Notes on Population | MCQs and Q&A

Multiple Choice Questions of Population

CLASS 09 | GEOGRAPHY | NCERT | CHAPTER 06 | POPULATION

1. In which of the following instances does a natural event like a flood or Tsunami become a ‘disaster’?
(a) Only when they affect a crowded village or town
(b) When the natural events are of great intensity
(c) When they happen in the environment
(d) When they affect large uninhabited areas

2. Who among the following is resource creating factors as well as resources themselves?
(a) Animals
(b) Plants
(c) Human beings
(d) Nature

3. The numbers, distribution, growth and characteristics of which of the following provide the basic background for understanding and appreciating all aspects of the environment?
(a) Natural resource
(b) Population
(c) Flora
(d) Fauna



4. Why it is important to know how many people are there in a country, where do they live, how and why their numbers are increasing and what are their characteristics?
(a) Population is the pivotal element in social studies
(b) To exploit the natural resources of the country
(c) Human beings are producers and consumers of resources
(d) None of the above

5. From which of the following do we get information regarding the population of our country?
(a) Textbooks
(b) Survey of India
(c) Census
(d) Geological Survey of India

6. Which of the following is a major concern of study about the population of a country?
(a) Population size and distribution
(b) Population growth and processes of population change
(c) Characteristics or qualities of the population
(d) All the above

7. India accounts for what percentage of the world population?
(a) 1.02 per cent
(b) 2.4 per cent
(c) 3.28 per cent
(d) 16.7 per cent

8. Which is the most populous state of India?
(a) Maharashtra
(b) Uttar Pradesh
(c) Madhya Pradesh
(d) Rajasthan


9. Which state has the lowest population ? (CBSE 2010)
(a) Uttar Pradesh
(b) Himachal Pradesh
(c) Goa
(d) Sikkim

10. Which of the following union territories of India has a very low population?
(a) Andaman and Nicobar
(b) Lakshadweep
(c) Chandigarh
(d) Pondicherry

11. Almost half of India’s population lives in just five states. Which one of the following is not one of these five populous states?
(a) Maharashtra
(b) Bihar
(c) West Bengal
(d) Arunachal Pradesh

12. What percentage of India’s population resides in the most populated state of India, Uttar Pradesh?
(a) 31.2 per cent
(b) 16.16 per cent
(c) 9.42 per cent
(d) 7.41 per cent

13. What percentage of India’s population lives in Rajasthan, the biggest state in terms of area?
(a) 16.16 per cent
(b) 8.02 per cent
(c) 7.79 per cent
(d) 5.5 per cent

14. The average number of persons per unit area, such as a square kilometer, is termed as which of the following?
(a) Population distribution
(b) Population density
(c) Absolute population
(d) Population growth

15. Which one of the following countries has higher population density than India?
(a) China
(b) Bangladesh
(c) Canada
(d) Korea

16. Which of the following figures shows the population density of India?
(a) 1028 million persons
(b) 3.28 million square km
(c) 324 persons per sq km
(d) 13 persons per sq km

17. Which one of the following states has very high population density?
(a) West Bengal
(b) Madhya Pradesh
(c) Rajasthan
(d) Arunachal Pradesh

18. Which of the following states of India has very low population density?
(a) Arunachal Pradesh
(b) Sikkim
(c) Orissa
(d) Bihar

19. Which of the following states of India has a moderate population density?
(a) Jammu and Kashmir
(b) Rajasthan
(c) Chhattisgarh
(d) Tamil Nadu

20. Which of the following southern states has a high population density?
(a) Karnataka
(b) Andhra Pradesh
(c) Kerala
(d) Tamil Nadu

21. Which of the following reasons is responsible for uneven population distribution in India?
(a) Variations in topography or relief in different parts of India
(b) Variations in climate and rainfall distribution
(c) Variations in the rate of industrialisation and urbanisation
(d) All the above

