Test Bank Answers Chapter 18 Human Population Growth

Test Bank

Chapter 18: Human Population Growth

Multiple Choice

Case

1. (comprehension) What does the bacteria population in a test tube illustrate that is relevant to humans on Earth?

a. Each one reproduces itself.

b. The population doubles every minute.

c. There are 15 more tubes available.

d. Bacteria have no self control.

e. Habitat and resources are finite, and we can outgrow our habitat.

2. (application) Bacteria cells grow by dividing once every 5 minutes. If a bacteria population in a tube started dividing at 11:00 a.m. and will be full at noon, at what time will the tube be half full?

a. 11:15

b. 11:30

c. 11:45

d. 11:50

e. 11:55

3. (comprehension) In the case study in the text, an example where the rate at which a bacterial population fills up a test tube is described. What does this example illustrate about populations?

a. Bacteria grow really fast.

b. There are not enough test tubes to contain all the bacteria in a population.

c. It is relatively easy to manage population growth.

d. Once you realize your population is getting pretty large, you don’t have much time to react before it’s too late.

e. Population grows out of control and there’s really nothing that can be done about it.

18.1

4. (knowledge) What is the difference between linear and exponential growth rates of populations?

a. Nothing really, as most populations do both simultaneously.

b. Exponential growth rates are constant while linear growth rates increase dramatically as time goes on.

c. Linear growth rates change as a result of compounding.

d. Linear growth always leads into exponential growth.

e. Linear growth rates are constant while exponential growth rates increase dramatically as time goes on.

5. (comprehension) Why do all populations have the potential to grow exponentially?

a. Because they all get progressively larger

b. Because they all will get as large as possible in their habitat

c. Because their predators typically don’t reproduce as quickly

d. Because of compounding, where new members of the population produce more new members

e. Because all organisms reproduce

6. (application) Given a population of 100 and a growth rate of 5% per year, how many individuals will be added per year?

a. 1

b. 5

c. 10

d. 25

e. 200

7. (comprehension) Why does human population growth typically start slow and then accelerate dramatically?

a. Fewer people at first produce fewer new people, but once there are many people, many new people are produced, too.

b. Fewer people will result in a lower birth rate.

c. People get better at exploiting resources.

d. It follows a j-shaped curve.

e. Countries go from being developing to developed.

8. (knowledge) How is net growth rate calculated?

a. Birth rate – death rate

b. Birth rate – (death rate + immigration)

c. (Birth rate + immigration) – death rate

d. (Birth rate + emigration) – (death rate + immigration)

e. (Birth rate + immigration) – (death rate + emigration)

9. (knowledge) What does it mean when population growth is at equilibrium?

a. Birth rate = death rate so no net growth

b. (Birth rate – death rate) = (immigration – emigration)

c. (Birth rate + immigration) = (death rate + emigration)

d. It is the point where the early linear growth transitions to exponential growth.

e. It is the point at which the number of individuals equals the resources available.

10. (application) In a population, if the birth rate is higher than the death rate, and immigration equals emigration, is the population shrinking?

a. Yes, it is shrinking.

b. No, it is in equilibrium.

c. No, it is growing.

d. It is shrinking, but it is about to grow exponentially.

e. There is not enough information here to predict.

18.2

11. (knowledge) As a population grows, its growth rate begins to be limited by density dependent factors. Why does this happen?

a. At some point, there are not enough resources and reproductive success declines.

b. Organisms experience more stress in crowded conditions.

c. Disease spreads more easily.

d. Waste products and pollutants accumulate.

e. All of the above

12. (comprehension) The 19^th century was the first time it was suggested that the human population was growing exponentially and our food supply was just growing linearly. We’re still here. What happened?

a. They were wrong about this.

b. Our food supply grows exponentially, too.

c. Agricultural advances have kept our food supply growing sufficiently so far.

d. There has just not been enough time yet.

e. Our growth rate has slowed markedly worldwide.

13. (comprehension) How does carrying capacity relate to population equilibrium?

a. Higher carrying capacity allows for equilibrium to become established.

b. Eequilibrium should occur when the population reaches the carrying capacity of the habitat.

c. Both are part of linear growth.

d. Population growth never exceeds carrying capacity.

e. All of the above

14. (comprehension) Are there any signs that the human population may be approaching the carrying capacity of the Earth?

a. Yes, already 11% of the population lacks access to clean drinking water.

b. Yes, growth rates are slowing worldwide.

c. We wouldn’t be able to see the signs because you’d have to be looking in from the outside.

d. No, we have a surplus of food still.

e. No, we are minimizing pollution and increasingly providing people with everywhere with access to water.

15. (comprehension) What determines the Earth’s carrying capacity for humans?

a. How many people are on Earth already

b. How high our growth rate is now and whether and how that changes

c. What our fertility rate is now and whether and how that changes

d. Resources, technological developments, and what quality of life people demand

e. There’s no way to predict it because conditions on Earth constantly change.

18.3

16. (knowledge) What group of people have the largest influence on a population’s growth rate?

a. Elderly

b. Male children

c. Young adult men

d. Young adult women

e. Female children

17. (comprehension) How are age pyramids useful?

a. Comparing growth patterns and predicting future societal needs

b. Looking at growth rates over time

c. Comparing growth rates from one country to the next

d. Looking at disease patterns

e. Demonstrating exponential growth

18. (comprehension) Children and the elderly tend to be at higher risk of disease than healthy adults. What effect might this have on population growth rates?

a. Disease tends to slow the population growth rate.

b. Disease limited to children or the elderly would tend to increase growth rate.

c. Disease limited to children or the elderly would not tend to affect present growth rate, but might affect the rate in the future.

d. Disease limited to children or the elderly would tend to slow growth rate in the future.

e. Disease does not affect population growth rate.

19. (application) What does the age pyramid of a developing country typically look like?

a. Wide at the bottom and narrowing sharply toward the top

b. Wide at the top and narrowing sharply toward the bottom

c. Reasonably vertical sides, equal in both directions

d. Widest in the middle and narrower top and bottom

e. There isn’t a typical pattern.

20. (application) Italy is known to be an aging country, demographically. What does its age pyramid look like?

a. Wide at the bottom and narrowing sharply toward the top

b. Somewhat wider at the top than at the bottom

c. Reasonably vertical sides, equal in both directions

d. Widest in the middle and narrower top and bottom

e. There isn’t a typical pattern.

21. (application) As a result of the baby boomers in the 1950s, what does the age pyramid of the United States look like now?

a. Wide at the bottom and narrowing sharply toward the top

b. A somewhat wider bulge at the top than at the bottom, reflecting the aging boomers and their “boomlet” of children

c. Reasonably vertical sides, equal in both directions, as the population growth slows since then

d. A bulge in the middle and towards the bottom, reflecting the aging boomers and their “boomlet” of children

e. A bulge at the top, and a bulge at the bottom, reflecting the aging boomers and their “boomlet” of children

18.4

22. (comprehension) Why does total fertility rather than the actual birth rate give a more accurate picture of a population’s potential to grow?

a. Because total fertility tells you how many children women have overall

b. Because total fertility tells you how many children women actually have on average

c. Because birth rate tells you how many children women are actually having which can change as society changes

d. Because total fertility tells you how many children women could have rather than how many they do have, so it is higher than birth rate

e. Because birth rate changes over time and total fertility is constant

23. (knowledge) If you wanted to achieve zero population growth, what level of total fertility would you want in a population?

a. 0 children

b. Slightly higher than one child

c. Slightly higher than two children

d. Three children

e. It’s not possible to do this just based on fertility.

24. (knowledge) Why does age at first reproduction matter in population growth?

a. It doesn’t really. As long as women are reproducing there will likely be population growth.

b. Babies are less likely to survive if mother are very young.

c. Very young age at first reproduction indicates some level of hormone-mimicking pollutant, which will eventually result in a declining population.

d. If a woman starts having children at a younger age, she is more likely to die, reducing population growth.

e. If a woman starts having children at a younger age, she will have time to have more children, increasing the population growth rate.

25. (comprehension) Why is total fertility generally higher in developing countries where there are fewer resources?

a. People are unable to control their reproduction to match resource availability.

b. There is higher infant mortality, so people have more children to ensure at least some survive.

c. Women are smarter in developed countries.

d. There is high social pressure in developed countries not to have too many children.

e. Many developing countries are planning to institute one child per couple policies, so people are trying to have children while they can.

26. (knowledge) Malnutrition, disease, lack of sanitation, and limited medical care results in high infant mortality in developing countries. As a group, what kind of “factors” are these?

a. Limiting factors

b. Social factors

c. Uncontrollable factors

d. Density-dependent factors

e. Overcapacity factors

27. (knowledge) Why are girls expected to get married so young—even before or just after puberty—in some countries?

a. Parents may not live long enough to provide security or they may want one less child at home to feed.

b. Girls are perceived to be less helpful workers around the farm or house.

c. Girls typically mature much earlier than boys.

d. Girls are perceived as more likely to just obey their parents.

e. Girls are perceived as less able to care for themselves.

28. (knowledge) Which of the following seems to have the most profound impact on population growth rates?

a. Infant mortality

b. Crowding

c. Disease

d. Access to family planning

e. Educating women

29. (comprehension) Why do women’s rights matter when it comes to controlling population growth?

a. Women generally make the major family decisions.

b. Empowering women gives them control over their own reproduction and they typically will chose to postpone having children.

c. There is no way for men to control their own reproduction.

d. Women with an education and career won’t have children.

e. Men always want more children than women do, and if women have no power, they don’t get a choice.

30. (knowledge) Why is it not so critical to have many children in developed countries as it is in developing countries?

a. People in developed countries are better educated and know they can’t support more than a few children.

b. People in developed countries tend to live in cities, and there isn’t as much room for children.

c. People in developing countries are mostly rural and need the children to help work the farms.

d. People in developing countries need to sell off as many children as possible to support the children who stay home.

e. People in developing countries tend to be judged powerful or not depending on their number of children.

31. (knowledge) What characterizes the population in a country in the transition phase of a demographic transition?

a. High birth and death rates, so limited growth with the population close to carrying capacity

b. High birth rates and low death rates, so the population is growing rapidly toward carrying capacity

c. High birth rates but lower death rates as sanitation, technology, and medicine advances; exponential growth rate

d. Low birth rates and low death rates as sanitation, technology, and medicine advances; slowing growth rate and population near carrying capacity

e. Low birth and death rates, women’s status improves, population growth levels off and stops

32. (knowledge) What characterizes the population in a country in the post-transition stage of a demographic transition?

a. High birth and death rates, so limited growth with the population close to carrying capacity

b. High birth rates and low death rates so the population is growing rapidly toward carrying capacity

c. High birth rates but lower death rates as sanitation, technology, and medicine advances; exponential growth rate

d. Low birth rates and low death rates as sanitation, technology, and medicine advances; slowing growth rate and population near carrying capacity

e. Low birth and death rates, women’s status improves, population growth levels off and stops

33. (comprehension) Practically speaking, why would it make sense for already developed countries to invest in developing countries? Or wouldn’t it?

a. Economics—buy low and sell high

b. Helping a developing country is an ethical obligation

c. Helping them develop will slow global population growth for the good of us all

d. It wouldn’t. We developed ourselves. They can, too.

e. It wouldn’t. It would be better to invest in slowing our own population growth so our country doesn’t run out of resources.

