The cyclic rise and fall in population size that has been observed in

Question

The cyclic rise and fall in population size that has been observed in animal and premodern human populations reflects sequential phases of population growth and decline. Disregarding the possible selective influences of migration, these cyclic movements must ultimately be accounted for in terms of the range of variation in fertility and mortality.

No downward trend in mortality is apparent in any country before the middle of the eighteenth century, about the same time that population growth began to demonstrate an exponential curve. The initial period of sustained population growth in nearly every country for which reliable data are available corresponds with at least two decisive changes in the death rate. First, the fluctuations in mortality became less frequent and less drastic. Second, the initial, slow--sometimes imperceptible--decline in mortality gradually gained momentum and eventually stabilized at relatively low levels in the twentieth century. Thus, steady increases in life expectancy, progressively diminishing death rates and more stable and predictable mortality patterns have accompanied the persistent increments in world population.

In England and Wales, Japan, Ceylon and Chile an exponential pattern of population growth has accompanied the downward trend in mortality. In England and Wales, where the transition from high to low vital rates occurred over two centuries, the exponential growth curve was attenuated only after fertility fell and approached the low level of mortality; this pattern was less apparent for Japan, where an accelerated transition occurred over several decades. Although data concerning the relative effects of mortality and fertility on population growth are incomplete for the early transitional period, it seems likely that a significant though temporary increase in fertility may have added momentum to the population explosion set off by steady improvements in survivorship. The influence of fertility is particularly apparent in the rapid population growth of currently developing nations that have not yet completed their transitions, for example, Chile and Ceylon. In most of these developing countries, the death rate has declined rapidly in recent years, especially since World War II, and the birth rate has remained high with minor fluctuations. This sudden widening of the demographic gap has produced unprecedented high rates of population growth.    1 
 1. Which of the following best describes the content of the passage?

(A) A discussion of how recently developed methods of monitoring population growth differ from older methods
(B) A description of some of the factors effecting cyclic changes in population
(C) A chronology of the development of different methods for monitoring population growth
(D) A proposal for improving the accuracy of current methods to monitor fluctuations in population
(E) An argument concerning the nature of the exponential pattern of population growth has accompanied the downward trend in mortality

2 
 2. According to the passage, the fertility rate

(A) in Japan has remained constant over the last several decades
(B) in England and Wales has remained constant over the last two centuries
(C) fell at a similar rate in England, Wales and Japan
(D) fell at a faster rate in Japan than in England and Wales
(E) fell at a slower rate in Japan than in England and Wales

3 
 3. According to the passage, population increase in currently developing nations is a result of

(A) the recent decline in death rate, especially over the last 50 years, and a birth rate that is consistently high with minor fluctuations.
(B) the recent decline in birth rate, especially over the last 50 years, and a death rate that is consistently high with minor fluctuations.
(C) the recent decline in death rate, especially over the last 150 years, and a birth rate that is consistently high with minor fluctuations.
(D) the recent decline in birth rate, especially over the last 150 years, and a death rate that is consistently high with minor fluctuations.
(E) the recent rise in death rate, especially over the last 50 years, accompanied by a similar rise in birth rate.

4 
 4. It can be inferred from the passage that the first downward mortality trend

(A) followed great fluctuations in fertility rates
(B) followed great fluctuations in death rates
(C) appeared after World War II
(D) appeared before World War II
(E) appeared around 1750

RC Butler 2022  -  Practice Two RC Passages Everyday.   
Passage # 15 Date: 10-Jan-2022
 This question is a part of RC Butler 2022 .  Click here for Details

Source: Reading Comprehension Practice (Docs)

Rohitpareek1999 · Answer

i have a problem in question no 2. i dont why answer is D and not E.

gloomybison · Answer

First paragraph; 
It talks about what cyclic rise and fall in population size is. It tells that cyclic movements should be accounted for the range of variation and fertility 
Second paragraph; 
First downward trend appeared in mid-18th century. The initial period of sustained population growth corresponds to two thing; fluctuations in mortality became less frequent and slow decline in mortality accelerated and eventually stabilized in 20th century
Third paragraph;
It talks about different countries’ population growth trends. England and Wales took about 200 years to from high-to low rates of mortality; Japan had an accelerated transition that occurred over several decades; Chile and Ceylon had high rates of population growth because of high fertility rates and low death rates, especially since WW2

1.Which of the following best describes the content of the passage?

