Download NWCA Population and Development Exam and more Exams Technology in PDF only on Docsity!
Question 1. Which term best describes the scientific study of the size, structure, and distribution of human populations? A) Sociology B) Demography C) Anthropology D) Economics Answer: B Explanation: Demography is the statistical study of populations, focusing on size, composition, and distribution. Question 2. What is the primary distinction between demography and population studies? A) Demography uses qualitative methods, while population studies rely on quantitative data. B) Demography is a statistical discipline; population studies are interdisciplinary. C) Population studies only examine animal populations. D) Demography ignores migration data. Answer: B Explanation: Demography is a statistical branch, whereas population studies incorporate economics, sociology, health, and geography. Question 3. Which of the following is a major limitation of national censuses? A) They provide real‑time data. B) High cost and infrequent collection. C) They capture only birth and death events. D) They are conducted monthly.
Answer: B Explanation: Censuses are expensive and typically conducted every ten years, limiting timeliness. Question 4. In vital registration systems, which event is NOT routinely recorded? A) Births B) Deaths C) Marriages D) Employment status Answer: D Explanation: Vital registration tracks births, deaths, marriages, and divorces, but not employment. Question 5. The Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) primarily focus on which type of data? A) Agricultural production B) Fertility, mortality, and health indicators C) Military expenditures D) Climate change Answer: B Explanation: DHS collects data on fertility, family planning, maternal and child health, and related health outcomes. Question 6. How is the Crude Birth Rate (CBR) calculated? A) (Number of births ÷ total population) × 1,
Question 9. In the Demographic Transition Model, Stage 1 is characterized by: A) Low birth and death rates B) High birth and death rates C) Declining birth rates only D) High immigration Answer: B Explanation: Stage 1 (pre‑industrial) has high fertility and mortality, leading to stable, low population. Question 10. Which development factor most directly triggers the decline in death rates during Stage 2? A) Increased religious participation B) Improvements in sanitation and medical care C) Adoption of traditional farming methods D) Restrictive immigration policies Answer: B Explanation: Better sanitation, nutrition, and healthcare reduce mortality, initiating Stage 2. Question 11. In Stage 3 of the DTM, the primary cause of falling birth rates is: A) Increased war mortality B) Urbanization and female education C) Expansion of agricultural land D) Higher infant mortality
Answer: B Explanation: Urban living, education, and access to contraception lower fertility in Stage 3. Question 12. Which statement best describes Stage 4 of the DTM? A) High fertility, low mortality B) Low fertility, low mortality, stable population C) Rapid population growth D) Birth rates below replacement Answer: B Explanation: Stage 4 features low, stable birth and death rates, resulting in a stable population size. Question 13. A Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 1.7 children per woman indicates: A) Replacement-level fertility B) Below‑replacement fertility C) Above‑replacement fertility D) No change in population Answer: B Explanation: Replacement level is approximately 2.1; 1.7 is below, leading to eventual decline. Question 14. Which factor most strongly influences a woman’s fertility decisions in low‑income societies? A) Access to high‑speed internet
Question 17. Which of the following is a leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide? A) Diabetes mellitus B) Hemorrhage during childbirth C) Road traffic accidents D) Influenza Answer: B Explanation: Post‑partum hemorrhage is a primary cause of maternal deaths, especially in low‑resource settings. Question 18. Life expectancy at birth primarily reflects: A) Average age of retirement B) Overall mortality conditions in a population C) Number of hospitals per capita D) Average number of children per woman Answer: B Explanation: Life expectancy aggregates mortality rates across all ages, indicating overall health conditions. Question 19. The epidemiological transition describes the shift from: A) High fertility to low fertility B) Rural to urban living C) Predominance of infectious diseases to chronic, non‑communicable diseases
D) Agricultural economies to industrial economies Answer: C Explanation: As societies develop, disease patterns move from infectious to chronic illnesses. Question 20. Which classification system is used globally to code causes of death? A) ISO 9001 B) International Classification of Diseases (ICD) C) World Bank Income Categories D) United Nations Development Index Answer: B Explanation: The ICD provides standardized codes for diseases and causes of death. Question 21. Ravenstein’s first law of migration states that most migrants: A) Move long distances across continents B) Relocate to rural areas C) Move short distances D) Migrate only for education Answer: C Explanation: Ravenstein observed that most migration occurs over relatively short distances. Question 22. A “push” factor in migration is best exemplified by:
Explanation: Brain drain is the emigration of highly educated or skilled individuals. Question 25. Which of the following is a primary benefit of a demographic dividend? A. Increased dependency ratio B. Higher proportion of working‑age population boosting economic growth C. Greater fiscal pressure on pension systems D. Lower life expectancy Answer: B Explanation: A demographic dividend occurs when a large working‑age cohort can drive productivity, provided there are adequate jobs and education. Question 26. The Human Development Index (HDI) combines which three dimensions? A. Military spending, carbon emissions, and internet penetration B. Life expectancy, education, and per‑capita income C. Birth rate, death rate, and migration balance D. Urbanization, agricultural output, and trade balance Answer: B Explanation: HDI aggregates health (life expectancy), education (mean/expected years of schooling), and standard of living (GNI per capita). Question 27. According to Malthusian theory, population growth will: A. Remain stable due to cultural norms. B. Outpace food production, leading to famine.
