Population Growth in Africa

13 Grade 8 Social Studies questions on Population Growth in Africa, with worked marking schemes. 13 questions are available on this topic in full.

1. Question 1

   1 mark

   Improved health care and immunisation in many African countries have contributed to population growth mainly by:

   A. Raising the death rate

   B. Reducing the birth rate to zero

   C. Lowering the death rate, especially among infants

   D. Stopping all migration

   (1 mark)

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2. Question 2

   2 marks

   Distinguish between immigration and emigration as used in the study of population.

   (2 marks)

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3. Question 3

   1 mark

   Which of the following is a major cause of rapid population growth in many parts of Africa?

   A. Very high death rates

   B. Zero birth rates

   C. High birth rates combined with falling death rates

   D. Large-scale emigration to other continents

   (1 mark)

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4. Question 4

   1 mark

   A total count of all people in a country, usually carried out every ten years, is called a:

   A. Land survey

   B. Census

   C. Referendum

   D. Migration

   (1 mark)

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5. Question 5

   1 mark

   A town's population grows very fast and slums develop with poor sanitation and few services. This situation is BEST described as a problem of:

   A. Depopulation

   B. Optimum population

   C. Overpopulation/overcrowding

   D. Underpopulation

   (1 mark)

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6. Question 6

   1 mark

   Which of the following is a major cause of rapid population growth in many African countries?

   A. High death rates

   B. High birth rates

   C. Low immigration

   D. Widespread emigration

   (1 mark)

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7. Question 7

   4 marks

   A county is experiencing very rapid population growth.

   (a) State two problems this can cause.

   (b) Suggest two ways the government can manage population growth.

   (4 marks)

   Marking scheme

   (a) 2 marks: pressure on land/resources; unemployment; strain on schools/hospitals; food shortage; growth of slums; environmental degradation. (b) 2 marks: promote family planning/education; create employment; improve girls' education; provide health services; encourage rural development to reduce migration.

8. Question 8

   3 marks

   State three factors that lead to high birth rates in some African countries.

   (3 marks)

   Marking scheme

   1 mark each (max 3): early marriages; preference for large families/many children; low use of family planning; cultural/religious values favouring many children; need for children as labour; high infant mortality leading to more births.

9. Question 9

   1 mark

   The movement of people from rural areas to towns in search of jobs is known as:

   A. Repatriation

   B. Immigration

   C. Rural-urban migration

   D. Emigration

   (1 mark)

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10. Question 10

    1 mark

    Which of the following is a major factor contributing to rapid population growth in many African countries?

    A. High birth rates combined with falling death rates

    B. A high rate of emigration to other continents

    C. A decline in the number of children per family

    D. Widespread famine reducing the population

    (1 mark)

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11. Question 11

    1 mark

    A region records many more births than deaths each year while few people move away. The MOST likely result is that the region's population will:

    A. Disappear completely

    B. Increase rapidly

    C. Remain exactly the same

    D. Decline sharply

    (1 mark)

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12. Question 12

    1 mark

    A population pyramid for a typical African country has a very wide base. This wide base indicates a large proportion of:

    A. Young people (children)

    B. Elderly people

    C. Foreign immigrants

    D. Working adults only

    (1 mark)

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13. Question 13

    6 marks

    Explain three reasons why a national population census is important to a country such as Kenya.

    (6 marks)

    Marking scheme

    Up to 2 marks each (max 6): helps in planning for services like schools and hospitals; guides allocation of resources/budget; provides data for development planning; helps determine constituency boundaries/representation; shows population trends for policy; helps in disaster/food planning.

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