A) Which option best describes the demographic changes that occurred in Kazakhstan under the Soviet Union? (1 point)
The Kazakh population declined during this period, but remained a majority.
Kazakhs became a minority group in Kazakhstan.
The Kazakh population in Kazakhstan remained largely unchanged.
The Kazakh population grew as a proportion of Kazakhstan’s total population.
D) The Kazakh population grew as a proportion of Kazakhstan's total population.
The correct answer is: The Kazakh population grew as a proportion of Kazakhstan’s total population.
To determine the correct answer, we can analyze the given options and eliminate the ones that are clearly incorrect.
Option A: "The Kazakh population declined during this period, but remained a majority." This option suggests that the Kazakh population declined in numbers but still represented the majority of the population. While it is true that the Kazakh population experienced some demographic changes, it is not accurate to say that it declined overall. Therefore, we can eliminate this option.
Option B: "Kazakhs became a minority group in Kazakhstan." This option claims that the Kazakhs became a minority in their own country during the Soviet Union. However, this is not accurate as the Kazakhs were still the majority ethnic group in Kazakhstan. Therefore, we can eliminate this option as well.
Option C: "The Kazakh population in Kazakhstan remained largely unchanged." This option suggests that there were minimal changes in the Kazakh population during the Soviet Union. While the wording of "largely unchanged" leaves room for some slight variations, it is not the most accurate representation of the demographic changes that occurred. As such, we can eliminate this option.
Option D: "The Kazakh population grew as a proportion of Kazakhstan’s total population." This option states that the Kazakh population increased relative to the overall population of Kazakhstan. This aligns with the historical reality during the Soviet Union, as the Kazakh population did experience significant growth in proportion to other ethnic groups in the country. Therefore, option D is the most accurate choice.
Therefore, the correct answer is: The Kazakh population grew as a proportion of Kazakhstan’s total population (Option D).