Census

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/census

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the historical census purpose?Primarily for taxation, military conscription, and resource allocation in ancient societies
2. Why do people count everyone?Counting people helps governments plan for schools, hospitals, roads, and fair representation in government.
3. How do modern censuses collect information?Today, people can fill out online forms or give paper questionnaires. Computers also help match data and fill in missing answers.

Apportionment: The process of dividing the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives among the states based on population.
Enumeration: The act of counting or listing all the items or individuals in a population.
Demographic Transition: The historical shift from high birth rates and death rates in societies to low birth rates and death rates.