Population, Urbanization and Social Problems MCQs 2026

Urbanism as a way of life is associated especially with

1. AIbn Khaldun✓
2. BLouis Wirth✓
3. CAuguste Comte✓
4. DTalcott Parsons✓

Demography is the scientific study of

1. APolitical parties✓
2. BReligious rituals only✓
3. CHuman population✓
4. DCourt procedure✓

A census is best defined as

1. AOfficial enumeration of a population✓
2. BA private opinion survey only✓
3. CA court record of crime✓
4. DA family ritual✓

Crude birth rate is usually expressed as live births per year per

1. A100 persons✓
2. B1,000 population✓
3. C10,000 households✓
4. D100,000 women only✓

Crude death rate measures deaths in a year per

1. A100 children✓
2. B10 households✓
3. C100 families✓
4. D1,000 population✓

Fertility in population studies refers to

1. AActual reproductive performance✓
2. BDeath rate only✓
3. CMovement across borders✓
4. DAgeing of institutions✓

Mortality means the occurrence of

1. ABirths in a society✓
2. BMarriage ceremonies✓
3. CDeaths in a population✓
4. DSchool enrolment only✓

Migration is population change caused by

1. AOnly births✓
2. BMovement of people between places✓
3. COnly deaths✓
4. DMarriage rules only✓

Emigration means

1. ALeaving a country to live elsewhere✓
2. BEntering a country from abroad✓
3. CCounting all households✓
4. DRecording infant deaths✓

Immigration refers to

1. ALeaving a country permanently✓
2. BA fall in fertility✓
3. CAgeing of population✓
4. DEntering a country to reside✓

Population density means

1. ABirths per woman✓
2. BPersons per unit area✓
3. CDeaths per thousand✓
4. DMales per family only✓

Dependency ratio compares dependent age groups with

1. AOnly married women✓
2. BOnly urban residents✓
3. CThe working-age population✓
4. DSchool teachers only✓

Sex ratio describes the population composition by

1. AMales and females✓
2. BIncome and wealth✓
3. CReligion and sect only✓
4. DOccupation and class only✓

Life expectancy at birth means the average number of years a newborn is expected to

1. AStay in school✓
2. BRemain unemployed✓
3. CLive in one city✓
4. DLive under current mortality conditions✓

A population pyramid displays

1. AOnly income classes✓
2. BAge and sex structure✓
3. CCourt hierarchy✓
4. DReligious sects only✓

A broad-based expansive population pyramid usually indicates

1. AHigh birth rate and young population✓
2. BZero migration✓
3. CVery old population only✓
4. DNo children in society✓

The first stage of demographic transition is marked by

1. ALow birth and high death rates✓
2. BHigh migration only✓
3. CHigh birth and high death rates✓
4. DLow birth and low death rates✓

Rapid population growth in demographic transition usually occurs when

1. ABirth and death rates both stay high✓
2. BDeath rate falls while birth rate remains high✓
3. CBirth rate falls below death rate✓
4. DBoth rates are zero✓

The final stage of demographic transition generally has

1. AHigh birth and high death rates✓
2. BHigh birth and low death rates✓
3. CNo age structure✓
4. DLow birth and low death rates✓

Malthus argued that unchecked population tends to grow

1. AGeometrically while food grows arithmetically✓
2. BArithmetically while food grows geometrically✓
3. COnly when death rate rises✓
4. DOnly through immigration✓

In Malthusian theory, a preventive check is

1. AFamine✓
2. BEpidemic disease✓
3. CDelayed marriage✓
4. DWar✓

In Malthusian theory, a positive check is

1. ALate marriage✓
2. BFamine or epidemic✓
3. CFamily planning education✓
4. DVoluntary celibacy✓

Overpopulation exists when population size

1. AIs always above one million✓
2. BHas more males than females✓
3. CHas no migration✓
4. DExceeds available resources and services✓

Urbanization means an increase in the

1. AProportion of population living in urban areas✓
2. BNumber of court cases only✓
3. CRural birth rituals✓
4. DShare of nomadic groups only✓

