Malthus and Thanos: Population and Famine

What was the central belief of Thomas Malthus, as described in the text?

• That technology would always create enough resources for everyone.

• That population could grow much faster than the food supply, leading to suffering.

• That eliminating half the population was the only way to ensure survival.

• That governments should provide unlimited aid to the poor to encourage family growth.

According to the text, what motivated Thanos to want to eliminate half of all life?

• A desire for ultimate power and control over the universe.

• A personal tragedy on his home planet, which collapsed due to overpopulation.

• A belief that war and conflict were the only ways to solve problems.

• A command from a more powerful cosmic entity.

Malthus categorized methods for controlling population growth. Which of the following is an example of a 'preventive' check?

• A war causing widespread casualties.

• A famine resulting from crop failure.

• A family choosing to use birth control.

• A natural disaster like a flood or earthquake.

Based on the chart 'Global deaths from famines, 1870-2023,' which country experienced the highest number of famine deaths in a single decade?

• India

• USSR/Russia

• Ethiopia

• China

The chart identifies the 'Great Leap Forward' as the deadliest famine. According to the text on the chart, this event caused an estimated 36 million deaths between which years?

• 1940-1945

• 1958-1962

• 1920-1925

• 1975-1979

Looking at the overall trend in the famine chart, what has happened to the number of deaths from major famines since the 1980s?

• They have increased dramatically.

• They have stayed at roughly the same high level as the 1940s.

• They have decreased significantly to a fraction of what they were in the mid-20th century.

• The chart does not show data for the period after 1980.

The predictions of Malthus and the beliefs of Thanos suggest a future of increasing starvation due to resource scarcity. How does the data in the famine chart for the past 50 years align with this prediction?

• It strongly supports the prediction, showing a massive increase in famine deaths.

• It contradicts the prediction, showing a dramatic decrease in famine deaths.

• It has no relevance to the prediction.

• It shows that famine deaths have remained constant over time.

During the 1940s, the chart shows a large spike in famine deaths. The text on the chart attributes these 25 million deaths to what event?

• The Great Leap Forward

• The Russian Civil War

• World War II

• The Ethiopian Famine

According to the legend on the chart, why are USSR/Russia, India, and China highlighted with specific colors?

• Because they are the only countries that have ever had famines.

• Because they saw the most famine deaths by a large margin.

• Because they have the largest populations in the world today.

• Because they were the main participants in World War I.

The 'Thanos Malthus Evidence' worksheet suggests looking at data for 'Increase in production of wheat' and 'Amount of food per person.' If this data showed that food production per person has consistently risen over the last century, what would it imply?

• Malthus's prediction that population would outgrow the food supply has been correct so far.

• The world has managed to increase food production faster than population growth, countering Malthus's prediction.

• Land used for farming must be decreasing.

• Thanos's solution is the only way to avoid future hunger.