【Shanghai Edition】Junior High School Science, Grade 9, Semester 2: Understanding Global Population Growth Through World Population Day — Current Distribution and Spatial-Temporal Differences

Populationrefers to the total number of people within a specific area or connected by certain characteristics. It is not merely a sum of numbers, but a unity of two fundamental attributes.

Natural attribute (biological attribute): Refers to biological processes such as birth, growth, and death, encompassing gender, age, and physiological functions.
Social attribute: Represents relationships among people developed through social practice, involving social class, occupation, and cultural background.

The population in a region is constantly changing. Imagine a dynamic funnel — the depth of the water reservoir is determined by the inflow and outflow of people.

Although socioeconomic factors have significant influence, over the long term,the natural environment is the most critical factor affecting population size. It determines land carrying capacity and shapes stable spatial-temporal distribution patterns, such as the Heihe-Tengchong Line.

QUESTION 1

Besides biological attributes, what kind of relational attribute, formed through social practice, does population possess?

Physical attribute

Social attribute

Geographical attribute

QUESTION 2

According to the logic of population dynamics equilibrium, an increase in population in a region occurs because:

The sum of birth rate and immigration rate exceeds the sum of death rate and emigration rate

Only due to increased births

Deteriorating natural environment leading to outflow

QUESTION 3

What is the most fundamental and important factor influencing population size and its distribution on a long-term and global scale?

Medical level

Natural environment

War and conflict

QUESTION 4

Based on analysis of the pie chart showing the top ten most populous countries globally (Fig 6-1-1), what conclusion can be drawn?

Global population distribution is very even

A small number of countries carry the vast majority of the global population

Developed countries have a larger total population than developing countries

QUESTION 5

What was the main significance of China's sixth national census conducted in 2010 (Fig 6-1-2)?

To accurately determine population statistics and provide scientific basis for analyzing spatial-temporal change patterns

Simply to count citizens' ages

Enforcing a population relocation plan

Integrated Practice: Population Census and Land Resource Analysis

Through field research and landscape comparison, understand the pressure of population growth on resources.

This case integrates provincial population trend mapping, community population surveys, and global land resource distribution landscapes to explore the balance between population and environment.

1. Using data from the six national population censuses, further research relevant information to draw the population change curve for your province (municipality, autonomous region) over the past 60 years.

Answer:
【Reference Answer and Scoring Criteria】: 1. Data Collection: Consult the 'Population Census Bulletin' or 'Statistical Yearbook' published by provincial statistical bureaus. 2. Axis Design: X-axis represents census years (1953, 1964, 1982, 1990, 2000, 2010); Y-axis represents permanent resident population. 3. Feature Description: Students must mark periods of significant population growth (typically around 1982) and recent signs of slowing growth. 4. Scoring Guidance: Accuracy of curve drawing accounts for 60%, source citation for 20%, and brief trend analysis for 20%.

2. Investigate changes in population size, gender ratio, and age structure in your community (township/village) over the last 10 years. Based on the formula, assuming constant population growth rates across countries, predict when their populations will double from current levels.

Answer:
【Reference Answer and Scoring Criteria】: 1. Survey Content: Record total population, male-to-female ratio, and percentage changes in three age groups (0–14, 15–64, 65+). 2. Prediction Calculation: Use the 'Rule of 70': doubling time ≈ 70 ÷ (annual growth rate %). For example, a country with 1% annual growth will double its population in about 70 years. 3. Social Analysis: If elderly population proportion increases, highlight the resulting pressure on local healthcare and pension resources.

3. The landscape images [Figure 7-1-1] show rice fields, deserts, mountain pastures, and urban construction. How do these reflect different land use patterns? Analyze them in relation to population distribution.

Answer:
【Reference Answer】: 1. Rice Fields: Agricultural land use. Located in fertile, well-watered plains, supporting high population density, demonstrating a positive correlation between arable land (accounting for 10% of global land) and population density. 2. Desert: Unusable land. Harsh environments lead to sparse population. 3. Mountain Pasture: Grassland use. Suitable for livestock grazing, with moderate to low population density. 4. Urban Construction: Built-up land. Highly intensive use, representing the most densely populated areas, reflecting the agglomeration effect of social productivity.