The Chicago School is especially known for early sociological study of

1. AKinship terms in tribes✓
2. BPure mathematical proofs✓
3. CUrban ecology and city life✓
4. DLaboratory chemistry✓

A common pull factor in rural-urban migration is

1. ADrought in villages✓
2. BLand fragmentation✓
3. CRural indebtedness✓
4. DBetter employment opportunities in cities✓

A common push factor behind migration from rural areas is

1. ARural unemployment or land pressure✓
2. BHigh urban wages✓
3. CUrban universities✓
4. DBetter city hospitals✓

Urban sprawl refers to

1. AA fall in city population✓
2. BA complete return to villages✓
3. COutward low-density expansion of cities✓
4. DOnly vertical apartment growth✓

Slums are generally characterized by

1. AHigh-quality planned housing only✓
2. BPoor housing and inadequate services✓
3. CAbsence of poverty✓
4. DUnlimited municipal facilities✓

A megacity is commonly defined as an urban area with at least

1. A10 million inhabitants✓
2. B100,000 inhabitants✓
3. C500,000 inhabitants✓
4. D1 million inhabitants✓

A social problem is a condition that is

1. AOnly a private preference✓
2. BBiologically fixed in every person✓
3. CNever recognized by society✓
4. DHarmful and seen as needing collective action✓

Absolute poverty means inability to secure

1. ALuxury goods only✓
2. BPolitical office✓
3. CBasic necessities of life✓
4. DA high-status title✓

Relative poverty is measured with reference to

1. AOnly biological needs✓
2. BLiving standards of the society✓
3. CThe speed of migration✓
4. DThe number of courts✓

Unemployment refers to a person in the labour force who is

1. AWithout work but available and seeking work✓
2. BToo young to work✓
3. CRetired permanently✓
4. DNot interested in any job✓

Underemployment is best described as

1. ARefusal to join labour force✓
2. BComplete retirement✓
3. CAbsence from school✓
4. DWork below skills, hours or capacity✓

Literacy is generally understood as the ability to

1. AOwn agricultural land✓
2. BRead and write with understanding✓
3. CWin an election✓
4. DMigrate to a city✓

Juvenile delinquency refers to

1. AAdult migration only✓
2. BOld-age dependency✓
3. CLaw-violating acts by minors✓
4. DUrban planning rules✓

Drug abuse means

1. AHarmful or nonmedical use of substances✓
2. BAny prescribed medicine use✓
3. CNormal nutrition✓
4. DVaccination campaigns✓

Crime is behaviour that violates

1. AOnly table manners✓
2. BEvery folkway✓
3. CPersonal preference✓
4. DCriminal law✓

Environmental pollution means

1. AA rise in literacy✓
2. BContamination of air, water or soil✓
3. CA change in kinship terms✓
4. DA census operation✓

Gender inequality refers to

1. AUnequal rights or opportunities by gender✓
2. BEqual access to all resources✓
3. COnly biological difference✓
4. DPopulation density✓

Social disorganization in urban settings often means

1. APerfect community regulation✓
2. BAbsence of migration✓
3. CWeakening of institutions and norms✓
4. DA fall in city size only✓

Rapid urbanization commonly creates pressure on

1. AOnly village rituals✓
2. BOcean tides✓
3. CGenetic inheritance✓
4. DHousing, transport and sanitation✓

Family planning refers to

1. ACompulsory migration✓
2. BVoluntary regulation of births and spacing✓
3. CCounting houses only✓
4. DA court punishment✓

Infant mortality rate measures deaths of children under age one per

1. A1,000 live births✓
2. B100 women✓
3. C10,000 households✓
4. D1,000 migrants✓

Maternal mortality ratio is usually expressed as maternal deaths per

1. A1,000 total population✓
2. B1,000 households✓
3. C100,000 live births✓
4. D100 school-age children✓

Population policy consists of government measures intended to influence

1. AOnly weather forecasts✓
2. BPopulation size, growth or distribution✓
3. CThe chemical composition of soil✓
4. DPlanetary motion✓

Brain drain refers to

1. AIncrease in infant mortality✓
2. BReturn of all migrants✓
3. CRural birth rate decline✓
4. DEmigration of skilled people✓

Assimilation of migrants means they

1. AMaintain complete separation forever✓
2. BOnly change occupation✓
3. CAvoid all language learning✓
4. DAdopt the dominant culture over time✓

Integration differs from assimilation because integration allows groups to

1. AReject all participation✓
2. BDisappear culturally at once✓
3. CKeep identity while joining wider society✓
4. DAvoid every institution✓

Thomas Malthus argued that population tends to grow

1. Ageometrically while food supply grows arithmetically✓
2. Barithmetically while food grows geometrically✓
3. Cnever at all✓
4. Donly in cities✓

