The population of Megacity, a sprawling metropolis inRemsland, has grown at a fairly steady rate for over a century. A hundred years ago, poor sanitation in thecity caused high mortality rates among the city's inhabitants, and what fueledthe population increase was immigration from rural villages. This immigration has continued and evenincreased. Moreover, in recent decades,city sanitation has improved enormously. Yet the city's population growth has not significantly accelerated.

　　Which of the following, if true, most helps to explainwhy the city's population growth rate has not changed?

　　(A) Mortality rates that were associated with poorsanitation in Megacity a hundred years ago were orders of magnitude higher thanare mortality rates associated with vehicular traffic, which is currently amajor cause of death in the city.

　　(B) For several decades, Megacity, as distinct from thecountryside, has had a steadily declining birth rate.

　　(C) Cities smaller than Megacity have also experiencedsustained population growth.

　　(D) The great majority of immigrants to Remsland settlein Megacity, at least initially.

　　(E) Megacity has long offered better employment prospectsthan most rural areas.

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