The graphs show the age structure for each of three countries. The horizontal bars show the percentages of the population in eac
h age group, by gender. Note that for Country 1, about 20 percent of the population is between the ages of 0 and 4. This is the greatest percentage of any 4-year age span in all three countries. Country 1 has an age structure in which ages 0-4 represent 20% of the population, and older age groups have decreasing percentages. Country 2 has age groups that are all about the same. Country 3 skews to older age groups.
Which conclusion about Country 1 does its age structure support?
A. Young children have a lower death rate in Country 1 than in the other countries.
B. Young children have a higher death rate in Country 1 than in the other countries.
C. More young children live in Country 1 than in the other countries.
D. Fewer young children live in Country 1 than in the other countries.
C. More young children live in Country 1 than in the other countries.
Explanation:
The described graph shows that more young children live in Country 1 than in the other countries. This is clearly stated in the first paragraph: <em>This is the greatest percentage of any 4-year age span in all three countries.</em> This automatically means that options B and D are incorrect.
Option A is the second-best one. However, the fact that there are more young children in Country 1 doesn't necessarily mean that their death rate is lower. It could be, but correlation doesn't equal causation. There are more young children probably because the younger population is more present in that country and more children are born.
