Question 1

A population in which at least _____ percent of the population is aged 65 and over is considered to be old.
A) five
B) ten
C) fifteen
D) twenty
E) twenty-five

Accepted Answer

A population is considered to be old if at least 10 percent of the population is aged 65 and over.

Question 2

Which of the following categorizations is commonly used among gerontologists to classify the senior population?
A) retirement age (50 to 65), old age (66 and over)
B) mid-age (50-64), old age (65 and over)
C) young-old (45 to 54), middle-old (55 to 64), old-old (65 to 74), and frail old (75 and over)
D) young-old (65 to 74), middle-old (75 to 84), old-old (85 to 89), and frail old (90 and over)
E) least old (65 to 74), average old (75 to 84), old (85 to 89), and very old (90 and over)

Accepted Answer

D) young-old (65 to 74), middle-old (75 to 84), old-old (85 to 89), and frail old (90 and over) is a common classification used by gerontologists to categorize the senior population based on age groups, reflecting varying levels of health, activity, and care needs.

Question 3

The population is considered to be aging when
A) the median age of the population is increasing
B) the median age of the population is decreasing
C) the median age of the population stays the same
D) the mean age of the population stays the same
E) people begin to retire earlier

Accepted Answer

The aging of a population is indicated by an increase in the median age, which is the age that divides the population into two equal parts, with half the population younger than this age and half the population older than this age. As more people live longer and fewer children are born, the proportion of older people in the population increases, leading to an increase in the median age.

Question 4

Demographers consider a population with a median age of _____ to be old.
A) fifty
B) twenty
C) thirty
D) forty
E) sixty

Accepted Answer

The answer of Demographers consider a population with a median...

Question 5

An age dependency ratio refers to
A) the number of persons aged 65 years and over, to the number of persons aged 15 (or 18) to 64 years
B) the number of persons aged 0 to 15 (or 18) years, to the population aged 15 (or 18) to 64 years
C) the number of persons aged 65 years and over, and the number of persons aged 0 to 15 (or 18) years, to the number of persons aged 15 (or 18) to 64 years
D) the number of persons aged 65 years and over, to the number of persons aged less than 15 (or 18) years
E) the number of persons aged 65 to 84 years, to the number of persons aged 45 to 54 years

Accepted Answer

The age dependency ratio refers to the number of persons aged 65 years and over, to the number of persons aged 15 (or 18) to 64 years.

Question 6

A youth dependency ratio refers to
A) the number of persons aged 65 years and over, to the number of persons aged 15 (or 18) to 64 years
B) the number of persons aged 0 to 15 (or 18) years, to the population aged 15 (or 18) to 64 years
C) the number of persons aged 65 years and over, and the number of persons aged 0 to 15 (or 18) years, to the number of persons aged 15 (or 18) to 64 years
D) the number of persons aged 65 years and over, to the number of persons aged less than 15 (or 18) years
E) the number of persons aged 65 to 84 years, to the number of persons aged 45 to 54 years

Accepted Answer

A youth dependency ratio refers to the number of persons aged 0 to 15 (or 18) years, to the population aged 15 (or 18) to 64 years. It is a measure of the economic burden placed on the working-age population by dependents who are not yet in the labor force. Choice A refers to an old-age dependency ratio, while choice C includes both youth and old-age dependency ratios. Choice D refers to a total dependency ratio, and choice E is not relevant to a youth dependency ratio.

Question 7

A total dependency ratio refers to
A) the number of persons aged 65 years and over, to the number of persons aged 15 (or 18) to 64 years
B) the number of persons aged 0 to 15(or 18) years, to the population aged 15 (or 18) to 64 years
C) the number of persons aged 65 years and over, and the number of persons aged 0 to 15 (or 18) years, to the number of persons aged 15 (or 18) to 64 years
D) the number of persons aged 65 years and over, to the number of persons aged less than 15 (or 18) years
E) the number of persons aged 65 to 84 years, to the number of persons aged 45 to 54 years

Accepted Answer

A total dependency ratio takes into account both young dependents (aged 0 to 15 or 18) and old dependents (aged 65 and over) relative to the working-age population (aged 15 to 64 or 18 to 64). Option A only includes old dependents, while option B only includes young dependents. Option D only includes old dependents and excludes the working-age population. Option E is an arbitrary age range and does not include young dependents.