22. Which of the following states has a population density below 100 persons per square kilometre?
(a) Jammu and Kashmir
(b) Uttarakhand
(c) Himachal Pradesh
(d) Nagaland

23. Which of the following states has a population density below 250 persons per square km?
(a) Punjab
(b) Haryana
(c) Chhattisgarh
(d) Jharkhand

24. Which one of the following is not one of the factors that resulted in high density of population in the Northern Plains?
(a) Flat plains with fertile soil
(b) Rich mineral deposits
(c) Abundant rainfall
(d) Suitable conditions for agriculture

25. Which of the following statements about population is correct?
(a) Population is a dynamic phenomenon
(b) The number, distribution and composition of population are static
(c) Population of a country always increases with time
(d) Migrations do not affect the population of a country

26. The change in the number of inhabitants of a country during a specific period of time is referred to by which of the following terms?
(a) Density of population
(b) Age composition
(c) Population growth
(d) Absolute population

27. The magnitude of population growth refers to which of the following?
(a) The number of persons added each year or decade
(b) The rate or the pace of population increase
(c) The total population of an area
(d) The number of females per thousand males

28. The rate or pace of population increase per year is referred to as which of the following?
(a) Absolute increase
(b) Magnitude of increase
(c) Annual growth rate
(d) Population change

29. Which of the following statements about population growth between 1951 to 1981 is true?
(a) The annual rate of population growth was gradually decreasing
(b) The annual rate of population growth was steadily increasing
(c) The annual rate of population growth was static
(d) Census reports were not available for all decades

30. Which of the following changes in growth of population has been noted since 1981?
(a) The annual rate of population growth continued to increase steadily
(b) The annual rate of population growth shot up suddenly
(c) The growth of population could not be computed due to absence of census
(d) The rate of growth of population started declining gradually

31. Which among the following is included in the policy framework of NPP 2000?
(a) Imparting free and compulsory school education above 14 years age
(b) Reducing infant mortality rate
(c) Achieving universal immunization of children against all vaccine preventable diseases
(d) all of these

32. Which movement of the people across regions and territories does not change the size of the population?
(a) Internal
(b) External
(c) Death rate
(d) Birth rate

33. What is the rank of India among the population of different countries of the world?
(a) First
(b) Second
(c) Third
(d) Fourth

34. The main cause for the high growth of our population is
(a) Rise in death rate
(b) Decrease in birth rate
(c) Decline of death rate
(d) None of these

35. What is the average sex ratio of India as per 2001 census ?
(a) 900
(b) 933
(c) 923
(d) None of these

36. What is sex ratio?
(a) Number of females per thousand males
(b) Number of females per hundred males
(c) The study of population growth
(d) Difference between birth rate and death rate

37. Which one of the following is the most significant feature of the Indian population?
(a) Declining birth rate
(b) Improvement in the literacy level
(c) The size of its adolescent population
(d) Improvement in health conditions

38. What was the population density of India according to 2001?
(a) 124 person/km2
(b) 224 person/km2
(c) 324 person/km2
(d) 24 person/km2

39. A large proportion of children in a population is a result of :
(a) High birth rate
(b) High death rate
(c) High life expectancies
(d) More married couples

40. The number of people in different age groups is referred as :
(a) Sex ratio
(b) Age composition
(c) Adolescent population
(d) Occupational structure

41. Which is the most populous country of the world?
(a) India
(b) United States
(c) China
(d) Russia

42. As per 2001 census, which of the following states has the least density of population?
(a) West Bengal
(b) Bihar
(c) Arunachal Pradesh
(d) Uttar Pradesh

43. Name the Union Territory having the highest density of population.
(a) Chandigarh
(b) Delhi
(c) Puducherry (Pondicherry)
(d) Daman and Diu

44. In how many years is the official enumeration of population carried out for census?
(a) 1 year
(b) 5 years
(c) 10 years
(d) 2 years

45. Which of the following is an important social indicator to measure the extent of equality between males and females in a society at a given time?
(a) Age Composition
(b) Literacy Rate
(c) Sex Ratio
(d) Death Rate

