Master of Arts in Sociology

Second Year

Social Demography

1 Demographers
A) are interested in the distribution of population and in movements of people.
B) assess the impact of such things as life expectancy and the marriage rate.
C) count people and calculate the growth rate of a population.
D) all of the above.

2 In a given year, the birthrate in less developed countries (excluding China) is

A) 18 per 1,000 people in a given year.
B) 4.0 per 1,000 people in a given year.
C) 1.6 per 1,000 people in a given year.
D) 018 per 1,000 people in a given year.

3 Population growth slows down only when

A) birth rates are low.
B) death rates are high.
C) both birth rates and death rates are low.
D) both birth rates and death rates are high.

4 World population began to skyrocket in about

A) 2000 B.C.
B) 1000 B.C.
C) 1000 A.D.
D) 2000 A.D.

5 During Stage III of the demographic transition in western nations, birthrates declined because
A) infant mortality decreased.
B) access to modern birth control devices became available in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
C) more people postponed marriage.
D) couples began having children earlier.

6 In 1997 there were 26 births per minute in developed countries, while in developing countries
the number of births per minute was
A) 240 births per minute.
B) 265 births per minute.
C) 932 births per minute.
D) 4,720 births per minute.
7 They also attempt to calculate the growth rate of a population and to assess the impact of such
things as the marriage rate and life expectancy.
Insurance rates are based on life expectancy: the younger the person, the lower the rate.
Expectancy means:
A) length
B) a known quantity or amount
C) the expected amount calculated on the basis of statistical data
D) a quantity or amount that cannot be determined or estimated

8 They are interested in the distribution of population and in movements of people (migration).
The distribution of saguaro cactus is limited to the southwestern part of the United States and
northern Mexico.
Distribution means:
A) disappearance; extinction
B) planting
C) geographic occurrence or range
D) destruction

9 Demographers use a number of standard measures in translating a locality's raw totals-births,

deaths, the number of those moving in and out-into general statistics that allow them to identify
trends.
Nutritionists have established the standard amount of fats, carbohydrates, and protein young
children need in their diet.
Standard means:
A) acknowledged measure
B) imprecise
C) incomplete
D) ambiguous

10 Demographers use a number of standard measures in translating a locality's raw totals-births,

deaths, the number of those moving in and out-into general statistics that allow them to identify
trends.
Because the population in our suburb is increasing, there are many new businesses moving into
our locality.
Locality means:
A) voting precinct
B) school district
C) state
D) a particular place

11 Mass movements of people into and out of Afghanistan, Somalia, Bosnia, and Mozambique
have contributed to this sharp increase.
Most large cities have subway systems, bus systems, or other forms of mass transit.
Mass means:
A) pertaining to religion
B) relating to a large number of people
C) relating to citizens of a country
D) related to high speed

12 Famine and political upheaval are usually behind these mass exoduses.
The earthquake caused a complete upheaval of life in the peaceful mountain village.
Upheaval means:
A) improvement
B) elevation
C) a sudden, violent disruption
D) gradual change

13 Famine and political upheaval are usually behind these mass exoduses.
Historians report that seeking refuge from war, religious persecution, and epidemics are three
major reasons for exoduses.
Exoduses means:
A) trips or journeys
B) departures of large numbers of people
C) refusals to leave
D) planned absences

14 High infant mortality, epidemics, famines, and wars kept the population growth low.
Child mortality rates are higher in poor countries because health care for children is so
inadequate.
Mortality means:
A) correct behavior
B) heart attacks
C) death rate
D) protection

15 Improvements in transportation facilitated food distribution: people were no longer dependent

on local supplies or devastated by local crop failures.
The new, computerized traffic signals facilitated the smooth flow of traffic during rush hour.
Facilitated means:
A) made easier
B) slowed down
C) directed
D) authorized

16 Today birthrates in most western nations have stabilized at replacement levels, while death
rates have continued to decline.
Once the paramedics stabilized the victim's erratic breathing and heart rate, they rushed her to the
emergency room for treatment.
Stabilized means:
A) resuscitated
B) decreased
C) stopped
D) became steady or stable

17 The demographic equation is represented by the sum of:

A) natural change and crude birth rates.
B) natural change and dependency ratios.
C) net migration and dependency ratios.
D) net migration and natural change.

18 Overpopulation is equated:
A) in the first stage of the demographic cycle with high fertility rates.
B) with high birth rates.
C) with imbalanced fertility rates and dependency ratios.
D) with a continuing imbalance between numbers of people and carrying capacity.

