Question

What problems in a country could cause poverty to spiral out of control? Select five answers.

rapid population growth
inflation
civil wars
low foreign debt
farm land destroyed by war
overabundance of exports
government corruption

Answer 1

Correct five: rapid population growth, inflation, civil wars, farm land destroyed by war, and government corruption.

Brief why:
- Rapid population growth: strains jobs, education, health care and public services, increasing dependency and poverty rates.
- Inflation: erodes purchasing power and savings, raising the cost of living faster than incomes.
- Civil wars: destroy infrastructure, disrupt markets and livelihoods, displace people and deter investment.
- Farm land destroyed by war: cuts food production and rural incomes, leading to food insecurity and loss of livelihoods.
- Government corruption: diverts public funds, reduces effective service delivery and investment, and deepens inequality.

(“Low foreign debt” is generally not a cause of spiraling poverty, and “overabundance of exports” is not typically a direct cause.)