Let Us Exercise
1. Tick (✓) the correct option.
a. In the following question, two statements are given as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the correct option.
Assertion (A): Humans are considered a country’s resource.
Reason (R): Humans convert natural gifts into resources through their skills and abilities.
- Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
- Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
- A is false but R is true.
- A is true but R is false.
Answer: Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
b. Read the statements regarding internal migration. Identify the correct ones.
I. It refers to the movement of people across regions and territories.
II. It influences the distribution of population within the country.
III. People who leave their country of origin to live in another country are known as immigrants.
i. Only I
ii. Both II and III
iii. Both I and II
iv. All I, II and III
Answer: iii. Both I and II (Statement III defines international migration, not internal migration).
c. What do you mean by the term natural growth rate?
i. The difference between the birth rate and death rate of a country.
ii. Number of live births per thousand people
iii. Number of deaths per thousand people
iv. None of these
Answer: i. The difference between the birth rate and death rate of a country.
d. Which of these is a densely populated region?
i. South-East Asia
ii. Sahara Desert
iii. Polar Deserts
iv. Northern Russia
Answer: i. South-East Asia
e. Which of these age groups are economically productive for a country?
i. Below 15 years
ii. 65 to 75 years
iii. 15 to 65 years
iv. Above 76 years
Answer: iii. 15 to 65 years
Answer the following questions in 10 to 20 words.
a. What is population distribution? Which continents constitute most of the world’s population?
Answer: Population distribution refers to how people are spread across a given area. Asia and Africa constitute most of the world’s population.
b. How does climate affect the distribution of population?
Answer: Extreme climates (very hot, cold, or dry) discourage settlement, while moderate climates with adequate rainfall attract dense populations.
c. Define sex ratio.
Answer: Sex ratio is the number of females per 1000 males in a given population.
d. What is a population pyramid? How does it help in understanding the population of a country?
Answer: A population pyramid is a graphical representation of a population’s age and sex composition. It helps understand the dependency ratio and future population trends.
e. ‘Mountainous and desert regions are sparsely populated.’ Give reason.
Answer: These regions have harsh climates, difficult terrain, poor soil, and limited accessibility, making life and economic activities challenging.
Answer the following questions in 50 to 70 words.
- How do economic factors affect the distribution of the population?
Answer: Economic factors significantly influence where people live. Areas with abundant job opportunities in industries, trade, and services (like fertile plains, mineral-rich regions, and urban centers) attract dense populations. Conversely, regions with limited economic opportunities, such as remote areas with poor infrastructure, tend to be sparsely populated as people migrate out in search of livelihoods.
b. Explain migration. What are the different types of migration?
Answer: Migration is the permanent or semi-permanent movement of people from one place to another. The main types are:
- Internal Migration: Movement within a country (e.g., rural to urban).
- International Migration: Movement between countries.
Further, it can be categorized as In-migration (arriving into an area) and Out-migration (leaving an area), or as Emigration (leaving one’s country) and Immigration (entering a new country).
c. Throughout human history, the world’s population has been gradually growing’. Justify the statement by explaining the world population trend since 1810.
Answer: Since 1810, the world population has experienced rapid and consistent growth, justifying the statement. While growth was slow for centuries, the period after 1800 saw a dramatic rise from about 1 billion to over 8 billion today. This explosion is attributed to the Industrial Revolution, which led to improved food production, advancements in medicine and sanitation (reducing death rates), and overall better living conditions, even though birth rates remained high for a long period.
d. The age structure of a population helps us understand the various stages of development in a country’. Elaborate on the statement.
Answer: The age structure, shown by a population pyramid, acts as a mirror to a country’s development stage. A pyramid with a wide base (high percentage of young people) indicates high birth and death rates, pointing to a developing economy. A bell-shaped pyramid (more even distribution) suggests falling birth rates and a growing workforce, seen in newly industrialized nations. A narrow-based, top-heavy pyramid (large elderly population) indicates low birth and death rates, characteristic of a developed country with an aging population and different social needs.