(A) A discussion of how recently developed methods of monitoring population growth differ from older methods
WRONG
Out of scope-We don’t have any information regarding the methods to monitor the population. monitoring the passage is only concened about cylic rises and falls

(B) A description of some of the factors effecting cyclic changes in population
CORRECT
Passage does give description on factors effecting cyclic changes in paragraph 2 and it gives concrete examples/evidences on how these factors effect changes in population in paragraph 3

(C) A chronology of the development of different methods for monitoring population growth
WRONG
We don’t really have chronological stance here, only important time stamp here is 18 the century, when first downward trend in populations appeared. Also, just as in choice A, we don’t have any info regarding different methods of monitoring the popultion

(D) A proposal for improving the accuracy of current methods to monitor fluctuations in population
WRONG
Passage doesn’t propose anything at all.

(E) An argument concerning the nature of the exponential pattern of population growth has accompanied the downward trend in mortality
WRONG
We are told about this mostly in paragraph 3 with different examples from different countries but the passage doesn’t really tell us any argument…ıt just gives us information on what the cyclic patterns in populations are, what really affects the rise and fall and what have been observed so far in several countries

2. According to the passage, the fertility rate

(A) in Japan has remained constant over the last several decades
WRONG
In contrary to A, Japan’s fertility rates dropped over several decades. Because passage says “accelerated transition occurred over several decades” and “transition” refers to change from high to low vital rate or “fall in fertility rates and approachment to the low level of mortality”

(B) in England and Wales has remained constant over the last two centuries
WRONG
In contrary to B, England and Wales experienced a drop in fertility rate over the two centuries

(C) fell at a similar rate in England, Wales and Japan
WRONG 
We don’t know if England and Wales had a similar rate just because they experienced a fell in 200 years doesn’t necessarily means they have same rates. We don’t know their starting and ending fertility rates. 
Also Japan had this transition much faster in several decade so you may infer that its rates fell much faster because England and Wales took 200 years to reach low levels whereas; Japan rushed in a few decades to reach low levels

(D) fell at a faster rate in Japan than in England and Wales
CORRECT as explained in C

(E) fell at a slower rate in Japan than in England and Wales
WRONG as explained in C

3. According to the passage, population increase in currently developing nations is a result o f

(A) the recent decline in death rate, especially over the last 50 years, and a birth rate that is consistently high with minor fluctuations.
CORRECT 
“In Chile and Ceylon, in most of these developing countries, the death rate has declined rapidly in recent years, especially since World War II, and the birth rate has remained high with minor fluctuations.”

(B) the recent decline in birth rate, especially over the last 50 years, and a death rate that is consistently high with minor fluctuations.
WRONG

(C) the recent decline in death rate, especially over the last 150 years, and a birth rate that is consistently high with minor fluctuations.
WRONG

(D) the recent decline in birth rate, especially over the last 150 years, and a death rate that is consistently high with minor fluctuations.
WRONG

(E) the recent rise in death rate, especially over the last 50 years, accompanied by a similar rise in birth rate.
WRONG

4. It can be inferred from the passage that the first downward mortality trend
 
(A) followed great fluctuations in fertility rates
WRONG

(B) followed great fluctuations in death rates
WRONG

(C) appeared after World War II
WRONG

(D) appeared before World War II
WRONG

(E) appeared around 1750
CORRECT
“No downward trend in mortality is apparent in any country before the middle of the eighteenth century” in paragraph 2