19 Which of the following is not relevant when projecting a country's population?

A) education and literacy rates
B) government policies regarding population growth
C) stage of demographic transition
D) the status of women

20 Urbanization has:
A) decreased arithmetic density but increased physiological density.
B) decreased both arithmetic and physiological densities.
C) increased arithmetic density but decreased physiological density.
D) increased both arithmetic and physiological densities.

21 Demographic momentum states that:

A) an immediate end to population growth will occur when the replacement rate reaches 2.1.
B) any child born today will have a life expectancy of at least 75 years.
C) our older populations will continue to live longer due to advances in technology.
D) the consequences of high fertility rates among young people will be realized as they work
their way through the population pyramid.

22 Continued high birth rates and rapidly declining death rates describe which stage of the
demographic cycle?
A) Stage 1
B) Stage 2
C) Stage 3
D) Stage 4

23 As of 2007, the world's population stands at approximately:

A) 3 billion persons.
B) 6.7 billion persons.
C) 9.8 billion persons.
D) 11 billion persons.
24 If a country's rate of natural increase has declined, then the doubling time for its population
has:
A) been reduced to zero.
B) decreased.
C) increased.
D) remained the same.

25 What total fertility rate would be necessary just to replace the world's existing population?
A) 1.0
B) 2.1
C) 3.7
D) 5.8

26 A country with a population of 2,000,000, a birth rate of 25, and a death rate of 20 would have
how many births and deaths annually?
A) 500,000 births and 400,000 deaths
B) 50,000 births and 40,000 deaths
C) 50,000 births and 10,000 deaths
D) 500,000 births and 10,000 deaths

27 The continent with the highest birth rates is:

A) Africa.
B) Europe.
C) North America.
D) South America.

28 Which of the following statements is not correct?

A) Carrying capacity is the number of people an area can support given current technological
conditions.
B) Overcrowding is a reflection of population per unit area.
C) Overpopulation is a value judgment.
D) Underpopulation occurs when a country has too few people to develop its resources.

29 An important factor contributing to the reduction in death rates in developing nations is:
A) a greater use of contraceptives.
B) access to educational facilities.
C) the pronounced youthfulness of their populations.
D) the very high birth rates.

30 In his theories, Malthus failed to recognize:

A) changes in human dietary patterns.
B) changes in technology.
C) the discovery of new inhabitable regions.
D) war and diseases.

31 A population pyramid with a wide base narrowing as the age cohorts progress indicates:
A) decline.
B) rapid growth.
C) slow growth.
D) stability.

32 Proportionately, the greatest decreases in infant mortality rates have occurred in:
A) developing rural nations.
B) South and Central America.
C) the urbanized areas of South Asia.
D) urbanized industrial nations.

33 Emigrant groups are dominated by:

A) middle-aged families with two or more children.
B) young families.
C) retirees.
D) young single adults.

34 The population explosion after World War II reflected the effects of:
A) drastically reduced death rates in developing countries without simultaneous and
compensating reductions in births.
B) government policies in Europe attempting to repopulate the war-torn countries.
C) massive industrialization attempts in both developing and developed countries.
D) the heavy death toll during the war with fewer births occurring.

35 The region of the world that contributes the most to world population growth is:
A) Africa.
B) Asia, excluding India and China.
C) China.
D) India.

36 The four great clusters of population in the world are:

A) East Asia, South Africa, Europe, North America.
B) East Asia, South Asia, Europe, Africa.
C) East Asia, South Asia, Europe, North America.
D) East Asia, South Asia, North America, South America.

37 Birth and death rates are described as "crude" because:

A) the total numbers of births and deaths can never be calculated accurately.
B) they relate to the changes without any regard to the age or sex composition of the population.
C) the infant mortality rate is separate from the birth and death calculations.
D) there is no worldwide standard of what constitutes a birth or a death.

38 The single greatest health disparity between developed and developing nations is the:
A) birth rate.
B) infant mortality rate.
C) maternal mortality rate.
D) death rate.

39 Population projections are:

A) suitable as predictions.
B) based on assumptions for the future using current data.
C) used for assessing crude death rates.
D) used only for countries that have annual censuses.

