In this task, you are given a question and answer for that. The answer will fill in the blank or will complete the unfinished question. Your task is to provide an explanation based on the given question or fill-in-the-blank statement, and answer.

Question: An increase in birth rates indicates a/an _____ in the food supply. 
 Answer: increase
Low food supply or a lack of space can lower birth rates, increase death rates, or lead to emigration.

Question: Chris is studying Lake Michigan. He takes soil samples from the Lake in two places. The first sample he takes from right near the shore. The second sample is taken from the middle of the lake. The _____ sample will have greater dissolved nutrients in it. 
 Answer: first
Water near shore generally has more dissolved nutrients than water farther from shore.

Question: A country like the US burns more fossil fuels than a third world country. This means that a third world country causes _____ pollution than a richer country. 
 Answer: less

Because richer nations use more fossil fuels, they also cause more air pollution and global warming than poorer nations do.