100mitra · Answer

Paraphrasing   
  Para 1:   Population growth and decline depend upon range of variation in fertility and mortality
  Para 2:   post 1800, reliable data concluded decrease in mortality rate depending on steady increases in life expectancy, and progressively diminishing death rates and more stable and predictable mortality patterns have accompanied the persistent increments in world population.
  Para 3:   the relative effects of mortality and fertility on population growth occurred over several decades by country like England, Whales and Japan, to currently developing countries Chile and Ceylon, sudden widening of the demographic gap has produced unprecedented high rates of population growth

1. Which of the following best describes the content of the passage?  
(A) A discussion of how recently developed methods of monitoring population growth differ from older methods
  Wrong:   No Discussion on developed methods, passage is about: the relative effects of mortality and fertility on population growth occurred over several decades

(B) A description of some of the factors effecting cyclic changes in population
  Correct: as mentioned in para 2, “Thus, steady increases in life expectancy, 
progressively diminishing death rates and more stable and 
predictable mortality patterns have accompanied the persistent increments in world population”
as mentioned in para 3, “Although data concerning the relative effects of mortality and fertility on population growth are incomplete for the early transitional period, it seems likely that a significant though temporary increase in fertility may have added momentum to the population explosion set off by steady improvements in survivorship”

(C) A chronology of the development of different methods for monitoring population growth
  Wrong:   No mention of chronology of different methods for monitoring mentioned in passage.

(D) A proposal for improving the accuracy of current methods to monitor fluctuations in population
  Wrong:   No Proposal for improving methods

(E) An argument concerning the nature of the exponential pattern of population growth has accompanied the downward trend in mortality
  Wrong:   Trap!, if one ignore the word "argument" But passage is in decriptive tone, does not mention about, “an exchange of diverging or opposite views” rather, shares details and example

2. According to the passage, the fertility rate  
(A) in Japan has remained constant over the last several decades
  Wrong:   Out of scope, we have information, “Japan’s’ accelerated transition occurred over several decades”

(B) in England and Wales has remained constant over the last two centuries
  Wrong:   this is opposite, as what is mentioned in passage, “In England and Wales, where the transition from high to low vital rates occurred over two centuries”
 
(C) fell at a similar rate in England, Wales and Japan
  Wrong:   Both have different duration to reach fertility rate

(D) fell at a faster rate in Japan than in England and Wales
  Correct: as mentioned in passage, 
“In England and Wales, where the transition from high to low vital rates occurred over two centuries, 
the exponential growth curve was attenuated 
only after fertility fell and approached the low level of mortality; 
this pattern was less apparent for Japan, where an accelerated transition occurred over several decades.”

(E) fell at a slower rate in Japan than in England and Wales
  Wrong:   this is opposite, as what is mentioned in the passage, quoted for correct option D

3. According to the passage, population increase in currently developing nations is a result of  
  Explanation:   as mentioned in Passage, 
 “In most of these developing countries, 
the death rate has declined rapidly in recent years, especially since World War II, and 
the birth rate has remained high with minor fluctuations .”

(A) the recent decline in death rate, 
especially over the last 50 years, and 
a birth rate that is consistently high with minor fluctuations - Correct

(B) the recent decline in birth rate, 
especially over the last 50 years, and 
a death rate that is consistently high with minor fluctuations   Wrong:

(C) the recent decline in death rate, 
especially over the last 150 years, and 
a birth rate that is consistently high with minor fluctuations  Wrong:

(D) the recent decline in birth rate, 
especially over the last 150 years, and 
a death rate that is consistently high with minor fluctuations   Wrong:

(E) the recent rise in death rate, 
especially over the last 50 years, 
accompanied by a similar rise in birth rate   Wrong:

4. It can be inferred from the passage that the first downward mortality trend  
  Explanation:   as mentioned in the passage, 
“No downward trend in mortality is apparent in any country 
 before the middle of the eighteenth century , 
about the same time that population growth began to demonstrate an exponential curve”

(A) followed great fluctuations in fertility rates    – Wrong – out of scope  
(B) followed great fluctuations in death rates    – Wrong – out of scope  
(C) appeared after World War II – 19th century   Wrong:  
(D) appeared before World War II – 19th century   Wrong:  
  (E) appeared around 1750 – middle of 18 century

pratiksha1998 · Answer

A little confused about the 3rd question, is Option A correct only because the passage mentions "the death rate has declined rapidly in recent years"?

