Question

(Many, most) of the population lives in poverty.

Short answer

'Many', considering the element of the sentence, an indefinite but large number seems to be the more appropriate choice. However, the use of 'most' could also be possible in different contexts.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Quantifiers

In English, 'many' and 'most' are quantifiers, a type of determiner which express quantity. 'Many' is used when referring to a large but indefinite number, while 'most' refers to the greater quantity or number in relative terms or the majority.

Contextualizing

To choose the correct word, consider the context. The sentence is about population and poverty. One should consider if the sentence is indicating a majority of the population (most) or a large, yet indefinite number of people (many) are living in poverty.

Choose the correct Quantifier

Given in normal circumstances and considering the topic of poverty which may indicate a large but not necessarily majority population, 'many' could be the more appropriate term to use. However, without additional specific information, this could potentially be subjective and either could feasibly be correct.