These quizzes refer to “Demography,” from Sociology: An Introduction by Richard J. Gelles and Ann Levine. See page 281 of Opening Doors.
Comprehension Quiz
Expand your vocabulary using context clues.
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:
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:
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:
Because the population in our suburb is increasing, there are many new businesses moving into our locality.
Locality means:
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:
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:
Historians report that seeking refuge from war, religious persecution, and epidemics are three major reasons for exoduses.
Exoduses means:
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:
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:
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: