单项选择题
The advantages and disadvantages of a large population have long been a (n) (1) of discussion among economists. It has been argued that the supply of good land is limited. To (2) a large population, the good land must be worded intensively and the (3) land must be cultivated. Thus, each person (4) less and this means a lower average income (5) could be obtained with a smaller population. Other economists have argued that a large population gives more (6) for specialization and the development of facilities. (7) there is a big demand to justify them, facilities such as ports, roads and railways are not (8) to be built.
One of the difficulties in (9) a world- wide birth control program lies in the fact that official attitudes to population growth (10) from country to country depending on the level of industrial development and the availability of food and (11) materials. In the developing country where a vastly (12) population is pressing harder and harder (13) the limits of food, space and natural resources, it will be the first concern of government to place a limit on the birth rate, (14) the consequences may be.
In the highly industrialized society the problem may be more (15) . A decreasing birth rate may lead to unemployment because it results (16) a declining market for manufactured goods. (17) the pressure of population on housing declines, prices also decline and the building (18) is weakened. Faced with considerations such as these, the government of a(n) (19) country may well prefer to see a slowly increasing population, (20) one which is stable or in decline.
A. rather than
B. despite
C. instead
D. regardless of