Chapter 2 Flashcards
1
Q
- The world’s population at the time of the Agricultural (Neolithic) Revolution was approximately
a. 4 million.
b. 40 million.
c. 400 million.
d. 4 billion.
A
a. 4 million.
2
Q
- Carrying capacity is lower for hunter-gatherers than for agriculturists because
a. their death rates are higher.
b. they use the land extensively rather than intensively.
c. they have fewer technological skills.
d. birth rates regularly exceeded death rates.
A
b. they use the land extensively rather than intensively.
3
Q
- Between the third and fifth centuries A.D. the world’s population declined somewhat, probably
due to
a. the impact of Indonesian volcanic eruptions.
b. higher mortality brought on by the early days of the Little Ice Age.
c. the collapse of the Roman Empire and famine and floods in China.
d. the Irish Potato Famine.
A
c. the collapse of the Roman Empire and famine and floods in China.
4
Q
- Europe’s population began to grow between 1650 and 1850 because of all of the following
except
a. the disappearance of the plague.
b. an increase in the birth rate.
c. the introduction of the potato from the Americas.
d. changes in agricultural practices.
A
b. an increase in the birth rate
5
Q
- Two hundred years ago, the world’s population was approximately
a. 100 million.
b. 200 million.
c. 1 billion.
d. 2 billion.
A
c. 1 billion.
6
Q
6. Current projections from the United Nations suggest that we could reach a population of 10 billion by approximately a. 2020. b. 2040. c. 2060. d. 2080.
A
c. 2060
7
Q
. The total population of the world is currently increasing by about _____ million people per year.
a. 20
b. 40
c. 60
d. 80
A
d. 80
8
Q
- Population growth was slow for most of human history because
a. death rates were very high.
b. abortion rates were very high.
c. people preferred small families.
d. low levels of technology always lead to low rates of growth.
A
a. death rates were very high.
9
Q
- The most important reason for the massive increase in the human population over the past 200
years is
a. the Green Revolution that increased agricultural productivity.
b. the increase in the birth rate.
c. technology that has made it possible for humans to live in more places.
d. the decline in the death rate.
A
d. the decline in the death rate.
10
Q
- If a country is thought to be on the verge of depopulation, it is probably located in
a. North America.
b. Sub-Saharan Africa.
c. South Asia.
d. Europe.
A
d. Europe.
11
Q
- The total number of people who have ever lived throughout human history is probably about
a. 10 billion.
b. 30 billion.
c. 60 billion.
d. 90 billion.
A
c. 60 billion.
12
Q
- At the peak of European migratory expansion in approximately 1930, people of European origin
accounted for almost ___ of the world’s population, but it has since dropped to about ____
percent.
a. 35; 16
b. 35; 26
c. 20; 10
d. 20; 5
A
a. 35; 16
13
Q
13. The five most populous countries in the world account for about \_\_\_\_ percent of the world’s total population. a. 10 b. 25 c. 50 d. 70
A
c. 50
14
Q
- The United States is currently the third most populous nation, but UN projections suggest that by 2050 it will be overtaken by
a. Nigeria.
b. Indonesia.
c. Pakistan.
d. Bangladesh.
A
a. Nigeria.
15
Q
- An important demographic consequence of below-replacement-level fertility in Europe is that
a. European countries have all been actively recruiting immigrants to fill in the younger
ages.
b. European countries are aging.
c. the status of women has risen dramatically.
d. taxes have risen sharply in order to pay benefits to the elderly.
A
b. European countries are aging.
