Question 1

Question 1Define the following terms:(a) Population(b) Population density(c) Demography(d) Resources(e) Growth rate of population

Accepted Answer

(a) Population — A population is defined as a group of individuals of the same species living and interbreeding within a given area.(b) Population density — It is the number of individuals per square kilometre (km2) at any given time.(c) Demography — It is the statistical study of human population specifically with reference to size and density, distribution and other vital statistics.(d) Resources — Resource is any substance (natural or artificial), energy or organism which is used by humans for their welfare.(e) Growth rate of population — It is the difference between the birth rate and the death rate. As long as the birth rate exceeds the death rate, the population grows. If the birth rate is lower than the death rate, the population declines.

Question 2

Question 2Distinguish between the following pairs:(a) Exhaustible and Inexhaustible resources(b) Conventional and Non-conventional sources of energy(c) Natality and Mortality(d) Tubectomy and Vasectomy(e) Deforestation and Afforestation

Accepted Answer

(a) Difference between exhaustible and inexhaustible resources —Exhaustible resourcesInexhaustible resourcesResources which cannot be renewed readily by natural means and are available in finite quantities in nature which can be easily consumed are called exhaustible resources.Resources which are abundantly available in nature and can be used for unlimited time and cannot be exhausted by humans are called inexhaustible resources.Examples: Coal, petroleum.Examples: Wind, sun(b) Difference between conventional and non-conventional sources of energy —Conventional sources of energyNon-conventional sources of energyConventional sources of energy are the natural energy resources which are present in a limited quantity and are being used for a long time.Non-conventional sources of energy are the energy sources which cannot be exhausted easily and are continuously replenished by natural processes.Examples: Coal, petroleum.Examples: Solar energy, wind energy.(c) Difference between natality and mortality:NatalityMortalityThe total number of live births per 1000 people of population per year is called birth rate or natality.The total number of deaths per 1000 people of population per year is called death rate or mortality.(d) Difference between tubectomy and vasectomy —TubectomyVasectomyIt is the process which involves cutting or ligating of fallopian tubes by nylon thread to close the passage of egg.It is the process in which vas deferens from each testes is ligated and a small piece between the two ligatures is removed.It is contraceptive practice in females.It is contraceptive practice in males.(e) Difference between deforestation and afforestation —DeforestationAfforestationIt is the destruction of trees and forests for human habitation and use.It is the planting of trees in a previously barren environment.It has a detrimental effect on the environment.It has a beneficial effect on the environment.

Question 3

Question 4Our resources cannot keep pace with the rising population. Give three examples in support of this statement.

Accepted Answer

Three examples which show that our resources cannot keep pace with the rising population are explained below:Food — Food is among the most important need for humans. Although humans have been discovering better improved methods of food production still the rate of food production doesn't match the rate of population growth. Production of food rises by arithmetic progression whereas population grows by geometric progression. This indicates that food would be running short for the unchecked rising population.Water — Availability of clean and germ-free water for drinking purposes would be more and more scarce with increase in population; the reason would be mainly, the pollution of rivers, ponds, lakes etc.Land — Man is bringing more and more land under cultivation and also using up land for building more residential colonies, factories and industries. Usable land would thus become less and less available.

Question 4

Question 6What is the idea behind the phrase "population explosion"?

Accepted Answer

Population explosion refers to the rapid and massive rise in the world population that has occurred over the last few hundred years. It began in the middle of the nineteenth century. Two-thirds of the present world population belongs to the developing nations where more than half the people live below the poverty line. The effects of this population increase are evident in increasing poverty, unemployment, air and water pollution, and shortage of food, health resources, and educational resources. Some of the reasons for this population explosion are poverty, lack of family planning knowledge, certain superstitions, better medical facilities, and immigration from the neighbouring countries. For developing countries like India, population explosion is a curse and is damaging the development of the country and its society.

Question 5

Question 3What are the three aspects covered under family welfare ?

Accepted Answer

The three aspects covered under family welfare are:Family planning in terms of having a small family.Total welfare of the small family, including the diet and nutrition of the child and pregnant mother.Subsequent care of the children, like immunisation and oral rehydration therapy, to ensure survival of the young ones

Question 6

Question 5Sterilisation in men means preventing the flow of sperms into the seminal vesicles by cutting and ligating the vas deferens. Can there be a corresponding operation made in women? If yes, where?

Accepted Answer

Yes, there could be a corresponding operation made in women. The name of the surgical procedure in females is 'tubectomy'. In tubectomy, the abdomen is opened and the fallopian tubes (oviducts) are cut or ligated i.e. tied with nylon thread to close the passage of the egg. Diagram showing the procedure of tubectomy is shown below:

Question 7

Question 7Explain briefly the relationship between poverty and population and how one affects the other.

Accepted Answer

Poverty and the lack of access to education leads to higher birthrates and overpopulation. Rapid population growth is likely to reduce per capita income growth and well being, which tends to increase poverty. Poverty is believed to be the leading cause of overpopulation. Poverty and population have been closely linked ever since the world faced changes due to the major revolutions. Poverty has its own effects on the population and vice versa. Poverty prevails because of illiteracy and traditional beliefs in the economically weaker strata. Since illiteracy and traditional beliefs prevail in the people from this stratum, they regard children as gift of God and a sign of prosperity. They consider children to be helping hands in increasing the family income, hence they keep producing more children forgetting that their current situation would do no good for the children and they would add more to this already overburdened poverty strata. Hence, the population keeps on rising and so does poverty. As the population increases the quality of life goes down.

Question 8

Question 8Mention two reasons for the rapid increase of population in India.

Accepted Answer

Two reasons for the rapid increase of population in India are:Illiteracy — Most of the rural population which forms the bulk of our society is still illiterate, ignorant and superstitious. They also do not know the functioning of the human reproductive system.Traditional Beliefs — Among the people from lower strata of the society, children are regarded as a gift of God and a sign of prosperity. Therefore, they make no effort to avoid pregnancy.

Question 9

Question 9Match the terms given in column A with those in column B.Column AColumn B(a) Forest(i) Arithmetic progression(b) Food(ii) Geometric progression(c) Population(iii) Deforestation(d) Coal(iv) Afforestation(e) Flash floods(v) Renewable source of energy (vi) Non-renewable source of energy

Accepted Answer

Column AColumn B(a) Forest(v) Renewable source of energy(b) Food(i) Arithmetic progression(c) Population(ii) Geometric progression(d) Coal(vi) Non-renewable source of energy(e) Flash floods(iii) Deforestation

Question 10

Question 10Given below are some sets of paired terms. The first pair indicates the relationship between the two terms. Rewrite and complete the second pair on a similar basis.(a) Death rate : Mortality :: Birth rate : ...............(b) Tubectomy : Oviduct :: Vasectomy : ...............(c) Intrauterine device : Copper-T :: Oral pills: ...............(d) Barrier method : Diaphragms :: Surgical method : ...............(e) Cutting down of forests : Deforestation :: Planting more trees: ...............

Accepted Answer

(a) Death rate : Mortality :: Birth rate : Natality(b) Tubectomy : Oviduct :: Vasectomy : Vas deferens(c) Intrauterine device : Copper-T :: Oral pills: Mala-D(d) Barrier method : Diaphragms :: Surgical method : Tubectomy(e) Cutting down of forests : Deforestation :: Planting more trees: Afforestation

Population — The Increasing Numbers and Rising Problems

Descriptive Type

Progress Check 5

Short Answer Type