托福词汇猜测题之trend

　When the prairies were being settled, undoubtedly, the good economic conditions of the 1950's supported a growth in the population, but the expansion also derived from a trend toward earlier marriages and an increase in the average size of families.

　　The word "trend" is closest in meaning to which of following?

　　(A) tendency

　　(B) aim

　　(C) growth

　　(D) directive