C. Be limited only by government policies. D. Decline automatically after industrialization. Answer: B Explanation: Thomas Malthus argued that geometric population growth would exceed arithmetic food production, causing shortages. Question 28. Marxist perspectives on population emphasize that poverty is mainly a result of: A. Overpopulation exceeding resources. B. Unequal distribution of wealth and resources. C. Genetic inferiority. D. Climate change. Answer: B Explanation: Marxists view poverty as stemming from capitalist exploitation and unequal resource allocation, not sheer population size. Question 29. Optimum population theory suggests that a country’s per‑capita income is maximized when population size is: A. As large as possible. B. At a level that balances resources and labor. C. Zero. D. Determined solely by fertility rates. Answer: B
B. 80% of the population is employed. C. 80% infant mortality. D. 80% urbanization. Answer: A Explanation: The total dependency ratio expresses dependents (children + elderly) per 100 working‑age individuals. Question 33. Which of the following is NOT a typical cause of high infant mortality in low‑income nations? A. Poor sanitation B. Lack of skilled birth attendants C. High prevalence of chronic heart disease among the elderly D. Malnutrition Answer: C Explanation: Chronic heart disease in the elderly does not directly affect infant mortality. Question 34. In the context of migration, “circular migration” refers to: A. One‑way permanent relocation. B. Seasonal or temporary movement back and forth between origin and destination. C. Migration only within a city. D. Forced displacement due to war. Answer: B
Explanation: Circular migration involves repeated trips between home and host areas, often for work. Question 35. Which factor most strongly contributes to urban slum formation? A. Decrease in agricultural productivity. B. Rapid rural‑to‑urban migration outpacing housing supply. C. Expansion of public transportation. D. High literacy rates. Answer: B Explanation: Influx of migrants overwhelms affordable housing, leading to informal settlements. Question 36. The “young‑age dependency ratio” is calculated using which age groups? A. 0‑14 and 15‑ 64 B. 15‑64 and 65+ C. 0‑4 and 5‑ 14 D. 0‑24 and 25‑ 64 Answer: A Explanation: It compares children (0‑14) to the working‑age population (15‑64). Question 37. Which of the following best describes “population ageing”? A. Increase in proportion of children under 5. B. Rise in median age due to declining fertility and increasing life expectancy. C. Sudden spikes in birth rates.
A. The shift from high to low fertility rates as societies develop. B. The increase in birth rates due to war. C. The migration of women to urban centers. D. The adoption of new agricultural techniques. Answer: A Explanation: Fertility transition describes the decline in birth rates accompanying socioeconomic progress. Question 41. Which of the following policies is most directly aimed at increasing the contraceptive prevalence rate? A. Subsidizing agricultural inputs. B. Providing free or low‑cost modern contraceptives. C. Building new highways. D. Increasing military spending. Answer: B Explanation: Access to affordable contraception directly raises CPR. Question 42. The “mortality transition” in the DTM primarily involves a decline in: A. Infant mortality only. B. All‑cause mortality, especially from infectious diseases. C. Deaths due to traffic accidents. D. Mortality among the elderly.
Answer: B Explanation: Mortality transition denotes a broad reduction in deaths, especially from communicable diseases. Question 43. Which indicator would you examine to assess progress toward universal health coverage? A. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita. B. Percentage of population with access to essential health services. C. Number of universities. D. Export volume of medical equipment. Answer: B Explanation: Universal health coverage focuses on ensuring essential health services for all. Question 44. In demographic research, a “cohort” refers to: A. A group of individuals born in the same year or period. B. A statistical model for population projections. C. A type of migration route. D. A health intervention program. Answer: A Explanation: Cohorts are groups sharing a common birth period, used for longitudinal analyses. Question 45. Which of the following best explains why urbanization can lead to a decline in fertility? A. Urban residents have more land for farming.
Explanation: The natural increase (CBR – CDR) reflects the growth component excluding migration. Question 48. The “push‑pull” model of migration suggests that: A. Only economic factors matter. B. Migration decisions are influenced by both adverse conditions in origin (push) and attractive conditions in destination (pull). C. Migration is random. D. Climate change is the sole driver. Answer: B Explanation: The model integrates both negative and positive factors influencing movement. Question 49. Which of the following is NOT a typical component of the “demographic dividend” framework? A. High labor force participation. B. Adequate health and education systems. C. Large proportion of dependents. D. Favorable macro‑economic policies. Answer: C Explanation: The dividend relies on a reduced dependency burden, not a large dependent population. Question 50. The “population pyramid” of a developing country in Stage 2 of the DTM most likely shows: A. A narrow base and wide top. B. A wide base and relatively uniform middle.
C. An inverted pyramid. D. A rectangular shape. Answer: B Explanation: High fertility creates a broad base; mortality declines, giving a relatively uniform middle. Question 51. Which of the following is the most accurate definition of “migration”? A. Permanent relocation only. B. Temporary movement for tourism. C. The movement of people across space, irrespective of duration or purpose. D. Movement of goods across borders. Answer: C Explanation: Migration encompasses all human movements, temporary or permanent, for any reason. Question 52. In measuring population density, “physiological density” refers to: A. Number of people per unit of arable land. B. Number of people per square kilometer of total land area. C. Number of people per square mile of urban area. D. Number of livestock per hectare. Answer: A Explanation: Physiological density assesses pressure on productive (arable) land.
