In which situation can population growth intensify environmental pressure?

Correct answer: When population grows rapidly and waste management is weak

The direct answer is A. A rapidly growing population can increase demand for water, land, energy, housing, transport, and other resources. If waste collection, treatment, recycling, sewage management, and pollution control are weak, more waste and untreated discharge may place additional pressure on the environment. Growth itself does not produce exactly the same result everywhere; management, technology, consumption patterns, and resource availability also matter. Option A is correct because it combines a pressure-increasing condition with weak management. Option B is wrong because strong resource management can reduce waste and use resources more carefully. Option C is generally wrong for this question because a declining population does not represent rapid growth pressure, even though old environmental problems may remain. Option D is wrong because without settlements there is little direct population-generated urban pressure. Memory cue: rapid growth plus weak management creates the greatest risk of pressure.