2.1 - Population Density & Distribution

The map shows the number of people per unit of land. Which of the following types of data are shown in the map?

• Arithmetic Density

• Physiologic Density

• Agricultural Density

• Urban Density

• Suburban Density

If a geographer uses this map to calculate the number of people per unit of land area, she is calculating

• population growth

• population composition

• physiological density

• arithmetic density

• agricultural density

Physiological population density differs from arithmetic population density in that physiological density

• examines only the population of cities, while arithmetic density includes the population of cities and rural areas

• is a measure of how density is perceived, while arithmetic density is a measure of specific density

• explains density in terms of people per arable square land unit, while arithmetic density explains density in terms of people per total square land unit

• explains the density of a single housing unit while arithmetic density explains the density of a group of houses

• is the number of people per housing unit, while arithmetic density is the number of people per square mile

Physiological population density is viewed as a superior measure of population density for which of the following reasons?

• It is more reflective of population pressure on arable land.

• It yields the average population density.

• It is more reflective of the world’s largest population concentrations.

• It measures the average by dividing total land area by total number of people.

• It best reflects the percentage of a country’s population that is urbanized.

Which of the following best identifies the data for the land surrounding Lake Victoria, shown on the map?

• High arithmetic density

• Low arithmetic density

• Low carrying capacity

• High total fertility rate

• Low total fertility rate

Sri Lanka and Australia have about the same population. What data would help you determine which country has a higher physiological population density?

• The area of each country

• The number of farmers in each country

• The total fertility rate of each country

• The amount of arid land in each country

• The amount of arable land in each country

The ability of a resource base to sustain a population is known as its

• support ratio

• carrying capacity

• subsistence limit

• basic employment

• population pressure

Which of the following regions shows the highest population density?

• Southern Africa

• Western Antarctica

• Northern Asia

• Eastern Asia

• Southern Australia

Which of the following types of population distribution would you expect to find in Egypt? and why?

• concentrated because different parts of Egypt are arable

• dispersed because all of Egypt is arable

• linear because only the land along the Nile River is arable

• dispersed because Egypt has a low population

• linear because all Egyptians live close to the railroad tracks

Which of the following is a human factor in population distribution?

• elevation

• latitude

• access to fresh water

• religious freedom

• climate