UGC NET Reading Comp Q46

Question

Read the passage and answer the following question.
Few subjects have been more controversial in development thought than the relation between population and development. This has perhaps been inevitable, given the intellectual history of the subject. The influence of Malthus has not been helpful. Even though he revised his original harsh thesis so that in the later editions of the Essay he had accepted positions that fundamentally undermined it, his 'iron law' inspires generations of reactionary thinkers: they took the line that there was no point in helping the poor-they would only 'breed' more until war, hunger or disease cut them down. At least as far [truncated]

Accepted Answer

3