A. Tick (✔) the correct option.
1. Which one of the following is not an area of sparse population?
(a) The Sahara
(b) The Equatorial Forests
(c) The Ganga Valley ✔
(d) The Polar Regions
2. Out of every 100 people in the world—
(a) 60 people live in Asia ✔
(b) 16 people live in Africa ✔
(c) 10 people live in Europe ✔
(d) 20 people live in Americas ✔
3. Which one of the following is false?
(a) It took just about 111 years for the world population to rise from 1.5 billion to 7 billion.
(b) The growth rate of population increases when the birth rate is more than the death rate.
(c) India is the seventh largest country in the world in terms of area and ranks second in terms of population.
(d) The total population of USA is bigger than the combined population of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. ✔
4. Which one of the following states has the highest density of population in India?
(a) Bihar ✔
(b) West Bengal
(c) Kerala
(d) Uttar Pradesh
5. Which one of the following age-groups represents the productive population group of the population?
(a) 15 to 59 years ✔
(b) above 59 years
(c) below 15 years
(d) 15 to 66 years
B. Fill in the blanks.
- India ranks second in population next to China, in the world.
- Number of children below 15 years and adults above 59 years is defined as dependent population.
- The growth of population is affected by its birth rate, death rate and migration.
- The important attributes of population composition are literacy, age structure and sex ratio.
- In India, almost half of the population resides in five states of India, i.e. Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh.
C. Write True or False for the following statements.
- The total population of the world has crossed 10 billion mark in the year 2011.
False - The sex-ratio of India in 2011 was 943.
True - The density of population is the number of persons per square kilometre of an area.
True - The natural growth rate of population is the difference between the birth rate and the death rate.
True - Population becomes human capital when there is investment made in industries, agriculture and means of transport.
True
D. Answer the following questions in brief.
1. What factors influence the distribution of population?
The distribution of population is influenced by both physical and human factors.
Physical factors include:
- Climate: People prefer moderate climates. Extremely hot or cold regions like deserts and polar areas have sparse population.
- Relief: Plains are densely populated because they are suitable for agriculture and transport, while mountains have less population.
- Soil: Fertile soil attracts more people as it supports farming.
- Water availability: Areas near rivers and water sources have dense population.
Human factors include:
- Employment opportunities: Industrial and urban areas attract more people.
- Transport and communication: Well-connected areas are more populated.
- Social and political conditions: Peaceful and stable regions attract population.
2. Why do people migrate from one place to another?
People migrate due to push and pull factors.
Push factors (reasons to leave):
- Lack of jobs
- Natural disasters (floods, droughts)
- Poor living conditions
Pull factors (reasons to move):
- Better employment opportunities
- Better education and healthcare
- Improved standard of living
Migration helps people improve their quality of life.
3. What is population density? Why is it important?
Population density is the number of people living per unit area (usually per square kilometre).
Importance:
- Helps understand population pressure on land
- Aids in planning resources like food, water and housing
- Helps government in development planning
4. What are the major factors responsible for population growth?
Population growth depends on:
- Birth rate: High birth rate increases population
- Death rate: Decrease in death rate due to better healthcare increases population
- Migration: Immigration increases population, while emigration decreases it
Improved medical facilities and better living conditions have led to rapid population growth.
5. What is meant by population composition?
Population composition refers to the structure of population in terms of:
- Age
- Sex
- Occupation
- Literacy level
It helps in understanding the characteristics of the population and planning for development.
E. Answer the following questions.
1. Explain relief and climate as factors affecting the distribution of population.
Relief:
Relief refers to the physical features of land such as mountains, plains and plateaus. Plains are densely populated because they are flat, fertile and suitable for agriculture, transport and settlement. For example, the Northern Plains of India have high population density. In contrast, mountainous and hilly regions like the Himalayas are sparsely populated due to steep slopes, harsh conditions and difficulty in transportation.
Climate:
Climate plays an important role in population distribution. Areas with moderate climate (neither too hot nor too cold) are densely populated because they are comfortable for living and farming. Regions with extreme climates such as deserts (very hot), polar regions (very cold) and areas with heavy rainfall are sparsely populated as they are not suitable for human settlement.
2. How do minerals and industries affect the distribution of population? Explain.
Minerals:
Regions rich in minerals attract people because mining activities create job opportunities. People settle in such areas to work in mines and related industries. For example, areas like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh have higher population density due to mineral resources.
Industries:
Industrial areas attract large populations because they provide employment and better living facilities. Cities with industries develop infrastructure such as transport, schools and hospitals, which further attract people. This leads to high population concentration in industrial regions.
3. What is meant by literacy rate? Why is it considered an important indicator in population composition?
Literacy Rate:
Literacy rate refers to the percentage of people in a population who can read and write.
Importance:
- It shows the level of education in a country
- Higher literacy leads to better employment opportunities
- It improves standard of living
- It helps in controlling population growth
- Educated people contribute more effectively to economic development
Thus, literacy rate is an important indicator of population quality.
4. Define sex-ratio. What are the reasons for the declining sex-ratio in India?
Sex-Ratio:
Sex-ratio is defined as the number of females per 1000 males in a population.
Reasons for declining sex-ratio in India:
- Preference for male child
- Female foeticide
- Lower status of women in society
- Lack of education and awareness
- Poor healthcare facilities for women
- Early marriages and high maternal mortality
5. Which states of India have high density of population and why? Suggest ways and means to check it.
States with high population density:
States like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Kerala have high population density.
Reasons:
- Fertile soil (especially in plains)
- Availability of water
- Favourable climate
- Better agriculture opportunities
- Development of industries and transport
Ways to check population density:
- Promoting family planning
- Increasing education and awareness
- Improving women’s status
- Providing employment opportunities in less populated areas
- Developing infrastructure in rural regions
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