AMSCO Vocab Chapter 2

Question 1

population distribution

Answer 1

The pattern of human settlement; the spread of humans across the earth

Question 2

population density

Answer 2

Measures how populated an area is

Question 3

midlatitudes

Answer 3

The regions between 30° N and 60° N, and between 30° S and 60° S

Question 4

social stratification

Answer 4

Hierarchical division of people into groups based on economic status, ethnicity, religion, power

Question 5

arithmetic population density

Answer 5

Calculated by dividing a regions total population by its total area

Question 6

physiological population density

Answer 6

Calculated by dividing population by the amount of arable land

Question 7

arable

Answer 7

Land suitable for growing crops

Question 8

carrying capacity

Answer 8

The population something can support without significant environmental deterioration

Question 9

agricultural population density

Answer 9

Compares the number of farmers to the area of arable land

Question 10

redistricting

Answer 10

The process of redrawing boundaries based on data to reflect changing population geography

Question 11

overpopulation

Answer 11

Having more people than can be supported

Question 12

age-sex composition graph

Answer 12

More commonly known as a population pyramid

Question 13

population pyramid

Answer 13

Tool based on gender and age; can tell us birth rates, death rates, how long people live on average, and economic development

Question 14

cohort

Answer 14

The vertical axis on a population pyramid that shows age groups

Question 15

birth deficit

Answer 15

The slowdown of births

Question 16

baby boom

Answer 16

When the birth rates spike suddenly

Question 17

baby bust

Answer 17

After a baby boom ends, when the births are lower for a number of years

Question 18

echo

Answer 18

When an increase reflects an earlier baby boom

Question 19

dependency ratio

Answer 19

A value comparing the working to the non-working parts of the population

Question 20

potential workforce

Answer 20

The group expected to be the society’s labor force (15-64 yrs.)

Question 21

dependent population

Answer 21

Everyone under 15 yrs. old or older than 64 yrs. old are considered to young/old to work full-time