people and bring its population growth under control. Much of this reduced
population growth was brought about by a drop in the birth rate from 32 to 18
per 1,000 between 1972 and 1985. China instituted one of the most rigorous
population control programs in the world at an estimated cost of about $1 per
person. Some features of the program during that time included: 1. Strong
encouragement for couples to postpone marriage.
- Providing married couples with free access to sterilization, contraceptives, and
abortion. - Giving couples who signed pledges to have no more than one child economic
rewards such as salary bonuses, extra food, larger pensions, better housing,
free medical care and school tuition for their child, and preferential treatment
in employment when the child grows up. - Requiring those who broke the pledge to return all benefits.
- Exerting pressure on women pregnant with a third child to have abortions.
- Requiring one of the parents in a two-child family to be sterilized.
However, as of 2017, the Chinese government is considering giving families
financial incentives to have a second child in an effort to reach higher birth rate
targets. This change is due in part to: (1) over half of Chinese families being
reluctant to have a second child because of financial constraints; (2) an aging
population and workforce; and (3) a disproportionate ratio of males to females.
Question 4
10 Total Points Possible
(a) 7 points maximum Explain what a pesticide is. (1 point maximum for correct
explanation) A pesticide is any substance or mixture of substances intended for
preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest. Pests can be insects,
rodents or other animals, unwanted plants (weeds), fungi, or microorganisms
such as bacteria or viruses.
(i) Describe TWO major categories of pesticides. For example: Insecticide—kills
insects and other arthropods. (Do NOT use insecticide as one of your
categories.) (2 points maximum. 1 point for each correct category of pesticide
and description.)