題目 1 · structured
18 分Study Fig. 1, which shows data and descriptions of the population structures of Country X and Country Y.
**Country X (MEDC):**
- Shape: Narrow base, bulge in the middle (ages 40–55), and a wide top (ages 65+).
- Male population aged 0–4: \(2.1\%\); Female population aged 0–4: \(2.0\%\)
- Male population aged 65+: \(11.2\%\); Female population aged 65+: \(13.8\%\)
**Country Y (LEDC):**
- Shape: Broad base, rapidly tapering/narrowing sides, and a very narrow top.
- Male population aged 0–4: \(9.0\%\); Female population aged 0–4: \(8.5\%\)
- Male population aged 65+: \(1.8\%\); Female population aged 65+: \(2.2\%\)
(a) (i) Calculate the total percentage of the population aged 0–4 in Country Y. [1 mark]
(ii) Describe the difference in the proportion of elderly dependents (aged 65+) between Country X and Country Y, supporting your answer with figures. [2 marks]
(iii) Identify three features of Country X's population structure that indicate it is an economically developed country (MEDC) with a low birth rate and high life expectancy. [3 marks]
(iv) Explain how a country's population structure changes as it moves from Stage 2 to Stage 4 of the Demographic Transition Model (DTM). [4 marks]
(b) (i) Explain why birth rates are high in countries at a lower stage of economic development, such as Country Y. [3 marks]
(ii) For a named country you have studied, explain the challenges caused by an ageing population. [5 marks]
**Country X (MEDC):**
- Shape: Narrow base, bulge in the middle (ages 40–55), and a wide top (ages 65+).
- Male population aged 0–4: \(2.1\%\); Female population aged 0–4: \(2.0\%\)
- Male population aged 65+: \(11.2\%\); Female population aged 65+: \(13.8\%\)
**Country Y (LEDC):**
- Shape: Broad base, rapidly tapering/narrowing sides, and a very narrow top.
- Male population aged 0–4: \(9.0\%\); Female population aged 0–4: \(8.5\%\)
- Male population aged 65+: \(1.8\%\); Female population aged 65+: \(2.2\%\)
(a) (i) Calculate the total percentage of the population aged 0–4 in Country Y. [1 mark]
(ii) Describe the difference in the proportion of elderly dependents (aged 65+) between Country X and Country Y, supporting your answer with figures. [2 marks]
(iii) Identify three features of Country X's population structure that indicate it is an economically developed country (MEDC) with a low birth rate and high life expectancy. [3 marks]
(iv) Explain how a country's population structure changes as it moves from Stage 2 to Stage 4 of the Demographic Transition Model (DTM). [4 marks]
(b) (i) Explain why birth rates are high in countries at a lower stage of economic development, such as Country Y. [3 marks]
(ii) For a named country you have studied, explain the challenges caused by an ageing population. [5 marks]
查看答案詳解收起答案詳解
解題
(a) (i) Country Y aged 0-4: \(9.0\% + 8.5\% = 17.5\%\).
(ii) Country X has a much higher percentage of elderly dependents than Country Y. In Country X, the total is \(25.0\%\) (\(11.2\% + 13.8\%\)), whereas in Country Y, it is only \(4.0\%\) (\(1.8\% + 2.2\%\)).
(iii) 1. A narrow base (low percentage of 0-4 year olds at \(4.1\%\)) indicates low birth rates.
2. A wide top/apex (high percentage of 65+ at \(25.0\%\)) indicates high life expectancy.
3. A bulge in the middle/working-age cohorts indicates declining birth rates over time and low infant mortality.
(iv) In Stage 2, the pyramid has a very wide base due to high birth rates, and rapidly tapering/concave sides due to high death rates. As the country moves to Stage 4, birth rates fall, causing the base of the pyramid to narrow. Simultaneously, death rates fall and life expectancy increases, meaning more people survive into older cohorts, causing the sides of the pyramid to become straighter and the top of the pyramid to widen/grow taller.
(b) (i) High birth rates in LEDCs occur because:
- There is a lack of availability/knowledge of contraception and family planning.
- High infant mortality rates mean parents have extra children to ensure some survive to adulthood.
- Children are seen as an economic asset to work on agricultural land and bring in income.
- Children are needed to look after parents in old age due to a lack of government pensions.
- Cultural or religious values encourage large family sizes.
(ii) Taking Japan or Germany as an example:
- High cost of providing state pensions puts financial pressure on the working population and government budgets.
- Increased strain on healthcare services and social care systems to treat chronic/elderly diseases.
- Severe labour shortages, meaning there are fewer active workers, leading to economic stagnation.
- Closure of schools and services aimed at young people as resources are diverted to elderly care homes.
- Increase in the dependency ratio, requiring a smaller tax-paying base to support a larger dependent generation.
(ii) Country X has a much higher percentage of elderly dependents than Country Y. In Country X, the total is \(25.0\%\) (\(11.2\% + 13.8\%\)), whereas in Country Y, it is only \(4.0\%\) (\(1.8\% + 2.2\%\)).
(iii) 1. A narrow base (low percentage of 0-4 year olds at \(4.1\%\)) indicates low birth rates.
