Currently, the American armed forces are the largest professional military on the planet. Other (1) have professional soldiers, (2) not as many as the United States. For thousands of years, it was (3) that professional soldiers were superior to (4) timers. But (5) most of history, few nations could (6) an army of professionals, at least not on a permanent basis. It washt (7) the late 20th century that countries began to (8) large, permanent, all-volunteer armed forces that were carefully (9) and trained for combat. Britain was the first, when it phased out conscription in 1962. In 1975, the United States followed (10) . For over a century, conscription has been seen (11) the way to remain (12) p without breaking the bank. But the conscripts did not stay in uniform long enough to get really good at fighting. Britain and American were the first two nations to realize that conscription was so (13) that the voters would pay extra to 14 a professional force. Within a decade, an army of professionals begins to pay (15) . The professionals are not only more (16) on the battlefield, but are also, if carefully (17) (for education and aptitude) more likely to constantly develop better ways to (18) This produces a tremendous battlefield (19) It doesn’t make you (20) , but it does make you very difficult to defeat.
Read the following text. Choose the best word(s) for each numbered blank and mark A, B, C or D on ANSWER SHEET 1.19（）
A．advantage
B．harmony
C．hazard
D．savage