Malthusian checks on population include

1. Afamine, disease and war✓
2. Bunlimited resources always✓
3. Czero mortality✓
4. Dinfinite food technology instantly✓

Crude birth rate measures

1. Abirths per woman lifetime only✓
2. Bdeaths per 1000 only✓
3. Cmigrants per city only✓
4. Dlive births per 1000 population in a given year✓

Crude death rate measures

1. Adeaths per 1000 population per year✓
2. Bbirths per woman only✓
3. Conly infant deaths✓
4. Donly urban murders✓

Natural increase of population equals

1. Aimmigration minus emigration✓
2. Bcrude birth rate minus crude death rate✓
3. Cbirths times deaths✓
4. DGDP growth rate✓

Total fertility rate estimates

1. Abirths per 1000 people✓
2. Bdeaths per 1000 people✓
3. Cmedian age only✓
4. Daverage number of children a woman would bear over her lifetime✓

Replacement level fertility is roughly

1. A0.5 children per woman✓
2. B2.1 children per woman in low-mortality societies✓
3. C10 children per woman✓
4. Dexactly 1.0 always✓

Life expectancy at birth indicates

1. Aonly years already lived by elderly✓
2. Bmaximum possible age always✓
3. Caverage years a newborn is expected to live✓
4. Dnumber of children born✓

Age-sex pyramid with a wide base suggests

1. Alow birth rates and aging✓
2. Bzero children✓
3. Chigh fertility and a young population✓
4. Donly elderly cohorts✓

Demographic transition theory describes movement from

1. Ahigh birth and death rates to low birth and death rates✓
2. Blow-low to high-high only✓
3. Cstable infinity✓
4. Dno mortality change✓

Urbanization is defined as

1. Adecline of all cities✓
2. Bonly rural population growth✓
3. Cincreasing proportion of population living in urban areas✓
4. Dabandonment of agriculture always✓

A megacity is commonly defined as having

1. Aunder 1000 people✓
2. Bonly 50 000 people✓
3. Cover 10 million inhabitants✓
4. Dexactly one million always✓

Push factors in rural-urban migration include

1. Apoverty, landlessness and lack of rural employment✓
2. Babundant rural jobs only✓
3. Cperfect rural services only✓
4. Dzero population pressure✓

Pull factors in migration include

1. Aforced exile only✓
2. Bnatural disasters only✓
3. Ccomplete lack of opportunity in cities✓
4. Durban jobs, education and better services✓

Overurbanization occurs when

1. Arural life is perfect✓
2. Binfrastructure always precedes migrants✓
3. Czero slums exist✓
4. Dcities grow faster than jobs and infrastructure can support✓

Pakistan's population policy challenges include

1. Ahigh fertility, youth bulge and pressure on education/jobs✓
2. Bdeclining population crisis✓
3. Czero growth since 1947✓
4. Dno urbanization✓

Census data are vital for

1. Aonly astrology✓
2. Bplanning schools, hospitals and electoral districts✓
3. Conly fiction writing✓
4. Dignoring migration✓

Dependency ratio compares

1. Aonly exports to imports✓
2. Bonly births to deaths in one day✓
3. Conly city to village size✓
4. Dnon-working-age population to working-age population✓

Environmental degradation as a social problem links to

1. Apopulation pressure, industrialization and unequal access to resources✓
2. Bonly individual hobbies✓
3. Conly ancient history✓
4. Dzero human activity✓

Food insecurity means

1. Aunreliable access to sufficient safe and nutritious food✓
2. Bonly gourmet dining✓
3. Conly urban elites✓
4. Dabundance for all✓

Human Development Index combines

1. Aonly military spending✓
2. Blife expectancy, education and income indicators✓
3. Conly population size✓
4. Donly urban land area✓

Informal sector employment in cities often means

1. Asecure multinational careers only✓
2. Bonly government pensions✓
3. Conly unionized factories✓
4. Djobs without legal protection, benefits or stable wages✓

Rapid urbanization without industrial jobs can produce

1. Auniversal middle-class comfort✓
2. Bzero migration✓
3. Cbalanced housing for all instantly✓
4. Dunderemployment, crime and informal settlements✓

Microfinance and social safety nets address poverty by

1. Aabolishing all banks✓
2. Bignoring the poor✓
3. Cproviding credit, cash transfers or food support to vulnerable groups✓
4. Donly military spending✓