34. (application) You are an advisor to the government of a developing country. What would you tell them to focus their resources on first in order to slow population growth and improve the health of the population?

a. Training or bringing in doctors and nurses

b. Introducing birth control

c. Improving overall sanitation and minimizing pollution

d. Emphasizing women’s rights and their education

e. Developing a representative government

18.5

35. (application) A life insurance company might be interested in the demographics of a population. Why? What might they want to know?

a. They would want to know how many children a family is likely to have.

b. They would want to know how long people on average are living.

c. They would want to know whether there were more men or women.

d. They would want to be able to predict future population trends.

e. They want to know everything possible about everyone.

36. (application) You are a company that produces movies. Why might you be interested in demographic data?

a. You want to make movies that reflect the population.

b. You want to know how to best market your movies.

c. You want to target your movies to the biggest possible age group so you need to know what that is.

d. You want to know who might be able to invest in your movie.

e. There is really no reason a movie maker needs demographic data.

37. (application) Why does the Department of Homeland Security need to pay attention to global demographic data?

a. If a population is shrinking in size, that tends to foster desperate, potentially terrorist behavior.

b. If a population stops growing altogether, that usually means the people are in trouble and may want to immigrate to the United States.

c. A skyrocketing population means the country will have to expand and will be looking for territory to grab.

d. A skyrocketing population usually means insufficient jobs and high conflict which may breed terrorist activity.

e. A shrinking population suggests a country in need of immigrants, which may mean people moving out of the United States.

38. (knowledge) How often does the United States conduct a population census?

a. Every year

b. Every 5 years

c. Every 10 years

d. Every 50 years

e. Every 100 years

39. (comprehension) Why does congress need to conduct a population census?

a. To determine how many voters there are

b. To determine where immigrants are mainly living

c. To determine congressional districts and fairly allocate funding

d. To get in everyone’s business

e. To keep an eye on criminals

40. (knowledge) In recent years, Uganda has had an age pyramid indicating low survival for all age groups. What could cause that in a developing country?

a. Crowding, war, lack of resources like food, sanitation, or medicine, disease

b. Few people to start with

c. High infant mortality

d. Short life spans

e. There’s no way to tell

41 (knowledge) Uganda’s projected age pyramid for 2050 indicates better longevity and a large population of children. What should this country be planning for?

a. Conflict and war

b. Nutrition, education, medicine, and, soon, jobs

c. Care for the elders

d. A steadily decreasing population

e. An increasing birth rate

42. (comprehension) At some point we will have used up the oil on Earth. Do we need to worry about that? Why or why not?

a. No. The U.S. oil consumption is already going down, so we’re learning to conserve and use other sources for energy. We’ll have enough oil.

b. No. Science will certainly come up with a better energy source than oil any year now.

c. There’s really no way to know, but better safe than sorry.

d. Yes, because even though U.S. oil consumption is down, as other countries develop like we already have, their consumption goes up. We’re going to need some other energy source.

e. Yes, because the United States needs an ever increasing supply of oil, not just for energy but for many of our products. We may have to plan to guard what we have and fight for what’s in other countries.

43. (comprehension) We know the planet can’t support an ever-increasing human population. At some point humans will outstrip the resources available. Are we doomed?

a. Definitely

b. Wealthy countries like the United States will be okay, but developing countries are doomed.

c. No. With foresight and planning, we can possibly reach a sustainable equilibrium before it is too late.

d. No. Technology will keep expanding our resources to keep up with population growth, like has happened with agriculture so far.

e. There’s no way to know. We just have to do what we do and hope for the best.

