Biology · Geography

Population Dynamics

978 Questions

Explore key concepts in population dynamics through these practice questions. The focus is on demographic transition models, population pyramids, and life history theory. These topics are useful for general studies and biology exams.

Demographic transition theoryPopulation pyramidsMathematical growth modelsLife history theory

Population Dynamics Questions

Multiple choice

A high growth rate of population is characterised by

  1. high birth rate and high death rate

  2. high birth rate and low death rate

  3. low birth rate and low death rate

  4. low birth rate and high death rate
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Population grows rapidly when birth rates remain high but death rates fall due to improvements in healthcare, sanitation, and nutrition. This creates a large gap between births and deaths. High death rates with high birth rates (option A) result in stable or slow-growing populations.

Multiple choice

What do you mean by the term density of population of a country?

  1. The average number of deaths per annum.

  2. The average number of births per annum.

  3. The average number of people living in one hectare.

  4. The average number of people living in one square kilometre.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Population density measures how crowded a country is by calculating the average number of people living in each square kilometre of land area. This standard metric allows comparison between countries of different sizes. Option C incorrectly uses hectare instead of the standard square kilometre unit used in demographic measurements.

Multiple choice

Which of the following explanations is CORRECT concerning different populations of humans in the world?

  1. They are approximately equal in their ability to handle environmental stresses such as high altitude.

  2. They are unequal in their ability to handle environmental stresses.

  3. They all are typically disclosed to the same type of environmental stresses.

  4. They remain unaffected by environmental stresses.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Natural selection has resulted in genetic differences between populations that allow them to be more or less successful in adapting to particular stresses. Populations that have been exposed to a stress generally have the best adaptation.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, five statements are provided. These statements form a coherent paragraph when properly arranged. Select the alternative representing the proper and logical sequencing of these statements.

A. A variety of measures will have to be introduced to put the family planning campaign back on its feet.

B. For this, the programme has to look inwards and treat itself as a development input in its own right.

C. In fact, development is the best method of controlling population growth, though the reverse is also true that high population growth is a sure recipe for slow, if not negative development.

D. Family planning needs to be salvaged from the morass into which it has drifted.

E. Legal measures may help, but what is urgently required is social awareness and involvement to create responsible parenthood.

  1. DBCAE

  2. ABDCE

  3. DECAB

  4. AEDCB
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Out of D and A, D initiates the sequence as it introduces the subject 'Family planning needs to be salvaged'. 'For this' in B refers to the subject in D, thus, we have DB link. Similarly, 'Legal measures' in E refers to 'variety of measures' in A, thus, E follows A. This sequence is found in (1), which is the answer.

Multiple choice

Birth-rate means ________ population.

  1. births per 100

  2. births per 10000

  3. births per 1000

  4. births per 10
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Birth-rate is conventionally expressed as births per 1000 people per year. This standardized measurement allows for easy comparison between different populations and is the universally accepted demographic indicator.

Multiple choice

Factors affecting population change are

  1. births, migration and deaths

  2. births and deaths only

  3. births, deaths and marriage

  4. births, deaths and life expectancy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Population change in any region is determined by three fundamental factors: births (fertility), deaths (mortality), and migration (both immigration and emigration). Marriage affects births indirectly but is not a direct factor, and life expectancy is a consequence, not a cause.

Multiple choice

Identify the incorrect statements from the following:

  1. Increase in mass and increase in number of individuals are twin characteristics of growth.
  2. A multicellular organism grows by cell division.
  3. In plants, this growth by cell division occurs continuously throughout their life span. In animals, this growth is seen only up to a certain age.
  4. Non-living objects also grow if we take increase in body mass as a criterion for growth. Mountains, boulders and sand mounds do grow.
  5. In non-living organisms, growth is from inside.
  6. Growth can be taken as a defining property of living organisms.

