OVERPOPULATION:
IS IT REALLY A PROBLEM?

Questions 1 – 3 are based on the eye-catching features.

1. What is the general topic of the text?

2. Complete the table below to compare Ehrlich's and Simon's views on the issue
discussed in the text.
a. Indicate whether they are optimistic or pessimistic.
b. Support your answer with a quote from the eye-catching features.

3a. Do you think 6 billion (or more) people on earth is a danger to humanity? Yes/No
Why or why not?
b. The subtitle mentions the famous scientist and Nobel prizewinner Einstein. The
caption above the second picture mentions "creative minds". In your opinion, in
which way(s) can "lots of Einsteins (or creative minds)" help humanity survive?

SKIMMING and SCANNING
Skim the text by reading the first two paragraphs and the last paragraph of the text. Answer questions 4 – 6 based on your skimming and on scanning.

4. a. What did Ehrlich predict in his first book?
b. What actually happened?
c. What new predictions appear in Ehrlich's second book?

5. Scan the first section of the text. In which paragraph does Julian Simon's name
first appear? __________

According to this paragraph, what is Simon's theory about population growth?

6. According to the author, whose views have had the most impact on society?
check () one: Ehrlich Simon neither Ehrlich nor Simon
Support your answer with a quote.

CLOSE READING
Questions based on Section 1
7. a. Complete the chart below to show
i) the view of Ahlburg and the latest view of the National Academy of Sciences)
on the issue discussed in this text – indicate whether they agree or disagree
with Ehrlich’s predictions.
ii) the basis for these views)

b. What point does the author want to illustrate by mentioning Ahlburg and the
National Academy?

8a. What is the latest trend in the size of the world population?

b. Give 2 problems that may arise as a result of this trend.

c. Give two examples of how some governments are already trying to cope with
these problems.

9. Regarding how many children a family should have,
a. What is Ehrlich's position?

b. Does Simon agree or disagree with Ehrlich on this?
check () one: agree disagree
What is Simon's argument / counterargument?

Questions based on Section 2
10a. What does the term "carrying capacity" mean in the context of this text?
b. According to Ehrlich, why is Earth’s “carrying capacity” limited?
c. What point do the statistics mentioned by the Ehrlichs in paragraph 15
(illustrate? (Remember! Do NOT copy the statistics

11a. According to the Ehrlichs, what signs show that a population should stop
growing?

b. Ehrlich thinks that our planet can support as large a population as needed
if people reject the American lifestyle and adopt a more environmentally
friendly Indian lifestyle.
check () one: true false
Support your answer

12. Simon disagrees with Ehrlich that humanity already exceeds Earth's carrying
capacity. What evidence does Simon bring to support his position?

Questions based on Section 3.

13. (a. Ehrlich argues that Earth's carrying capacity is limited (see question 10b
What is Simon’s counterargument?
(b. (i) Give one example (from the text) that illustrates Simon's ideas on this issue. Use your own words (English or Hebrew

ii) Based on Simon’s ideas, complete the following example which is NOT)
from the text.
Humans do not produce enough cotton or wool (natural fibers) to clothe the
whole of Earth’s population. But

14. a. Is Simon's attitude towards the role of technology positive or negative?
check () one: positive negative
What evidence does Simon mention to support his position?
b. What is Ehrlich's counterargument regarding the role of technology?

15. (Simon may "dream" of future Einsteins and Mozarts…."(par. 28
a. Why are future Einsteins and Mozarts so important for Simon?
b. What is Ehrlich's counterargument to Simon's "dream"?

16. The author's main purpose in this text is
a. to discuss Ehrlich's latest book on population "The Population Explosion".
b. to review the contrasting attitudes of experts on the subject of population
growth.
c. to explain how excessive population growth is catastrophic for mankind.
d. to show that disaster can be avoided if we adopt an environmentally friendly
lifestyle.

POST READING
Answer either question 17a OR question 17b. (4 points)

17a. Explain the way in which Ehrlich's and Simon's views are influenced by their
professional backgrounds.
Ehrlich's professional background:
Influence:

Simon's professional background:
Influence:

OR

17b. China and India have huge populations. A large part of these populations are
becoming middle class and aspiring to a Western lifestyle.
(i) Would Ehrlich be optimistic or pessimistic (or both) about these developments?
(You may want to look again at your answers to Question s 2 & 10c, and/or the
information in the chart at the end of the text.)
[check () one: optimistic pessimistic both
Explain why.
ii). Would Simon be optimistic or pessimistic (or both) about these developments)
[check () one: optimistic pessimistic both
Explain why.