46. Which of the following factors are responsible for sparse population?
(a) Flat plains and abundant rainfall
(b) Rugged terrain and unfavourable climate
(c) Fertile soil and abundant rain fall
(d) Rugged terrain and favourable climate

47. Name the state having the highest percentage of literacy level :
(a) Kerala
(b) Maharashtra
(c) Punjab
(d) West Bengal

48. What year is considered a great demographic divide in India?
(a) 1911
(b) 1921
(c) 1931
(d) 1751

49. The magnitude of population growth refers to :
(a) The total population of an area
(b) The number of persons added each year
(c) The rate at which the population increases
(d) The number of females per thousand males

50. Which state is the most populous state according to 2001 Census?
(a) Bihar
(b) Uttar Pradesh
(c) West Bengal
(d) Madhya Pradesh

51. Birth rate is the number of live births per thousand persons in :
(a) 10 years
(b) 5 years
(c) 2 years
(d) 1 year

52. When did the National Population Policy come into effect?
(a) 2001
(b) 1947
(c) 1952
(d) 2000

53. The country that has a higher population density than India is :
(a) China
(b) USA
(c) Britain
(d) Bangladesh

54. The total area of India accounts for how much percent of the world’s area?
(a) 2.4 percent
(b) 16.7 percent
(c) 3.28 percent
(d) 1.02 percent

55. Which of the following migration of population does not change the size of the population?
(a) External migration
(b) Internal migration
(c) International migration
(d) National migration

ANSWERS of the MCQs of Population

1. (c) When they happen in the environment
2. (c) Human beings
3. (b) Population
4. (c) Human beings are producers and consumers of resources
5. (c) Census
6. (d) All the above
7. (d) 16.7 per cent
8. (b) Uttar Pradesh
9. (d) Sikkim
10. (b) Lakshadweep
11. (d) Arunachal Pradesh
12. (b) 16.16 per cent
13. (d) 5.5 per cent
14. (b) Population density
15. (b) Bangladesh
16. (c) 324 persons per sq km
17. (a) West Bengal
18. (a) Arunachal Pradesh
19. (d) Tamil Nadu
20. (c) Kerala
21. (d) All the above
22. (a) Jammu and Kashmir
23. (c) Chhattisgarh
24. (b) Rich mineral deposits
25. (a) Population is a dynamic phenomenon
26. (c) Population growth
27. (a) The number of persons added each year or decade
28. (c) Annual growth rate
29. (b) The annual rate of population growth was steadily increasing
30. (d) The rate of growth of population started declining gradually
31. (d) all of these
32. (a) Internal
33. (b) Second
34. (c) Decline of death rate
35. (b) 933
36. (a) Number of females per thousand males
37. (a) Declining birth rate
38. (c) 324 person/km2
39. (a) High birth rate
40. (b) Age composition
41. (c) China
42. (c) Arunachal Pradesh
43. (b) Delhi
44. (c) 10 years
45. (c) Sex Ratio
46. (b) Rugged terrain and unfavourable climate
47. (a) Kerala
48. (b) 1921
49. (b) The number of persons added each year
50. (b) Uttar Pradesh
51. (d) 1 year
52. (d) 2000
53. (d) Bangladesh
54. (a) 2.4 percent
55. (b) Internal migration

NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS OF POPULATION

Questions-Answers of Population

1. Find out what could be the reasons of uneven distribution of population in India.
Ans: Rugged terrain and unfavourable climatic conditions are primarily responsible for sparse population in some areas. Hilly, dissected and rocky nature of the terrain, moderate to low rainfall, shallow and less fertile soils influence population in hilly areas. Flat plains with fertile soils and abundant rainfall have led a large number of people to settle in the densely populated Northern Plains.

2. Table 6.1 reveals that despite the decline growth rates, the numbers of people being added every decade is steadily increasing. Why?
Ans: increased facilities provided to live a comfortable life and better medical facilities that have brought down the death rate is the cause for increase in people being added every decade despite the decline in growth rate.

