Read the statements carefully and choose the correct option:
Assertion (A): A population explosion happens when the death rate drops sharply while the birth rate continues to stay high.
Reason (R): Social and reproductive behaviors adapt immediately in response to advancements in healthcare.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The correct answer is option 3 i.e. A is true, but R is false.
Assertion (A) - Correct
A population explosion (or rapid growth) occurs when there's a large and persistent gap between the birth rate and the death rate. The death rate typically drops first due to advancements in public health, sanitation, and medical care, while the social and cultural factors favoring high birth rates (like the need for farm labor or high infant mortality) take time to change. This creates a massive imbalance, leading to a population explosion.
Reason (R) - False
Social and reproductive behaviors, which dictate the birth rate (fertility), do not adapt immediately to improvements in healthcare (which cause the death rate to drop). The decline in the birth rate is a delayed process that results from slower, long-term changes like:
-
Increased education and economic empowerment of women.
-
Shift from an agrarian economy (where children are assets) to an industrial/urban one (where children are expensive).
-
Greater availability and acceptance of contraception.
This lag is precisely what causes the population explosion.