If the death rate falls but child births also gradually decline, what may be the trend of population growth?

Correct answer: Rapid growth first and slower growth later.

The correct answer is A. Population growth depends strongly on the difference between birth and death rates. First, if the death rate falls while births remain comparatively high, fewer people die and the gap between births and deaths becomes larger. This produces rapid population growth. Later, if births gradually decline, the gap becomes smaller, so growth slows. This sequence is a basic feature of demographic transition: mortality often falls before fertility falls. A is correct because it follows the order described in the question. B is wrong because the difference between births and deaths is not automatically zero. C is wrong because falling births do not immediately mean that deaths exceed births. D is wrong because changes in both rates clearly produce demographic change. The exact speed depends on the size and timing of the changes. Memory cue: death rate falls first—growth accelerates; birth rate falls later—growth decelerates.