2. A wide top/apex (high percentage of 65+ at \(25.0\%\)) indicates high life expectancy.
3. A bulge in the middle/working-age cohorts indicates declining birth rates over time and low infant mortality.
(iv) In Stage 2, the pyramid has a very wide base due to high birth rates, and rapidly tapering/concave sides due to high death rates. As the country moves to Stage 4, birth rates fall, causing the base of the pyramid to narrow. Simultaneously, death rates fall and life expectancy increases, meaning more people survive into older cohorts, causing the sides of the pyramid to become straighter and the top of the pyramid to widen/grow taller.
(b) (i) High birth rates in LEDCs occur because:
- There is a lack of availability/knowledge of contraception and family planning.
- High infant mortality rates mean parents have extra children to ensure some survive to adulthood.
- Children are seen as an economic asset to work on agricultural land and bring in income.
- Children are needed to look after parents in old age due to a lack of government pensions.
- Cultural or religious values encourage large family sizes.
(ii) Taking Japan or Germany as an example:
- High cost of providing state pensions puts financial pressure on the working population and government budgets.
- Increased strain on healthcare services and social care systems to treat chronic/elderly diseases.
- Severe labour shortages, meaning there are fewer active workers, leading to economic stagnation.
- Closure of schools and services aimed at young people as resources are diverted to elderly care homes.
- Increase in the dependency ratio, requiring a smaller tax-paying base to support a larger dependent generation.
評分準則
(a) (i) Award 1 mark for correct calculation:
- \(17.5\%\) (must include % or units if specified, accept 17.5)
(ii) Award up to 2 marks:
- 1 mark for describing the difference (e.g., Country X has a higher proportion of elderly dependents than Country Y / Country Y has fewer elderly dependents).
- 1 mark for using correct comparative figures (e.g., Country X has \(25\%\) elderly while Country Y has \(4\%\)).
(iii) Award up to 3 marks for identifying features of Country X:
- Narrow base / small percentage of children (accept \(4.1\%\)) indicating low birth rate.
- Wide apex / high percentage of over 65s (accept \(25\%\)) indicating low death rate / long life expectancy.
- Bulge in middle / majority of population in middle working age groups.
(iv) Award up to 4 marks (1 mark for each point explaining changes):
- Base narrows / shrinks as birth rates fall (1 mark).
- Top becomes wider / taller as life expectancy increases (1 mark).
- Sides become straighter / more vertical as death rates fall (1 mark).
- Overall shape changes from triangular/pyramid shape to a barrel/beehive/rectangular shape (1 mark).
(b) (i) Award up to 3 marks for explaining high birth rates (1 mark per distinct reason):
- Lack of contraception / family planning clinics (1 mark).
- Need for child agricultural labour (1 mark).
- High infant mortality rates mean parents have more children (1 mark).
- Children act as pension / security for old age (1 mark).
- Traditional / religious opposition to family planning (1 mark).
- Early marriage / childbearing ages (1 mark).
(ii) Award up to 5 marks (max 4 marks if no named country/case study context is given):
- 1 mark for naming a relevant country (e.g., Japan, Italy, Germany).
- Up to 4 marks for explaining challenges (1 mark per point / well-developed idea):
- Government spends more on pensions, diverting funds from other sectors (1 mark).
- Pressure on hospitals / geriatric services due to age-related illnesses (1 mark).
- Shortage of labor / workforce leads to economic decline (1 mark).
- Tax revenues fall as fewer people are working (1 mark).
- Need for increased nursing homes / elderly care workers (1 mark).
- Decline of services for the young, e.g., school closures (1 mark).
- \(17.5\%\) (must include % or units if specified, accept 17.5)
(ii) Award up to 2 marks:
- 1 mark for describing the difference (e.g., Country X has a higher proportion of elderly dependents than Country Y / Country Y has fewer elderly dependents).
- 1 mark for using correct comparative figures (e.g., Country X has \(25\%\) elderly while Country Y has \(4\%\)).
(iii) Award up to 3 marks for identifying features of Country X:
- Narrow base / small percentage of children (accept \(4.1\%\)) indicating low birth rate.
- Wide apex / high percentage of over 65s (accept \(25\%\)) indicating low death rate / long life expectancy.
- Bulge in middle / majority of population in middle working age groups.
(iv) Award up to 4 marks (1 mark for each point explaining changes):
- Base narrows / shrinks as birth rates fall (1 mark).
- Top becomes wider / taller as life expectancy increases (1 mark).
- Sides become straighter / more vertical as death rates fall (1 mark).
- Overall shape changes from triangular/pyramid shape to a barrel/beehive/rectangular shape (1 mark).
(b) (i) Award up to 3 marks for explaining high birth rates (1 mark per distinct reason):
- Lack of contraception / family planning clinics (1 mark).
- Need for child agricultural labour (1 mark).
- High infant mortality rates mean parents have more children (1 mark).
- Children act as pension / security for old age (1 mark).
- Traditional / religious opposition to family planning (1 mark).
- Early marriage / childbearing ages (1 mark).
(ii) Award up to 5 marks (max 4 marks if no named country/case study context is given):
- 1 mark for naming a relevant country (e.g., Japan, Italy, Germany).
- Up to 4 marks for explaining challenges (1 mark per point / well-developed idea):
- Government spends more on pensions, diverting funds from other sectors (1 mark).
- Pressure on hospitals / geriatric services due to age-related illnesses (1 mark).
- Shortage of labor / workforce leads to economic decline (1 mark).
- Tax revenues fall as fewer people are working (1 mark).
- Need for increased nursing homes / elderly care workers (1 mark).
- Decline of services for the young, e.g., school closures (1 mark).