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

3. According to the passage, population increase in currently developing nations is a result of

You are spot on. According to the passage, the death rate in currently developing nations has declined rapidly since World War II, while the birth rate has remained high with minor fluctuations.

The best answer is A.

jigar16496 · Answer

Sajjad1994  , question 1 and 2 explanation

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

1. Which of the following best describes the content of the passage?

Difficulty Level:   650-700

Explanation

(A) A discussion of how recently developed methods of monitoring population growth differ from older methods: 
This option is incorrect because the passage does not discuss methods of monitoring population growth, whether old or new. Instead, it focuses on the relationship between population growth, mortality rates, and fertility rates.

(B) A description of some of the factors affecting cyclic changes in population:  
This option is correct. The passage discusses how the cyclic rise and fall in population size is influenced by sequential phases of population growth and decline, which are ultimately accounted for in terms of the range of variation in fertility and mortality. It describes how changes in death rates and fertility rates have impacted population growth over time.

(C) A chronology of the development of different methods for monitoring population growth: 
This option is incorrect because the passage does not provide a chronological account of the development of methods for monitoring population growth. It focuses on the relationship between population growth and mortality rates, not on the history of monitoring methods.

(D) A proposal for improving the accuracy of current methods to monitor fluctuations in population: 
This option is incorrect because the passage does not propose any improvements to methods for monitoring population fluctuations. It discusses the relationship between population growth and mortality rates, not the accuracy of monitoring methods.

(E) An argument concerning the nature of the exponential pattern of population growth that has accompanied the downward trend in mortality: 
This option is partially correct in capturing the main theme of the passage, which does discuss the exponential pattern of population growth and its relationship with the downward trend in mortality. However, it is not as comprehensive as option (B), which also encompasses the discussion of cyclic changes in population due to factors affecting mortality and fertility rates.

Answer: B

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

2. According to the passage, the fertility rate

Difficulty Level:   750+

Explanation

The passage provides information that helps us infer the relationship between fertility rates and population growth in Japan, England, and Wales. Let's analyze the relevant portions of the passage to understand why  option (D)  is correct and why the other options are incorrect.

In the passage, it is stated that an exponential pattern of population growth has accompanied the downward trend in mortality in England and Wales, as well as in Japan. However, the pattern of transition from high to low vital rates differs between these two countries.

For England and Wales:

The passage states that in England and Wales, the transition from high to low vital rates (which includes mortality and fertility rates) occurred over two centuries.
The exponential growth curve was attenuated only after fertility fell and approached the low level of mortality.

For Japan:

The passage states that in Japan, an accelerated transition occurred over several decades.
Given this information, we can infer that the fertility rate fell at a faster rate in Japan (where the transition occurred over several decades) compared to England and Wales (where the transition occurred over two centuries). Therefore,  option (D)  is correct.

Now, let's analyze why the other options are incorrect:

(A) in Japan has remained constant over the last several decades: 
This option contradicts the passage, which discusses an accelerated transition in Japan's fertility rates.

(B) in England and Wales has remained constant over the last two centuries: 
This option contradicts the passage, which describes a decline in fertility rates in England and Wales as a part of the transition to low vital rates.

(C) fell at a similar rate in England, Wales, and Japan: 
This option is not supported by the passage, which clearly indicates that the transition rates differed between England, Wales, and Japan.

(E) fell at a slower rate in Japan than in England and Wales: 
This option contradicts the information provided in the passage about an accelerated transition in Japan's vital rates compared to the two-century transition in England and Wales.

In conclusion, the correct answer is  (D)  because the passage supports the idea that fertility rates fell at a faster rate in Japan compared to England and Wales.

Answer: D

The cyclic rise and fall in population size that has been observed in

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The cyclic rise and fall in population size that has been observed in

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