Question 1

Which of the following strategies did the government in Kerala, India, use to lower the fertility rate?

Accepted Answer

The government in Kerala, India, used a variety of measures to lower the fertility rate, but the most successful approach was to help create a realistic alternative to a life of continuous childbirth. This included promoting education and employment opportunities for women, improving access to healthcare and contraception, and raising awareness about the benefits of smaller families. The government did not initiate forced abortions or sterilizations, adopt a one-child policy, or threaten to disallow women's participation in the paid labor force.

Question 2

In 1960, South Korea had a total fertility rate of 6.0.Yet by 1989, South Korea's total fertility rate had dropped to a mere 1.6.What first prompted this dramatic decrease in the total fertility rate?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In 1960, South Korea had a total...

Question 3

In which stage of development did children become seen as an economic liability?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In which stage of development did children...

Question 4

Members of Heritage Front, a white supremacist organization, are angry about their perception that that non-white immigrants are taking over large portions of the city they live in.Which process of human ecology theory do their beliefs reflect?

Accepted Answer

The belief that non-white immigrants are taking over and dominating their city reflects the process of competition in human ecology theory. This process involves conflicting groups competing for resources, such as housing and jobs, in a specific geographic area.

Question 5

In the postmodern city, many different ethnic groups and subcultures with differing lifestyles are tolerated.According to sociologists, which of the following concepts reflects this reality?

Accepted Answer

Fragmentation refers to the breakdown or fragmentation of a unified whole into smaller, often conflicting parts or groups. In the postmodern city, there is a proliferation of subcultures and ethnic groups with differing lifestyles that exist alongside each other. This reflects the reality of fragmentation, where there is no longer a dominant or unified culture, but instead a collection of diverse groups.

Question 6

Which theory highlights the linkages between urban physical and social components, and identifies the features of urban growth?

Accepted Answer

The human ecology theory highlights the linkages between urban physical and social components, and identifies the features of urban growth. It emphasizes the importance of the social and cultural characteristics of urban areas and how the physical environment shapes and is shaped by these factors.

Question 7

Like many other middle-class people, Sharon bought a house in great need of repair for very little money in the Four Corners district of Toronto.As soon as she renovated the house and turned it into a bed-and-breakfast, she demanded that local government and the police remove the homeless people who still live in the area.What has Sharon engaged in?

Accepted Answer

Sharon has engaged in gentrification, which is when a previously working-class or low-income neighborhood is refurbished and improved, leading to an influx of affluent residents and higher property values. This often results in the displacement of the existing population, including homeless individuals.

Question 8

According to Malthus, food supply increases while population increases.In Malthus's view, what is the problem here?

Accepted Answer

According to Malthus, the problem is that food supply increases at a slower rate (arithmetically) compared to population growth which increases at a faster rate (geometrically). This leads to a situation where there may not be enough food to sustain the growing population, causing famine, disease, and other forms of suffering.

Question 9

Tommy thinks that changes in population are the result of industrialization and the shifts in cultural values that accompany it.Which theory is he most likely to support?

Accepted Answer

The demographic transition theory best aligns with Tommy's view, as it explains changes in population based on the transition from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as a society industrializes and its cultural values shift.

Question 10

A neighbourhood park in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver has recently been bought by a wealthy real estate developer.According to new urban sociologists, which of the following most likely characterizes the city park?

Accepted Answer

The fact that the park has been bought by a wealthy real estate developer suggests that it has become a commodity, something that can be bought and sold for profit. The other options may or may not apply to the park, but the information given in the question points towards commodification.

Question 11

Which of the following is a critique of the demographic transition theory?

Accepted Answer

The demographic transition theory is critiqued for overemphasizing the role of industrialization in driving population growth and changes, suggesting that it does not fully account for other significant factors.

Question 12

Rita and her family are thrilled to have bought a house in a clean, quiet neighbourhood.The neighbourhood, which is outside the downtown core, has fairly uniform single family housing, and has a water park and outdoor basketball court for children to play at.What term do sociologists use to describe this way of life?

Accepted Answer

The description fits the characteristics of suburbanism, which refers to the lifestyle associated with living in the suburbs—areas outside the central urban areas, typically featuring single-family homes, quieter environments, and amenities such as parks and recreational facilities.

Question 13

Why is the ratio of females to males lower than 1:1 in some places?

Accepted Answer

In some cultures, there is a strong preference for male babies due to cultural norms, inheritance practices, and the perceived value of having a male heir. This can lead to gender-selective practices such as sex-selective abortions or female infanticide, resulting in a lower ratio of females to males in the population.

Question 14

Sophia's community consists of many different immigrant groups, as well as a large population of gays and lesbians.According to Louis Wirth, what is Sophia's experience typical of?

Accepted Answer

Louis Wirth's theory of urbanism states that urban areas are characterized by diversity and heterogeneity, including various ethnic and cultural groups, as well as minority communities such as LGBTQ+ individuals. Therefore, Sophia's experience of living in a community with diverse immigrant groups and a large LGBTQ+ population is typical of urban life.

Question 15

By 2030, approximately what proportion of the North American population is predicted to be living in urban areas?

Accepted Answer

By 2030, it is predicted that approximately 85 percent of the North American population will be living in urban areas due to ongoing urbanization trends.

Question 16

According to economist Amartya Sen, what causes famine?

Accepted Answer

Amartya Sen argues that famines are not caused by the lack of food availability, but rather by unequal access to food. In other words, famines occur when some people do not have the means to access the available food. Therefore, choice C, unequal access to food, is the correct answer.

Question 17

Through the twentieth century it has been demonstrated that helping the poor through various types of welfare programs has had which of the following effects?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Through the twentieth century it has been...

Question 18

Rajesh lives in a nation where the numbers of deaths in the population per year outnumber the number of births.In which stage of development would his nation be classified?

Accepted Answer

In the postindustrial period, a nation often experiences lower birth rates and potentially higher death rates, leading to a situation where deaths may outnumber births. This stage is characterized by advanced medical care, low fertility rates, and an aging population.

Question 19

Benny considers himself a Malthusian and agrees with Malthus that there are two undisputable "facts" about people.Which of the following is one of these facts?

Accepted Answer

Malthus believed that people must eat and that the population would ultimately be limited by available resources, particularly food.

Question 20

Billie-Bob lives in a nation where there are only 98 females for every 100 males.What is this rate comparison known as?

Accepted Answer

The rate comparison described is known as the sex ratio, which measures the number of females for every 100 males in a given population. In this case, the sex ratio is 98 females for every 100 males.

Quiz 20: Population and Urbanization