Final answer:
When the birth rate exceeds the death rate, the population will increase. If the death rate is higher, the population decreases. Stable birth and death rates result in an unchanged population size.Hence, the correct answer is option A.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the birth rate is larger than the death rate in any given period, the population will increase (A). If the death rate is larger than the birth rate, the population size will decrease. Conversely, if the birth and death rates are equal, then the population size will not change, showing a stable population trend. Various factors influence population growth, such as the demographic characteristics, life expectancy, and environmental conditions which include resources and carrying capacity.
Through different stages of demographic transition, populations experience various growth rates. For instance, when birth rates remain high and death rates fall, as observed historically during the industrialization periods in Europe, the population experiences a significant increase in size. As a society progresses, these rates tend to stabilize and can even lead to a decline in population size if the birth rate falls below the death rate, as seen in some developed countries.