Underemployment includes

1. Aonly CEOs with high pay✓
2. Bworkers in jobs below their skills or with insufficient hours✓
3. Conly full productive employment✓
4. Donly students in school✓

Refugee populations generate social problems around

1. Aonly military strategy✓
2. Bhousing, legal status, employment and social integration✓
3. Conly sports leagues✓
4. Donly luxury tourism✓

Ageing population creates social problems of

1. Apension costs, health care demand and elder care✓
2. Bzero elderly people✓
3. Cinfinite youth forever✓
4. Dno policy concern✓

Gender inequality appears in demography as

1. Aidentical status everywhere✓
2. Bonly male illiteracy globally✓
3. Cson preference, unequal education and higher female mortality in some contexts✓
4. Dno fertility difference✓

Street children in megacities illustrate

1. Auniversal suburban comfort✓
2. Bfamily breakdown, poverty and inadequate child protection✓
3. Czero urban poverty✓
4. Donly rural issues✓

Child labour is a social problem because

1. Aall work builds equal skills✓
2. Bit harms education, health and exploits minors✓
3. Claws never matter✓
4. Donly affects wealthy families✓

Slum upgrading programs aim to

1. Ademolish all cities✓
2. Bban migration forever✓
3. Cignore water supply✓
4. Dimprove housing, services and tenure security in informal settlements✓

Urban sprawl contributes to social problems through

1. Acompact walkable neighbourhoods always✓
2. Bzero traffic✓
3. Cmore farmland in city centres✓
4. Dlong commutes, environmental stress and weak community ties✓

Brain drain is a social problem when

1. Aall emigrants are unskilled✓
2. Bmigration never happens✓
3. Cskilled emigrants leave and reduce national human capital✓
4. Deducation is universal instantly✓

Maternal mortality reflects

1. Aonly male life expectancy✓
2. Bonly urban traffic deaths✓
3. Cdeaths related to pregnancy and childbirth✓
4. Donly old-age disease✓

Infant mortality rate measures

1. Adeaths of infants under one year per 1000 live births✓
2. Bdeaths of all ages✓
3. Conly maternal deaths✓
4. Donly migration✓

Demographic dividend occurs when

1. Aelderly dependency is highest✓
2. Bchild dependency is highest✓
3. Ca large working-age population can boost economic growth✓
4. Dno education exists✓

Neo-Malthusians emphasize

1. Aunlimited growth without consequences✓
2. Bignoring ecology entirely✓
3. Cpopulation control to protect environment and resources✓
4. Dzero family planning✓

Overpopulation debates concern whether

1. Apopulation is always optimal✓
2. Bresources are infinite✓
3. Cpopulation size exceeds carrying capacity or resources✓
4. Dmigration never occurs✓

Unemployment as a social problem involves

1. Awilling workers unable to find suitable jobs✓
2. Bvoluntary leisure only✓
3. Czero labour force✓
4. Donly retired persons by definition✓

Social stratification and inequality are linked because

1. Aall societies are perfectly equal✓
2. Bunequal distribution of resources creates ranked social layers✓
3. Cclass does not exist✓
4. Dwealth is random only✓

Income inequality measures such as the Gini coefficient show

1. Aonly total GDP size✓
2. Bhow evenly income is distributed in a population✓
3. Conly population density✓
4. Donly rainfall✓

Functional literacy means

1. Amemorizing classics without understanding✓
2. Bability to read and write for everyday tasks and work✓
3. Conly calligraphy skill✓
4. Donly oral tradition✓

Illiteracy as a social problem hampers

1. Aeconomic opportunity, civic participation and health awareness✓
2. Bonly book collecting✓
3. Conly urban architecture✓
4. Donly sports performance✓

Relative poverty means

1. Aidentical income worldwide✓
2. Bzero comparison✓
3. Cliving standards far below the average of one's society✓
4. Donly historical famine✓

Poverty as a social problem means

1. Aonly luxury consumption✓
2. Bonly rural weather✓
3. Conly individual taste✓
4. Dinability to meet basic needs relative to societal standards✓

Social problems are conditions that

1. Aeveryone enjoys equally✓
2. Bonly biologists study✓
3. Cnever affect policy✓
4. Da significant number of people view as undesirable and needing remedy✓

Squatter settlements are associated with

1. Ainformal housing on land without secure tenure in growing cities✓
2. Bplanned suburban estates only✓
3. Crural feudal estates only✓
4. Dnational parks only✓