Population Problems
A high birth rate and a low death rate will result in a rapid population growth or population explosion. Experts fear that the population will outstrip the available food supply in the world. It means that the population increases faster than the food supply.
The question is: “How long will the world be able to continue to provide enough food for its expanding population?”. The present food supply can be increased and can be further expanded through the use of fertilizers and the practice of improved farming methods. However, if the population is not slowed, the food supply will become a very critical problem. Mass starvation will be inescapable.
Even now millions of people in poor countries die each year from malnutrition. Children lack protein which is badly needed for body building and the growth of the brains during the first four years of life. The people are shabbily dressed, illiterate, and they live in very bad houses or slums.
Overcrowded countries create problems not only on food but also on housing, clothing, water, education, health, etc. How can it be? Housing, educational and health facilities fall behind with the expanding population. More people means more water, more garbage and pollution. Many lakes and rivers are already polluted by industries and air pollution is becoming a serious problem. More transportation, such as trucks, buses, cars, motorcycles and planes are needed and consequently more accidents are likely to happen. Crowding also invites the spread of disease and the need for privacy becomes difficult to satisfy.
How can the problems be overcome? All the problems call for immediate birth control and family planning all over the world, for they play an important role in the family limitation and the prosperity of the world population.
Answer these questions based on the text above.
1. What do the things make the population growth?
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2. What do the experts fear?
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3. What is the cause of mass starvation?
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4. What are the effects of lacking protein for children?
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5. How can overcrowded create problem on water?
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6. Mention the overcrowded countries in the world that you know?
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7. How can overcrowded be overcome?
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8. What does the word ‘they’ (in paragraph 3) refer to?
