UPSC Prelims 2016 · CSAT

Question 8: Logical Reasoning and Mental Ability

Consider the following statements :

1.The rate of population growth is increasing in the country
2.The death rate is declining faster in the country compared to birth rate
3.The birth rate is declining faster in the country compared to death rate
4.Rural-urban migration is taking place regularly in the country

Which one of the following conclusions may be true in the light of the above facts ?

aThe rate of population growth is increasing due to rural-urban migration

bThe rate of population growth is increasing due to decline in death rate only

cThe rate of population growth is increasing due to increase in birth rate only

dThe rate of population growth is increasing due to faster decline in death rate than in birth rate

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).

Growth rate is the gap between birth rate and death rate. If the death rate falls faster than the birth rate, the gap widens and growth speeds up, so (d) can be true. Migration from villages to cities only moves people within the country, so it does not change national growth. 'Only due to death rate' ignores the birth rate, and a rise in birth rate contradicts the given facts. Statement 3 clashes with statement 2, so conclusions should rest on 1 and 2.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Migration moves people within the country and does not change national growth.
(b) 'Only' is wrong: growth depends on the birth rate as well as the death rate.
(c) Nothing says birth rate rose; 'only' is unsupported.
(d) Right: a faster fall in death rate than birth rate widens the gap and raises growth.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2016, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.