In the United States between 1850 and 1880, the number of farmers continued to increase, but at a rate lower than that of the general population.
Which of the following statements directly contradicts the information presented above?
A The number of farmers in the general population increased slightly in the 30 years between 1850 and 1880.
B The rate of growth of the United States labor force and the rate of growth of the general population rose simultaneously in the 30 years between 1850 and 1880.
C The proportion of farmers in the United States labor force remained constant in the 30 years between 1850 and 1880.
D The proportion of farmers in the United States labor force decreased from 64 percent in 1850 to 49 percent in 1880.
E The proportion of farmers in the general population increased from 68 percent in 1850 to 72 percent in 1880.
答案：E
Explanation
The given sentence indicates that the proportion of farmers in the general population decreased from 1850 to 1880. Choice E says exactly the opposite — that this proportion increased — and therefore it contradicts the passage and is the correct response. Choice A is incorrect because it agrees with the given sentence, and Choices B, C, and D are all incorrect because they refer to the labor force, about which the given sentence says nothing.
