1. TEACHER ANSWER KEY
FILM SERIES QUESTIONNAIRE
BBC News – Overpopulation: Will We Run Out of Space? (10:54)
1. What is unprecedented population growth?
A population growth that has never been previously experienced before.
Today’s population growth is revolutionary and ground-breaking.
2. What are some of the problematic consequences of the
current unprecedented population growth of 7.4 billion?
- population density, crowded cities
- lack of housing / competitive housing market/ higher cost of living
- lack of jobs / competitive economy
- running out of resources; finite supply of resources for growing population
3. Fill in the blank: A UN report in July 2015 predicts us
reaching 9.7 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion in 2100.
4. How does Britain’s birth rate compare to other European countries?
Why is it of concern? What can be done to make it less of a concern?
- Higher birth rate compared to other big European countries.
- UK: 12.8 per thousand, Germany: 8.7, France: 12.6
- Higher birth rate contributing to overpopulation in UK
(not the case in other countries like Canada)
- Recommended to have smaller families: 1 – 2 child(ren)
5. How has immigration changed in England?
- 50% of increase in UK population due to net migration rate, 50% due to natural increase rate
- net migration rate: the difference between the number of people immigrating and the number of people
emigrating from the same country
-natural increase rate: difference between the birth rate and death rate of a country; when the birth rate is
higher than the death rate
- England used to be a net exporter (More people leaving England/emigrating).
6. What makes immigration a controversial political topic in England?
- contributes to increase in population and overpopulation in England (con)
- immigrants contribute to economy and cultural make-up (pro)
- housing market becomes more competitive and cost of living increases (con)
- population growth has shown to lead to economic growth (pro)
7. Can the entire population of the world fit into one city?
What would life in this sort of city look like?
- 10 humans per square metre in the city of London.
- 15 billion would fit in London based on these calculations.
- What about people moving around?
- What about necessary facilities like hospitals and schools?
8. How has population growth positively impacted societies?
- population growth has shown to lead to economic growth
- technology, medicine, agriculture and transportation tend to advance as population grows