Population

Question 1

How does relief affect population distribution?

Answer 1

• Steep slopes make the use of machinery difficult.
• Steep slopes also make it difficult to build houses, roads and railways.
• High, mountainous areas are too cold which makes it difficult to grow crops.
• High mountainous areas are often remote which makes them difficult to access.
• Flat, low-lying areas have deeper soil which makes it easier to grow crops.

Question 2

How do communication links affect population distribution?

Answer 2

• Areas with good transport links, such as roads and railways, will attract people and industry which creates employment opportunities.
• Remote areas which are isolated and have poor transport links do not attract people.

Question 3

How do natural resources affect population distribution?

Answer 3

• Few natural resources, such as coal, in an area means there is a lack of industry and therefore a lack of employment opportunities.
• Scenery is a resource and can attract tourists, bringing job opportunities.

Question 4

How can soil affect population distribution?

Answer 4

• Areas with fertile soils, eg river deltas, are good for growing crops to feed the population.
• Poor soils with few nutrients mean there will be a low agricultural output.

Question 5

How can employment affect population distribution?

Answer 5

• Jobs, eg in manufacturing and service industries encourage people to move to find work.
• Tourism can also attract visitors to an area, providing local people with jobs.

Question 6

How can climate affect population distribution?

Answer 6

• People prefer to live in temperate climates where there is enough rainfall and no extremes of temperature.
• A lack of fresh water for drinking or irrigation stops people living in an area.
• Very high temperatures make farming difficult. Dehydration and heat stroke are other issues.
• Areas with high humidity are also uncomfortable places to live and can be affected by diseases such as malaria.
• Very cold temperatures make it difficult to grow crops or to build homes and transport links as the ground can be frozen for much of the year.
• Frostbite makes it difficult to work outside for any length of time, and protective clothing would need to be worn.

Question 7

Name economic indicators of development

Answer 7

• GNI per capita
• Employed in agriculture
• Number of TVs per household

Question 7

Name social indicators of development

Answer 7

• Life expectancy
• Death rate
• Literacy rate
• Infant mortality
• Calorie intake per day
• Birth rate

Question 8

What is GNP per capita?

Answer 8

The value of goods produced by a country divided by the total population to give an average income for each person.

Question 9

What does GNP not show?

Answer 9

• Extreme poverty for most people in the country where there are some rich families increasing the average.
• The costs of goods.
• How educated people are.
• How good their diet is.
• The differences between urban and rural areas.

Question 10

Reasons for low birth rate

Answer 10

• Contraception
• People get married later
• More women have work and a career
• Children are very expensive to raise
• More family planning

Question 11

Reasons for low death rate

Answer 11

• Healthcare
• Clean water
• Proper sanitation facilities
• People are generally well fed
• Advanced medical facilities

Question 12

Reasons for high death rate

Answer 12

• Disease
• Lack of food/malnutrition
• Conflict and corruption
• Lack of clean water
• Poor medical care
• Not enough money to build houses

Question 13

Reasons for high birth rate

Answer 13

• Lack of family planning education and contraceptives
• Children and more people are needed for manual labor
• Children can take care of their parents in their old age