Question 8

The familial old-age dependency ratio refers to
A) the number of persons aged 65 years and over, to the number of persons aged 15 (or 18) to 64 years
B) the number of persons aged 0 to 15(or 18) years, to the population aged 15 (or 18) to 64 years
C) the number of persons aged 65 years and over, and the number of persons aged 0 to 15 (or 18) years, to the number of persons aged 15 (or 18) to 64 years
D) the number of persons aged 65 years and over, to the number of persons aged less than 15 (or 18) years
E) the number of persons aged 65 to 84 years, to the number of persons aged 45 to 54 years

Accepted Answer

The answer of The familial old-age dependency ratio refers to
A)...

Question 9

Dependency ratios can be used to assess population age structure. However, ALL dependency ratios contain the problematic assumption that
A) all older people are economically challenged
B) all older people are economically unstable
C) all older people are economically well off
D) all older people are economically independent
E) all older people are economically dependent

Accepted Answer

All dependency ratios assume that all older people are economically dependent, which is not necessarily true as some older people may still be economically independent.

Question 10

A large increase in the proportion of the population aged 65 and over is a direct result of the baby boomers, which refers to the large cohort born between
A) 1930 and 1945
B) 1946 and 1962
C) 1950 and 1965
D) 1955 and 1971
E) anyone born past 1960

Accepted Answer

The baby boomer generation refers to those born between 1946 and 1964, making answer choice B the correct option.

Question 11

The developed and the developing worlds face different age structure issues. Developed countries are facing a relatively high proportion of older people compared with other age groups, where as developing countries
A) are facing a decreasing number of older people, although they make up a large proportion of the overall population
B) are facing a decreasing number of older people, and they do not make up a large proportion of the overall population
C) are facing an increasing number of older people, although they do not make up a large proportion of the overall population
D) are facing an increasing number of older people, although they make up a large proportion of the overall population
E) are experiencing no change in their age structures

Accepted Answer

Developing countries are experiencing an increase in the number of older people due to improvements in healthcare and living standards. However, this group still does not constitute a large proportion of the overall population compared to younger age groups.

Question 12

The main factor accounting for population aging is
A) declining fertility
B) increasing fertility
C) decreases in mortality
D) increases in mortality
E) international migration

Accepted Answer

Population aging is mainly caused by declining fertility rates. With fewer children being born, there are fewer young people to balance out the number of older individuals. This leads to a higher median age and an overall aging population.

Question 13

Population pyramids are a graphical representation of age structures. One type of pyramid is an expansive pyramid which has a broad base and reflects
A) a lengthy period of low fertility
B) slow declines in fertility
C) rapid declines in fertility
D) a high proportion of children in the population, a result of high past and present fertility levels
E) a high proportion of older people in the population

Accepted Answer

An expansive pyramid has a broad base because it signifies a high proportion of children in the population, which in turn is the result of high past and present fertility levels.

Question 14

Population pyramids are a graphical representation of age structures. One type of pyramid is a constrictive pyramid where the base is somewhat narrower than the middle, and reflects
A) a lengthy period of low fertility
B) slow declines in fertility
C) rapid declines in fertility
D) a high proportion of children in the population, a result of high past and present fertility levels
E) a high proportion of older people in the population

Accepted Answer

The answer of Population pyramids are a graphical representation of...

