriers, challenging movement and interaction between populations and thus hindering diffusion. Linguistic differences complicate communication and interpretation of new ideas, slowing adoption. Cultural values can resist unfamiliar practices, shaping whether a culture accepts or rejects outside influences.

Advances in transportation and communication do the opposite: they reduce friction, enabling people to move ideas, goods, and information quickly across great distances. Faster travel and instant communication break down previous obstacles, so cultures influence each other more readily through trade, media, and digital networks.

So the option describing improvements in transport and communication is not a barrier to diffusion.