If births and in-migration are high but deaths and out-migration are low, what will the total population change be like?

Correct answer: A rapid increase is possible

Direct answer: A is correct. Births and in-migration are adding processes: births add new members to the population, and in-migration brings people into the area. Deaths and out-migration are reducing processes: deaths remove people and out-migration takes people away. When the adding processes are high and the reducing processes are low, the balance is likely to be strongly positive, so a rapid population increase is possible. The word “possible” is important because no exact numbers or time period are given; we cannot calculate an exact rate or guarantee a particular size of increase. B is wrong because it reverses the likely balance. C is wrong because high additions and low losses do not imply zero change. D is meaningless because population and area are different measurements. Memory cue: high additions plus low reductions usually means growth.