“Biology in Perspective”

44. (knowledge) What is the projected human population going to be in 2200?

a. 10 million

b. 1 billion

c. 5 billion

d. 10 billion

e. 20 billion

45. (comprehension) To not become victims of density dependent factors which will control our population whether we like it or not, what do we need to do?

a. Keep the population growing

b. Stop population growth right now

c. Take steps to get us to a logistic growth phase before we run out of resources

d. Sterilize everyone

e. Limit children worldwide to one child per couple as soon as possible

“Scientist Spotlight”

46. (knowledge) What did Donella Meadows investigate related to populations?

a. Population growth and resource use

b. Population trends over time

c. How population growth affects various factors on Earth and how those factors affect population growth

d. Bacterial meningitis affects on populations

e. Sustainable living practices

47. (comprehension) The current economic model of the United States depends on continued economic growth. What did Dr. Meadows conclude about that?

a. It worked pretty well as long as the population didn’t grow too fast.

b. Economic growth works well and, at current trends, will be able to support our population almost indefinitely.

c. It would cause resource depletion and an eventual population collapse. We need to change to more sustainable living not focused on growth.

d. It would inevitably lead to a global, uncontrolled, population crash and the end of civilization as we know it.

e. It is unsustainable and if humans are to survive we need to go back to nature and somehow shrink our population.

“Technology Connection”

48. (knowledge) The hormone testosterone controls “maleness” in humans, among other things. How could it possibly be used as a male contraceptive?

a. At low doses, it is an effective spermicide.

b. If levels are decreased in men, they lose some masculinity but also some fertility.

c. Too much testosterone makes men uninterested in sex.

d. Too much testosterone actually reduces sperm production, so it could be used to reduce male fertility.

e. Reducing testosterone levels reduces sperm production.

49. (knowledge) Immunocontraception is where the immune system is induced to make antibodies to attack particular proteins involved in fertility. What is one such protein being looked at for this purpose?

a. Testosterone

b. The precursor protein for estrogen

c. The protein in an egg membrane that allows the sperm in

d. The protein that makes sperm cell tails wiggle strongly enough to get into an egg.

e. The protein that makes sperm cell tails wiggle strongly enough to swim.

“Life Application”

50. (comprehension) Has the one-child-per-couple policy in China, implemented in the 1970s, been successful in terms of reducing the population growth rate?

a. Yes, the population is much smaller than it otherwise would have been and is projected to peak in 2030 and then decline.

b. Yes, the population growth rate has stabilized and is now at equilibrium.

c. No, the population was so big to start with it’s still growing exponentially out of control.

d. No. In fact people were so angered by it that they probably produced more children than they otherwise would have.

e. It’s too soon to tell.

51. (knowledge) What has been an unintended consequence of China’s one-child-per-couple policy in terms of the gender ratio in the country?

a. There are equal numbers of men and women.

b. There are many more women than men.

c. The men are much older than the women on average.

d. There are many more men than women.

e. Surprisingly, it made no difference.

“How Do We Know?”

52. (knowledge) Why is an exponential growth rate called that?

a. Exponential means “suddenly rapid.”

b. It occurs over time and mathematically, that’s exponential.

c. The equation describing the j-curve is an exponential function.

d. Anything having to do with a population is exponential.

e. Exponential is the opposite of logistic in Greek.

18.1

1. (knowledge) In the bacteria example in the case study, was the bacterial growth rate exponential, logistic, or linear?

2. (knowledge) What determines the doubling time for a population?

18.2

3. (knowledge) As a population grows, its own impact on itself and its environment begins to limit growth due to several factors. What are these factors called?

4. (knowledge) Once a population begins to exceed its available resources its growth typically slows and stabilizes. What type of growth is this?

18.3

5. (knowledge) What about a population is illustrated by an age pyramid?

6. (comprehension) In the 1950s in the United States, there is very wide base to the age pyramid which is now seen near the top. Who does this represent?

18.4

7. (comprehension) Why does the education of women tend to reduce population growth rates?

8. (comprehension) Later age at reproduction lowers population levels in two ways. One, women have fewer children overall. What’s the second way?

18.5

9. (knowledge) To understand the distribution of population in the United States to ensure everyone is properly represented in Congress, what does Congress fund periodically?

10. (comprehension) You are a planner for a country whose age pyramid suggests that birth rate is low and people are living an increasingly long time. What will you need to plan for?