Practice 8.1 Human population dynamics with authentic IB Environmental systems and societies (ESS - Old) exam questions for both SL and HL students. This question bank mirrors Paper 1, 2 structure, covering key topics like ecosystems, human impact, and sustainability. Get instant solutions, detailed explanations, and build exam confidence with questions in the style of IB examiners.
Current and projected total fertility rates by region
Using Figure 3 identify the region with the highest fertility rate in the period 2005–2010.
Outline two possible reasons for the projected change in total fertility rate in Sub-Saharan Africa in the period 2045–2050.
Identify two reasons for the projected increase in total fertility rate in Europe by the period 2045–2050.
Figure 1: Demographic transition model
Source: https://populationeducation.org/what-demographic-transition-model/
Costa Rica has a crude birth rate (CBR) of 15.3 and a crude death rate (CDR) of 4.8. Identify the stage in which Costa Rica would be placed on the demographic transition model shown in Figure 1.
Costa Rica has a crude birth rate (CBR) of 15.3 and a crude death rate (CDR) of 4.8.Calculate the natural increase rate (NIR) for Costa Rica.
Costa Rica has a crude birth rate (CBR) of 15.3 and a crude death rate (CDR) of 4.8. Calculate the doubling time for Costa Rica.
Outline one strength and one limitation of the demographic transition model.
Outline the socioeconomic factors that may cause a society to move from Stage 2 to Stage 3 on the demographic transition model.
The UN population division produced the World Population Prospectus in 2012, which was revised in 2015. Figure 1 shows the population projections based on their studies. Line graph with population projections for high, medium, and low scenarios, showing years along x-axis and population in billions along y-axis.
Figure 1. Population projections according to the United Nations
Estimate the difference between the high and low population projections in 2050.
State two possible assumptions that the UN based these projections on.
List two reasons for rising mortality rates in More Economically Developed Countries (MEDCs).
Explain two reasons for the higher birth rates in LEDCs.
Outline three policies that governments may use to reduce population growth.
Outline how a positive feedback loop can impact an ecosystem.
Compare and contrast the impact of two named food production systems on climate change.
To what extent does the development of different societies impact their mitigation and adaptation strategies for climate change?
Using named examples, outline the difference between natural and anthropogenic atmospheric primary pollutants.
Discuss reasons for high human population density within urban systems.
Evaluate a range of pollution management strategies that can be used to reduce urban air pollution.
Figure 1: Demographic data for 2018
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Population (estimated) | 5 million (including 104,000 Indigenous people) |
| Natural increase rate | 1.05% |
| Crude birth rate | 15.3/1000 |
| Crude death rate | 4.8/1000 |
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.9 |
| Total fertility rate | 1.89 (Note: In 1973, the total fertility rate was 5.6) |
Figure 2: Age–gender pyramid for Costa Rica in 1990
Source: https://www.populationpyramid.net/costa-rica/1990/
Figure 3: Age–gender pyramid for Costa Rica in 2020
Source: https://www.populationpyramid.net/costa-rica/2020/
Figure 4: Projected age–gender pyramid for Costa Rica in 2060
Source: https://www.populationpyramid.net/costa-rica/2060/
With reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, suggest three possible reasons for the changes between the age–gender pyramid for 1990 and that projected for 2060.
Outline how rapid human population growth has increased stress on Earth's systems.
Analyze the environmental impacts of rapid human population growth on Earth’s systems.
Outline how rapid human population growth has increased stress on Earth's systems.
Refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2.
Figure 1. Demographic transition model (DTM)
*Figure 2. Population pyramids
Source: https://pressbooks.nebraska.edu/humanenvironmentgeographylabmanual/chapter/lab-8/
Explain why the population is stable in Stage 1 of the DTM.
Outline two main causes of a decline in the crude death rate (CDR) in Stage 2 of the DTM.
Copy and complete the table below. Using Figures 1 and 2, state the population pyramid that corresponds to each stage of the DTM.
| Stages of DTM | Which population pyramid represents this stage? |
|---|---|
| 1. High stationary | |
| 2. Early expanding | |
| 3. Late expanding | |
| 4. Low stationary |
Justify your answers to question 3 in the table.
