Question 1

Fecundity is a simple and useful way to measure population increase.

Accepted Answer

Fecundity refers to the potential reproductive capacity of an individual or population, typically measured by the number of offspring an individual can produce over its lifetime. While it contributes to understanding population increase, it doesn't account for factors like survival rates of offspring, age-specific mortality, or environmental conditions, making it an incomplete measure for population increase on its own.

Question 2

The forced transport of 10 million slaves from Africa to the Americas is an example of involuntary migration.

Accepted Answer

The transatlantic slave trade involved the forced transportation of approximately 10 million enslaved Africans to the Americas through brutal and exploitative means. Therefore, this is an example of involuntary migration.

Question 3

Thomas Robert Malthus expected population to increase according to an arithmetic progression.

Accepted Answer

Thomas Robert Malthus expected population to increase geometrically (exponentially), while he believed food supply would only increase arithmetically.

Question 4

The planet's population first reached 1 billion about the year 1500.

Accepted Answer

According to the United Nations, the planet's population first reached 1 billion around the year 1800.

Question 5

An annual growth rate of about 2 percent will cause a society's population to double in about thirty-five years.

Accepted Answer

This is known as the "rule of 70," which states that if you divide the number 70 by the annual growth rate (expressed as a percentage), you will get the approximate number of years it takes for a population to double. In this case, 70 divided by 2 equals 35 years. Therefore, an annual growth rate of about 2 percent will cause a society's population to double in about thirty-five years.

Question 6

Most people migrate due to a combination of "push-pull" factors.

Accepted Answer

Most people migrate due to a combination of push factors (such as poverty, war, natural disasters, etc.) and pull factors (such as economic opportunities, education, family ties, etc.).

Question 7

The infant mortality rate for African Americans is more than twice as high as it is for white people.

Accepted Answer

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the infant mortality rate for non-Hispanic black people in the United States is 10.8 per 1,000 live births, while the rate for non-Hispanic white people is 4.6 per 1,000 live births, making the rate for black infants more than twice as high as it is for white infants.

Question 8

The average life expectancy for U.S.children born today is about sixty years.

Accepted Answer

The average life expectancy for U.S. children born today is actually about 78 years.

Question 9

To calculate a crude birth rate,divide the number of live births in a year into the total population and multiply the result by 1,000.

Accepted Answer

This is the correct formula for calculating crude birth rate.

Question 10

People's movement out of a territory is called immigration.

Accepted Answer

People's movement out of a territory is called emigration, while immigration refers to the movement into a territory.

Question 11

The crude birth rate in North America is lower than that for Asia.

Accepted Answer

North America has a lower crude birth rate than Asia.

Question 12

The crude death rate for the United States is very high by world standards.

Accepted Answer

The crude death rate for the United States is not very high by world standards. It is actually lower than the average for developed countries.

Question 13

In general,low-income countries grow as much from immigration as from natural increase.

Accepted Answer

Low-income countries typically experience most of their population growth through natural increase (births minus deaths) rather than through immigration. In fact, these countries often have net emigration, where more people leave the country than enter it.

Question 14

Demographic transition theory states that humanity must act now to reduce fertility if we are to save the planet.

Accepted Answer

Demographic transition theory describes how population growth and economic changes correlate, typically showing a shift from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as a country develops, rather than prescribing specific actions to save the planet.

Question 15

Sex ratios are usually greater than 100 because men typically outlive women.

Accepted Answer

This statement is incorrect. In fact, sex ratios are usually slightly lower than 100 because women tend to live longer than men.

Question 16

Demography is the study of the size and composition of a society's population.

Accepted Answer

Demography is defined as the scientific study of human populations, including their size, growth, density, distribution, and vital statistics such as age, gender, and fertility rates.

Question 17

The crude death rate is the most widely used measure of a society's population decline.

Accepted Answer

The crude death rate is a measure of the number of deaths per 1,000 people in a population, but it does not necessarily indicate population decline. Other factors such as birth rates, migration, and aging can also affect population growth or decline. Therefore, the crude death rate is not the most widely used measure of population decline.

Question 18

An age-sex pyramid is useful,in part,because it helps predict the demographic future of a society.

Accepted Answer

An age-sex pyramid shows the distribution of age and sex within a given population, and can provide insight into population growth, fertility rates, life expectancy, and other demographic factors. By studying an age-sex pyramid, demographers can make predictions about future population trends and the potential impact on social, economic, and political systems.

Question 19

It would be fair to say that Malthus was a pessimist about the future of the world.

Accepted Answer

Malthus believed that population growth would eventually outpace food production and resources, leading to famine, disease, and social unrest. This outlook is generally considered pessimistic.

Question 20

In many low-income nations,parents value sons more than daughters,which explains why the age-sex ratio in these nations may be higher than 100.

Accepted Answer

In many low-income nations, parents prefer sons over daughters due to cultural, economic, and social reasons. This can lead to sex-selective abortions, neglect of female children, and other harmful practices that result in a higher age-sex ratio (number of males per 100 females) in these countries.

Quiz 15: Population, urbanization, and Environment