In which situation can resource pressure rise even after population growth rate declines?

Correct answer: When total population is large and services expand slowly

Direct answer: Option A is correct. A growth rate tells us how quickly population changes; it does not tell us that the existing population has become small. If a region already has a very large population, even a slower positive growth rate can continue adding people. These people still need water, food, housing, schools, hospitals, transport, jobs and energy. If services and infrastructure expand more slowly than demand, pressure on resources can rise. Option B cannot create resource pressure because a population of zero has no human demand. Option C is not a normal explanation of rising pressure and gives no reason for increasing demand. Option D removes the condition of scarcity, so pressure would not rise because resources would be unlimited. Memory cue: slower growth is not the same as population decline; demand depends on both population size and service capacity.