40 The highest population densities are found in:

A) Canada.
B) South Africa.
C) South America.
D) Western Europe

41 In 1999 the worlds population reached:

A) 2 billion
B) 4 billion
C) 6 billion
D) 8 billion

42 Natural increase is:

A) the difference between the number of births and the number of deaths
B) the sum of the number of births and the number of deaths
C) the difference between the number of immigrants and the number of emigrants
D) the sum of the number of immigrants and the number of emigrants

43 The largest population that the resources of a given environment can support is known as the:
A) population structure
B) carrying capacity
C) optimum population
D) minimum population

44 Replacement level fertility is usually considered to be a total fertility rate of:

A) 1.52 children
B) 2.12 children
C) 2.52 children
D) 3.12 children

45 In a standard population pyramid the age range of each bar is:

A) 5 years
B) 10 years
C) 15 years
D) 20 years

46 The relationship between the economically active population and the non-working population
is known as the:
A) employment ratio
B) economic ratio
C) dependency ratio
D) critical ratio

47 Elderly dependents are generally considered to be people who are:

A) 50 and over
B) 55 and over
C) 60 and over
D) 65 and over

48 The UK is in which stage of demographic transition?

A) stage 2
B) stage 3
C) stage 4
D) stage 5

49 Brazil is in which stage of demographic transition?

A) stage 2
B) stage 3
C) stage 4
D) stage 5

50 Stage 5 of the model of demographic transition shows:

A) natural decrease
B) natural increase
C) population equilibrium
D) the maximum population

51 A rise in the median age of a population is known as:

A) demographic transition
B) demographic ageing
C) demographic instability
D) demographic momentum

52 Which of the following countries has the most rapidly ageing population in the history of the
world?
A) Japan
B) Germany
C) Italy
D) Spain

53 The child mortality rate concerns children who die before their:
A) first birthday
B) second birthday
C) fifth birthday
D) tenth birthday

54 The death of a woman during or shortly after pregnancy is referred to as:

A) female mortality
B) birth mortality
C) infant mortality
D) maternal mortality

55 The world region with the lowest average life expectancy is:
A) Asia
B) Africa
C) South America
D) Europe

56 Pro-natalist policies encourage:

A) large families
B) small families
C) family planning
D) family ties

57 What proportion of the land area of China is infertile desert or mountain?

A) 15%
B) 25%
C) 35%
D) 45%

58 By 2005 Chinas birth rate had fallen to:

A) 10.6/1000
B) 13.6/1000
C) 16.6/1000
D) 19.6/1000

59 In which year was the One Child policy introduced in China?

A) 1959
B) 1969
C) 1979
D) 1989

60 The sex ratio (boys/girls) in China in 2009 was:

A) 89/100
B) 99/100
C) 109/100
D) 119/100

61 The population of China is approximately:

A) 1.1 billion
B) 1.3 billion
C) 1.5 billion
D) 1.7 billion

62 The United Nations defines migration as a change of residence lasting more than:
A) one month
B) six months
C) one year
D) two years

63 The difference between immigration and emigration is termed:

A) migration difference
B) net migration
C) gross migration
D) total migration

64 A significant movement of people between a common origin and destination is a:

A) migration flow
B) migration channel
C) migration movement
D) migration stream

65 Which type of migration is said to occur when people have little or no choice but to move?
A) mass migration
B) free migration
C) nomadic migration
D) forced migration

66 The major barrier to international migration today is:

A) physical danger
B) cost
C) immigration controls
D) time

67 In E.S. Lees model the stage between origin and destination is:
A) intervening obstacles
B) intermediate obstacles
C) interminable obstacles
D) intermittent obstacles

68 Money sent back to their families by migrants is called:

A) gifts
B) returns
C) remittances
D) postal orders
69 Depopulation is:
A) a reduction in natural increase
B) a decline in immigration
C) ruralurban migration
D) the absolute decline in the population of an area

70 How many people around the world currently live outside the country of their birth?
A) 1 in 15
B) 1 in 25
C) 1 in 35
D) 1 in 45

71 Forced migrations across international borders create:

A) international migrants
B) internal displacement
C) asylum seekers
D) refugees

72 Forced migration within the borders of one country creates:

A) refugees
B) asylum seekers
C) internal displacement
D) international migrants

73 The total number of people displaced from their homes around the world in 2009 has been
estimated at:
A) 12 million
B) 22 million
C) 32 million
D) 42 million

74 The rules for how people should act in a given group or society are called:
A) social norms
B) societal attitudes
C) social benchmarks
D) cultural traits

75 The female unemployment rate as a percentage of the male unemployment rate is the:
A) sex unemployment ratio
B) unemployment gender ratio
C) female unemployment ratio
D) underemployment ratio

76 Which of the following is used by demographers as an indicator of the quality of a

populations health care and standard of living?
A) Age-specific death rate
B) Age-specific birth rate
C) Infant mortality rate
D) Crude death rate

77 Countries entering the fourth stage of transition in the demographic transition theory are
A) not yet industrialized.
B) in a postindustrial economy.
C) established as industrialized nations.
D) entering the initial phase of industrialization.