  1. 1 and 2

  2. 4 and 6

  3. 2 and 4

  4. 5 and 6

  5. 2 and 6
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

In non-living organisms, growth is from outside. Growth cannot be taken as a defining property of living organisms. Statements 5 and 6 are incorrect.

Multiple choice

Which of the following causes can be attributed to the decline of population in India between 1911 and 1921?

  1. Several natural hazards
  2. Preventive checks
  3. International migration
  4. Epidemics Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

  1. 1 and 2

  2. 4 alone

  3. 2 alone

  4. 1 and 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The period 1911-1921 saw India's only population decline in modern census history, primarily due to devastating epidemics including the Spanish Flu pandemic (1918-1919), influenza, plague, and other diseases. World War I and related disruptions contributed but epidemics were the primary cause. Natural hazards, preventive checks, and international migration were not significant enough factors to cause a net decline.

Multiple choice

Population explosion is associated with

  1. high birth rate and low death rate

  2. high birth rate and high death rate

  3. low birth rate and high death rate

  4. low birth rate and low death rate
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Population explosion occurs when there's a significant imbalance between birth and death rates, specifically when birth rates remain high while death rates decline due to improved healthcare, sanitation, and nutrition. This creates rapid population growth. Option A correctly describes this condition.

Multiple choice

India is on the brink of a demographic revolution with more proportion of working-age population between 15 and 59 years. But this demographic dividend can be reaped, only if this young population has which of the following capabilities?

  1. Healthy, rich and educated

  2. Educated, poor and skilled

  3. Healthy, educated and skilled

  4. Educated, unemployed and healthy

  5. Rich, illiterate and healthy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Demographic dividend can be reaped if young population is healthy, educated and skilled. Ref : Ch 2 Economic Survey 2011-12.

Multiple choice

Which of the following attributes increases recent human population growth?

A. Agricultural revolution B. Genetic drift C. Industrial revolution D. Medical advances E. Altruistic behavior

  1. A, C, D and E

  2. B and E only

  3. A, B, C and D

  4. D and E only
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Agricultural revolution has helped mankind with new varieties of plants and bio fertilizers. Industrial revolution has given us lot of job opportunities by increasing the per capita income. Medical advances have increased our life span. Man is helping the society through his altruistic approach (to help others).

Multiple choice

Which of the following correctly defines population dispersion?

  1. Spatial distribution of individuals

  2. Movement of immigration and emigration

  3. Migration from an original place

  4. Random movement of two populations
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Spatial distribution of individuals in a particular place is called a population dispersion.

Multiple choice

On which factor does the rate of increase in a population per unit time depend, according to the law of population growth?

  1. Initial family size in the population

  2. Innate capacity of population to increase

  3. Utilized opportunity for population growth

  4. Interdependency among the members
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

According to the law of population growth, given by P. F. Verhulst, the rate of increase in a population per unit time depends on the population size, the innate capacity to increase and the  unutilized opportunity for population growth. He defined it with a formula – dN/dt = rN where N is the number of individuals in a population, dN/dt is the rate of change of its numbers, over time and r is the intrinsic rate of natural increase in a population.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, five statements are provided. These statements form a coherent paragraph when properly arranged. Select the alternative representing the proper and logical sequencing of these statements.

A. A variety of measures will have to be introduced to put the family planning campaign back on its feet.
B. For this, the programme has to look inwards and treat itself as a development input in its own right. C. In fact, development is the best method of controlling population growth though the reverse is also true that high population growth is a sure recipe for slow, if not negative development. D. Family planning needs to be salvaged from the morass into which it has drifted. E. Legal measures may help, but what is urgently required is social awareness and involvement to create responsible parenthood.

  1. DBCAE

  2. ABDCE

  3. DECAB

  4. AEDCB
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Out of D and A, D initiates the sequence as it introduces the subject 'Family planning needs to be salvaged'. 'For this' in B refers to the subject in D, thus, we have DB link. Similarly, ‘Legal measures’ in E refers to ‘variety of measures’ in A, thus, E follows A. This sequence is found in (1), which is the answer.