Which of the following can be seen as the most reasonable explanation for the development shown in the image above?

(A) U.S. military domination over the Middle East (B) Foreign takeover of U.S. corporations (C) Cultural autonomy in the non-Western world (D) The global influence of U.S. mass cultureExplanation: (D) This question relies on use of evidence and historical interpretation. Answer A refers to “hard” power (enforced by military and geopolitical might) rather than the “soft” power associated with cultural and economic influence. While answer B refers to a trend that has unfolded in many parts of the Third World, it generally involves the nationalization and transformation of Western corporations. Answer C would imply no role at all in the Western world for a corporation like McDonalds, so D is left as the correct answer.