To understand the most important characteristics of a society, one must study its major cities.Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In deve

Throughout human history, its major cities always play an important role and are marked with distinct characteristics. Paris is marked for its Romance and Freedom; New York is known for its Liberty and modernism; Beijing is famous for the Forbidden Palace and oriental culture. These cities are center of their countries and focal points of the world.

The statement assumes that major cities are representatives of a nation's character. Surely many people's first impression on France come from the "Romantic City", some begin to know the USA from the Statue of Liberty and Wall street market, others consider China a traditional Eastern Country due to Beijing's characteristically oriental constructions. What's more, when people go to a foreign country and starts introducing others about their motherlands, they tend to speak of the big cities and be proud of it. Admittedly, major cities are good places for people to start learning a society.

However, the critical characteristics of a society are not confined within its major cities. In fact, small places can form a nation's attributes. Jamestown marks the puritan's dream to settle on the new land. The first fire at Lexington spread the sparkles of idea of equality and freedom. The battle of Alamo illustrates the American's determination for free freedom. Railroad towns mark the American's pioneer spirits. All help forging a nation's important character, and if we combine big cities and small places, we may have a better understanding of the society.

As people dig in deeper, they will discover the major cities may not represent some of the society's attributes. Consider the rapid development and subsequent prosperity in Beijing. Skyscrapers rise from the ground; citizens holding sumptuous parties becomes common, universities enroll more and more students every year. All give people an impression of advance and boom. However, China does not stand so, for the country becomes stratified. In fact, a considerable amount of villages are still in destitute condition. The local governments lack the fund to build simple roads, and people need to cross mountains and valleys to communicate with outside. Many families are so penurious that they have to live in warrens. Every year countless children drop out of school because of their family's pour financial conditions. A society's attributes are complicated and sometimes may even vary from place to place. Therefore, people can easily neglect a society's true nature if they only refer to its big cities.

Big cities and small places are all constituents of a society, each contribute greatly to a nation' s characteristics. There is no way to study a society by a quick glance on its major cities, but rather we should seek more inclusive information by investigating all aspects of a society.