3. Find out what could be the reasons for such (sex ratio) variations. (Page 58)
Ans: The reasons for sex ratio variations in the states of India are the social makeup of India. The people here have remained in favour of male child leading to female foeticide and dowry problems which make people think of female children as a burden. In states like Kerala there are well educated people who also follow matriarchal society rules and sex ratio in Kerala is 1058 females per 1000 males. In Haryana female child is looked down upon and most female foeticide cases occur here. Thus it has sex ratio of 861 females per 1000 males.

4. Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below:
(i) Migrations change the number, distribution and composition of the population in:
(a) The area of departure
(b) both the area of departure and arrival
(c) The area of arrival
(d) none of the above
Ans: Both the area of departure and arrival

(ii) A large proportion of children in a population is a result of
(a) High birth rates
(b) High life expectancies
(c) High death rates
(d) More married couples
Ans: High birth rates

(iii) The magnitude of population growth refers to:
(a) The total population of an area
(b) The number of persons added each year
(c) The rate at which the population increases
(d) The number of females per thousand males
Ans: The total population of an area

(iv) According to the Census 2001, a literate person is one who
(a) can read and write his/her name
(b) can read and write any language
(c) is 7 year old and can read and write any language with understanding
(d) knows 3 Rs (reading, writing, arithmetic)
Ans: Is seven year old and can read and write any language with understanding.

5. Answer the following questions briefly.
(i) Why is the rate of population growth in India declining since 1981?
Ans: The rate of population growth has been declining as a result of greater use of birth control measures.

(ii) Discuss the major components of population growth.
Ans: The major components of population growth are Birth Rate, Death Rate and Migration. The difference between birth rate and death rate accounts for natural increase in population. Adoption of family planning measures leads to decline in birth rate. Better availability of medical facilities leads to decrease in death rate.
Internal migration only changes the pattern of population over different parts of the country. International migration affects both the magnitude and the quality of population.

(iii) Define age structure, death rate and birth rate.
Ans: Birth rate is the number of live births per thousand persons in a year. Death rate is the number of deaths per thousand persons in a year. Age structure refers to the number of people in different age groups. The commonly adopted age groups are Children (0-14 years), Adults (15-59 years) and Aged (60 years and above)

(iv) How is migration a determinant of population change?
Ans: Internal migration determines population change across regions and territories within the country. In India there has been a significant migration from the rural areas to the cities. Apart from magnitude, migration also brings about change in terms of sex ratio and age composition. The migration from rural areas comprises only men. As such, the sex ratio in village registers a decline and so does the age composition. The number of able-bodied men in villages is reduced as a result of the rural-urban migration.

6. Distinguish between population growth and population change.
Ans: Population growth is different from population change. Population growth is determined by the birth and death rates. Population change, on the other hand, is determined by the birth and death rates and also by migration.

7 What is the relation between occupational structure and development?
Ans: Development is related to occupational structure of the population. Countries are less developed where a higher percentage of population is engaged in primary occupations like agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry and fishing.
As development takes place more people move into secondary occupations like manufacturing. In highly developed societies, there are a high percentage of people involved in tertiary occupations like banking, commerce, transport and administration.

8 What are the advantages of having a healthy population?
Ans: Health is an important component of population composition, which affects the process of development. A healthy population ensures higher productive efficiency. Absenteeism is low where the workers are healthy.

9. What are the significant features of the National Population Policy 2000?
Ans: The main features of the National Population Policy 2000 are:
(i) The National Population Policy 2000 aims at reducing infant mortal rate to below 30 per thousand live births.
(ii) The policy framework provides for imparting free and compulsory school education up to 14 years of age.
(iii) Some other areas of attention are promoting delayed marriages for girls and achieving universal immunization of children against all vaccine preventable diseases. Family planning programme is to be promoted on a voluntary basis.