Final answer:
According to social structure theories, a teenager living in a high-crime neighborhood with limited opportunities is most likely to be involved in serious crime. This aligns with social disorganization theory, which posits that weak social ties in impoverished communities lead to higher crime rates.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to social structure theories, the teenager most likely to be involved in serious crime is C) A teenager living in a high-crime neighborhood with limited opportunities. Social disorganization theory suggests that crime is most likely to occur in communities with weak social ties and the absence of social control. This is often characterized by impoverished areas with high rates of turnover among residents and a lack of community investment, leading to a diminished sense of social control and an increased likelihood of criminal behavior.Areas with high poverty, ethnic heterogeneity, and residential mobility are known to predict an elevated crime rate. These conditions prevent effective collective social control, similar to parents losing control over children when they are not well known to them and have little leverage. In contrast, wealthier, more stable, and homogenous neighborhoods tend to exhibit stronger social bonds that discourage crime.