Lesson 2.3 Human Population Growth

Throughout human history, major migrations have been spurred by sharp

decreases in the availability of food caused by hazards or changes in climate. For

example, the ( Dust Bowl / Irish Potato Famine ) was the result of a drought and wind-

driven erosion. The ( Dust Bowl / Irish Potato Famine ), on the other hand, was caused

by a fungal disease that infected an important crop.

• Dust Bowl

• Irish Potato Famine

• Wildfires

Over various spans of time, human populations have increased, decreased, or

remained the same, and at both global and local levels. Which statement best explains

this observation?

• Unlike other populations, the human population changes size because of specific

  choices of its members.

• Unlike other populations, the human population has the ability to grow rapidly

  without limit.

• Like other populations, the human population is affected by a variety of factors in the

  environment.

• Like other populations, the human population increases and decreases in a cyclical

  pattern.

A scientist is studying the human population of Country X. To predict the future

growth rate of the population, which three statistics about the population of Country X

would be most useful for the scientist to analyze? Select three answer choices.

• birthrate

• death rate

• population distribution

• population density

• age structure

A scientist constructs a graph to show the age structure of the human population

of Country Y. The graph is shown here.

• The population is decreasing because there are fewer older members than younger

  members.

• The population is relatively stable because there are fewer older members than

  younger members.

• The population is relatively stable because the death rate is about the same as the

  birthrate.

• The population is increasing rapidly because of the youth of the population.

The human population of the United States passed through the demographic

transition between 1790 and 1910. How has the population changed after 1910?

• The population has been increasing exponentially.

• The population has been increasing in a pattern explained by logistic growth.

• The population has been fluctuating at or near carrying capacity.

• The population has been decreasing at a steady rate.

The global human population was growing exponentially up until the second half

of the twentieth century. According to the ideas of Thomas Malthus, could this exponential

growth have continued indefinitely?

• Yes, because the human population is capable of adapting to a wide variety of

  environments.

• Yes, because developments in technology allow an increase in the carrying capacity

  of the human population.

• No, because the human population depends on limited resources, and may suffer

  from war, disease, and famine.

• No, because the human population increases and decreases in a cyclical pattern,

  similar to patterns of predator and prey populations