Consider the following statements: 1. Climate and availability of water largely determines the pattern of the…

Step 1: Analyze the question We are asked to judge two statements about population distribution and density, and decide whether one, both, or neither is correct.

Step 2: Explain the concepts

• Population distribution is how people are spread across a given area (e.g., the dense south-west and south-east of Nigeria versus the sparse far north-east).
• Population density is the number of people per unit area, usually per square kilometre:

Density = Total population ÷ Total land area

Step 3: Evaluate each statement

Statement 1: "Climate and availability of water largely determines the pattern of the population distribution." This is correct. People settle where water is available for drinking, farming, and industry, and where the climate is favourable. For example, river valleys such as the Niger-Benue and fertile areas with adequate rainfall are densely populated, while arid desert regions like the Sahara are sparsely populated. Other factors, such as relief, soil, and economic activity, also matter, but climate and water are major determinants.

Statement 2: "Density of population helps in getting a better understanding of the spatial distribution of population in relation to land." This is also correct. Density relates the number of people to the size of land, so it shows how crowded or sparse an area is. Simply knowing total population does not tell you this, but density does, which makes spatial comparison between regions possible.

Step 4: Conclusion Both statements are correct.

Answer: C. Both 1 and 2

Exam tip: In "Consider the following statements" questions, test each statement independently. If both agree with textbook definitions (and have no extreme words like "only" or "never"), the answer is usually "Both." Watch for absolute words, which often make a statement false.