Practice 8.1 Human population dynamics with authentic IB Environmental systems and societies (ESS - Old) exam questions for both SL and HL students. This question bank mirrors Paper 1, 2 structure, covering key topics like ecosystems, human impact, and sustainability. Get instant solutions, detailed explanations, and build exam confidence with questions in the style of IB examiners.
Current and projected total fertility rates by region
Using Figure 3 identify the region with the highest fertility rate in the period 2005–2010.
Outline two possible reasons for the projected change in total fertility rate in Sub-Saharan Africa in the period 2045–2050.
Identify two reasons for the projected increase in total fertility rate in Europe by the period 2045–2050.
Figure 1: Demographic transition model
Source: https://populationeducation.org/what-demographic-transition-model/
Costa Rica has a crude birth rate (CBR) of 15.3 and a crude death rate (CDR) of 4.8. Identify the stage in which Costa Rica would be placed on the demographic transition model shown in Figure 1.
Costa Rica has a crude birth rate (CBR) of 15.3 and a crude death rate (CDR) of 4.8.Calculate the natural increase rate (NIR) for Costa Rica.
Costa Rica has a crude birth rate (CBR) of 15.3 and a crude death rate (CDR) of 4.8. Calculate the doubling time for Costa Rica.
Outline one strength and one limitation of the demographic transition model.
Outline the socioeconomic factors that may cause a society to move from Stage 2 to Stage 3 on the demographic transition model.
The UN population division produced the World Population Prospectus in 2012, which was revised in 2015. Figure 1 shows the population projections based on their studies. Line graph with population projections for high, medium, and low scenarios, showing years along x-axis and population in billions along y-axis.
Figure 1. Population projections according to the United Nations
Estimate the difference between the high and low population projections in 2050.
State two possible assumptions that the UN based these projections on.
List two reasons for rising mortality rates in More Economically Developed Countries (MEDCs).
Explain two reasons for the higher birth rates in LEDCs.
Outline three policies that governments may use to reduce population growth.
Outline how a positive feedback loop can impact an ecosystem.
Compare and contrast the impact of two named food production systems on climate change.
To what extent does the development of different societies impact their mitigation and adaptation strategies for climate change?
Using named examples, outline the difference between natural and anthropogenic atmospheric primary pollutants.
Discuss reasons for high human population density within urban systems.
Evaluate a range of pollution management strategies that can be used to reduce urban air pollution.
Figure 1: Demographic data for 2018
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Population (estimated) | 5 million (including 104,000 Indigenous people) |
| Natural increase rate | 1.05% |
| Crude birth rate | 15.3/1000 |
| Crude death rate | 4.8/1000 |
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.9 |
| Total fertility rate | 1.89 (Note: In 1973, the total fertility rate was 5.6) |
Figure 2: Age–gender pyramid for Costa Rica in 1990
Source: https://www.populationpyramid.net/costa-rica/1990/
Figure 3: Age–gender pyramid for Costa Rica in 2020
Source: https://www.populationpyramid.net/costa-rica/2020/
Figure 4: Projected age–gender pyramid for Costa Rica in 2060
Source: https://www.populationpyramid.net/costa-rica/2060/
With reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, suggest three possible reasons for the changes between the age–gender pyramid for 1990 and that projected for 2060.
Outline how rapid human population growth has increased stress on Earth's systems.
Analyze the environmental impacts of rapid human population growth on Earth’s systems.
Outline how rapid human population growth has increased stress on Earth's systems.
Refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2.
Figure 1. Demographic transition model (DTM)
*Figure 2. Population pyramids
Source: https://pressbooks.nebraska.edu/humanenvironmentgeographylabmanual/chapter/lab-8/
Explain why the population is stable in Stage 1 of the DTM.
Outline two main causes of a decline in the crude death rate (CDR) in Stage 2 of the DTM.
Copy and complete the table below. Using Figures 1 and 2, state the population pyramid that corresponds to each stage of the DTM.
| Stages of DTM | Which population pyramid represents this stage? |
|---|---|
| 1. High stationary | |
| 2. Early expanding | |
| 3. Late expanding | |
| 4. Low stationary |
Justify your answers to question 3 in the table.