Question 15

Population pyramids are a graphical representation of age structures. One type of pyramid is a stationary pyramid which has a narrow base, and approximately an equal percentage of people in each age group, tapering off at older ages, which is the result of
A) a lengthy period of low fertility
B) slow declines in fertility
C) rapid declines in fertility
D) a high proportion of children in the population, a result of high past and present fertility levels
E) a high proportion of older people in the population

Accepted Answer

A stationary pyramid indicates a lengthy period of low fertility, which results in a narrower base and approximately equal percentages of people in each age group. This means there are fewer young people being born and the population is aging, leading to a stable structure over time.

Question 16

A population pyramid for Canada (1881-1991) would be described as changing from
A) expansive to constrictive
B) expansive to stationary
C) constrictive to stationary
D) stationary to constrictive
E) stationary to expansive

Accepted Answer

The population pyramid of Canada from 1881 to 1991 would change from expansive to constrictive due to declining birth rates and increasing life expectancy over time, leading to a higher proportion of older individuals in the population.

Question 17

It is expected that in Canada's future, population pyramids will shift from
A) expansive to constrictive
B) expansive to stationary
C) constrictive to stationary
D) stationary to constrictive
E) stationary to expansive

Accepted Answer

The answer of It is expected that in Canada's future,...

Question 18

Life span is
A) equivalent to longevity
B) equivalent to life expectancy
C) the number of years that humans could live under ideal conditions
D) the number of years that persons with a chronic condition can expect to live
E) the number of years that persons in a given country or population can expect to live

Accepted Answer

Life span refers to the maximum number of years that humans could live under ideal conditions, representing the upper boundary of life.

Question 19

All but which of the following statements is true about life expectancy? A) it is a summary measure of mortality in a population B) it is calculated using life table analysis C) conceptually it is almost identical to longevity D) it decreased steadily over the 20^th century E) life expectancy gains have been greater for women than men

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. Life expectancy has actually been increasing steadily over the centuries, with occasional dips during epidemics or wars.

Question 20

Dependency-free life expectancy refers to
A) the number of years that a person in a given country/population can expect to live
B) the number of years that humans could live under ideal conditions
C) the number of years that people in a given population can expect to live in (reasonably) good health
D) the number of years that people in a given population can expect to live in (reasonably) good health, with no or only minor disabling health conditions
E) the number of years that people in a given population can expect to live in (reasonably) good health, with major disabling conditions

Accepted Answer

Dependency-free life expectancy refers to the number of years that people in a given population can expect to live in (reasonably) good health, with no or only minor disabling health conditions, while being independent and not requiring significant help or medical care. It is a measure of the quality of life in old age, rather than simply the length of life.

Quiz 2: Population Aging

A population in which at least _____ percent of the population is aged 65 and over is considered to be old.

Which of the following categorizations is commonly used among gerontologists to classify the senior population?

The population is considered to be aging when

Demographers consider a population with a median age of _____ to be old.

An age dependency ratio refers to

A youth dependency ratio refers to

A total dependency ratio refers to

The familial old-age dependency ratio refers to

Dependency ratios can be used to assess population age structure. However, ALL dependency ratios contain the problematic assumption that

A large increase in the proportion of the population aged 65 and over is a direct result of the baby boomers, which refers to the large cohort born between

The developed and the developing worlds face different age structure issues. Developed countries are facing a relatively high proportion of older people compared with other age groups, where as developing countries

The main factor accounting for population aging is

Population pyramids are a graphical representation of age structures. One type of pyramid is an expansive pyramid which has a broad base and reflects

Population pyramids are a graphical representation of age structures. One type of pyramid is a constrictive pyramid where the base is somewhat narrower than the middle, and reflects

Population pyramids are a graphical representation of age structures. One type of pyramid is a stationary pyramid which has a narrow base, and approximately an equal percentage of people in each age group, tapering off at older ages, which is the result of

A population pyramid for Canada (1881-1991) would be described as changing from

It is expected that in Canada's future, population pyramids will shift from

Life span is

All but which of the following statements is true about life expectancy?

Dependency-free life expectancy refers to