Chapter 3: Overpopulation and Underpopulation

Question 1

Defin the term

Carrying Capacity

Answer 1

The maximum number of a species an environment can support indefinitely.

Question 2

Defin the term

Overpopulation

Answer 2

The term overpopulation implies that a region has too many people and not enough resources to maintain a reasonable standard of living.

Question 3

Defin the term

Underpopulation

Answer 3

The term overpopulation implies that there are not enough people to make full use of the resources and technology of the place they live in.

Question 4

Give reasons

A large country may be underpopulated but highly developed.

Answer 4

A large country may be underpopulated but highly developed because of abundant natural resources, low fertility, technical development, high literacy rate and higher standard of living.

Question 5

Give reasons

A small overpopulated country can be prosperous and developed or even undeveloped.

Answer 5

A small overpopulated country can be prosperous and developed or even undeveloped because the development of a country does not depend on its size but on its resources, health, death rate, literacy level, sanitation, technology, trade and political stability.

Question 6

Differentiate between overpopulation and underpopulation.

Answer 6

Overpopulation:
* The term overpopulation implies that a region has too many people and not enough resources to maintain a reasonable standard of living.
* Eg: Bangladesh, Mali

Underpopulation:
* The term overpopulation implies that there are not enough people to make full use of the resources and technology of the place they live in.
* Equatorial Congo, Amazon River Basin,
rich Prarie regions of North America

Question 7

Explain the correlation of birth and death rates with overpopulation

Answer 7

Due to improved technology, efficient healthcare and medical facilities, global birth rates have increased and death rates have decreased.

Question 8

How does illiteracy impact overpopulation?

Answer 8

• Literacy and growth rates are directly related.
• Literacy rates in developing nations are low.
• An increase in literacy rates improves their general attitude towards birth control.
  Lack of efficient and enforced family planning policies also leads to overpopulation.

Question 9

How does emigration cause underpopulation?

Answer 9

• Emigration is the movement of individuals from one country to another to permanently settle in their destination.
• Push factors would be the negative factors associated with the current region or nation the individuals reside in, like lack of employment, oppressive political conditions, poor economies, etc.
• Pull factors are the favourable factors of the country that the individuals want to move to, like better employment opportunities, political freedom, economic stability, etc.