Short Answer Type Questions
Q1. In what respects do different human beings differ?
Ans. Human beings vary in age, gender, education, ethnicity, culture, physical abilities, and mental strengths. These differences contribute to unique perspectives, skills, and experiences that shape individual identities and interactions within society.
Q2. With the help of figures, describe how the population varies across continents.
Ans. The global population distribution across continents is as follows: Asia holds about 61%, Europe 12%, Africa 13%, Central/South America 8%, North America 5%, and Oceania 1% of the total population. These figures illustrate the varying concentration of people across different continents.
Q3. If 600 people live in your colony, and the area of your colony is 2 sq km, what is the population density of your colony?
Ans. In a 2 sq km area with 600 people, the population density is calculated by dividing the population by the area. Thus, the density is 300 people per sq km, as there are around 300 individuals residing within every 1 sq km of the colony.
Q4. Compare the population density of the world with that of India.
Ans. Globally, the population density is approximately 45 people per sq km. In contrast, India's population density is considerably higher, exceeding 320 people per sq km. This highlights the significantly greater concentration of people in India compared to the average density across the world.
Q5. How does climate affect the population distribution of an area?
Answer. Climate strongly influences population distribution. Moderate climates are more appealing for habitation, leading to higher population densities. Harsh climates, whether extremely cold or hot, tend to discourage settlement. Consequently, areas with milder weather patterns attract more inhabitants, resulting in greater population concentration.
Q6. What is life expectancy?
Ans. Life expectancy denotes the projected average lifespan of an individual, grounded in statistical data. It represents the anticipated number of years a person is likely to live, serving as a valuable indicator of the overall health and well-being of a population.
Q7. What is the general trend of migrations from one country to another? Why is it so?
Ans. Migration often involves movement from less developed nations to more developed ones. This pattern is driven by the pursuit of improved employment prospects, higher standards of living, and enhanced amenities in the destination country. Individuals seek better opportunities and enhanced quality of life, prompting them to migrate from areas with limited resources and opportunities to regions offering greater socio-economic advantages.
Q8. What is an age-sex pyramid?
Ans. An age-sex pyramid is a graphical representation illustrating the distribution of a population based on both age and gender. It presents the number or percentage of males and females within specific age brackets, providing insights into demographic trends such as birth rates, death rates, and overall population structure.
Q9. Which of these countries is more densely populated: one with a small population in a large area or one with a large population in a small area?
Ans. Among the two options, a country characterized by a large population residing in a small area is more densely populated. This scenario results in a higher concentration of individuals within a limited geographical space, leading to greater population density compared to a country with a smaller population dispersed across a larger expanse.
Long Answer Type Questions
Q1. Describe how various factors affect population distribution.
Ans. Various factors affecting population are:
Geographical Factors: Topography, climate, soil fertility, water availability, and mineral deposits influence population distribution.
Topography: Plains attract more settlement than mountains or plateaus.
Climate: Moderate climates are preferred over extreme hot or cold regions.
Soil: Fertile lands are chosen for agriculture, impacting population distribution.
Water: Proximity to freshwater sources influences habitation patterns.
Minerals: Areas with mineral resources tend to have higher population densities.
Social Factors: Quality of housing, education, healthcare facilities contribute to population concentration.
Culture and History: Places with cultural or historical significance often have larger populations.
Employment: Regions with job opportunities attract more people.
Q2. Describe how the population of the world has grown in history. What has caused the population explosion?
Ans. The world population grew steadily initially. It reached a billion in the year 1820. But the next two billion were added in just a hundred and fifty years. By 1970 the population was 3 billion. In the next 29 years, i.e. by the year 1999, the population had
doubled to 6 billion. The population explosion has been mainly caused by the growth in medical facilities, which has decreased the death rate by a large extent.
Q3. What are the factors affecting the population change in a region? [Imp.]
Ans. Factors affecting the population change in a region are birth rate, death rate and migrations. Birth rate is a statistic that measures the number of live births per 1000 people. Death rate is a statistic that measures the number of deaths per 1000 people. Along with birth and death rate, another factor affecting population change is migration. Migration refers to the movement of people from one area to another. People leaving a country are called emigrants and the phenomenon is called emigration. People arriving in a country are called immigrants and the phenomenon is called immigration.