Read the passage carefully and answer the following question:
Demographic Transition Theory is used to describe and predict the future population of any area using fertility (Crude Birth Rate) and mortality (Crude Death Rate) data in a three-staged model.
Stage I is called high fluctuating wherein both fertility and mortality are high. People reproduce more children to compensate for deaths due to epidemics and food shortages. The growth is low and fluctuating. The people are engaged in agriculture having low technology. The life expectancy is also low.
Stage II is expanding stage where fertility remains high in the beginning while mortality starts to decline due to medical and sanitation revolution. This decline in mortality causes natural increase in population. In the second half of this stage fertility also starts to decline.
In the last stage, low fluctuating growth rate is due to low fertility and low mortality. The population is stable or grows slowly. The population becomes urbanised and literate and has high technological know-how.
The Demographic Transition stage which is characterised by high fluctuating stage has ____________.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → High fertility and high mortality
The passage states: “Stage I is called high fluctuating wherein both fertility and mortality are high. People reproduce more children to compensate for deaths due to epidemics and food shortages. The growth is low and fluctuating.”
Option (1) High death and low birth rate — Incorrect. The birth rate is also high in Stage I, not low.
Option (2) High fertility, low mortality and fluctuating growth — Incorrect. High fertility with falling mortality marks Stage II, the expanding stage.
Option (3) High fertility and high mortality — Correct. Both rates are high, so births and deaths nearly cancel out and growth stays low and fluctuating.
Option (4) High mortality, low fertility and high growth rate — Incorrect. Fertility is high in Stage I, not low. Growth in Stage I is low, not high.
Note: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2023 on 13-06-2023 (Slot 1).