78 Which relationship is generally true of birth rates?

A) They are lower among women from ethnic minorities.
B) They are lower among women with less education.
C) They are higher among women with lower income.
D) They are higher among women with poor health.

79 Which of the following is of major concern for Japans demographic future?

A) The birth rate is increasing.
B) There will be too many workers and too few jobs.
C) There will be significantly fewer children than there are now.
D) The number of people of retirement age will decrease significantly.

80 Which of the following is an example of human exemptionalism in action?

A) Wildlife conservation
B) Mandated recycling
C) Underpopulation
D) Air pollution

81 Which year is called the 'demographic divide' in India?

A) 1881
B) 1901
C) 1921
D) 1951

82 Which period is referred to as the period of population explosion?

A) 1901-1921
B) 1921-1951
C) 1951-1981
D) 1981-2001

83 Which is the state with maximum sex ratio in India?

A) Chhattisgarh
B) Karnataka
C) Kerala
D) Odisha
84 Which is the state with minimum sex ratio in India?
A) Chandigarh
B) Delhi
C) Haryana
D) Punjab

85 Which is the state with highest number of Scheduled Castes in India?

A) ANDHRA PRADESH
B) BIHAR
C) TAMIL NADU
D) UTTAR PRADESH

86 Which is the Indian state with highest percentage of SCs in their population?
A) Haryana
B) Himachal Pradesh
C) Punjab
D) Uttar Pradesh

87 Which is the state with highest population of Scheduled Tribe in India?

A) Gujarat
B) Madhya Pradesh
C) Maharashtra
D) Orissa

88 Which is the least urbanized state of India?

A) Assam
B) Bihar
C) Himachal Pradesh
D) Orissa

89 Which state has the highest percentage of Hindus in India?

A) Chandigarh
B) Chhattisgarh
C) Himachal Pradesh
D) Maharashtra

90 Which state has the highest percentage of Christians in India?

A) Goa
B) Manipur
C) Meghalaya
D) Nagaland

91 Which state has the highest Buddhist population in India?

A) Arunachal Pradesh
B) Himachal Pradesh
C) Jammu & Kashmir
D) Maharashtra

92 Which Indian state has the highest Christian population, as per 2001 survey?
A) Andhra Pradesh
B) Assam
C) Jharkhand
D) Kerala

93 Which state has the highest percentage of Muslims in India?

A) Assam
B) Jammu & Kashmir
C) Kerala
D) Lakshadweep

94 Which state has the highest percentage of Jains in India?

A) Delhi
B) Gujarat
C) Madhya Pradesh
D) Maharashtra

95 Which state has the highest Sikhs population in India, as per 2001 survey?
A) Chandigarh
B) Delhi
C) Haryana
D) Punjab

96 Which state has the highest percentage of Buddhists in India?

A) Arunachal Pradesh
B) Maharashtra
C) Mizoram
D) Sikkim

97 Which state has the highest Muslim population in India, as per 2001 survey?
A) Andhra Pradesh
B) Assam
C) Bihar
D) Uttar Pradesh

98 Which state has the highest Jain population in India, as per 2001 survey?
A) Chhattisgarh
B) Delhi
C) Gujarat
D) Maharashtra

99 Which state has the highest percentage of Sikhs in India?

A) Chandigarh
B) Delhi
C) Haryana
D) Punjab

100 Which is the state with lowest proportion of scheduled castes as per 2001 census?
A) Chhattisgarh
B) Mizoram
C) Punjab
D) Uttar Pradesh

Answer Keys:
1. D 2. B 3. C 4. C 5. B 6. A 7. C 8. C 9. A 10. D
11. B 12. C 13. B 14. C 15. A 16. D 17. D 18. D 19. C 20. D
21. D 22. B 23. B 24. C 25. B 26. B 27. A 28. B 29. C 30. B
31. B 32. D 33. D 34. A 35. D 36. C 37. B 38. C 39. B 40. D
41. C 42. A 43. B 44. B 45. A 46. C 47. D 48. C 49. B 50. A
51. B 52. A 53. C 54. D 55. B 56. A 57. B 58. B 59. C 60. D
61. B 62. C 63. B 64. D 65. D 66. C 67. A 68. C 69. D 70. C
71. D 72. C 73. D 74. A 75. B 76. C 77. B 78. C 79. C 80. D
81. C 82. C 83. C 84. C 85. D 86. C 87. B 88. C 89. C 90. D
91. D 92. D 93. D 94. D 95. D 96. D 97. D 98. D 99. D 100. B