1 I think he means 'at' rather than 'to'
2 The zoo needed better management rather than more money
3 The opposition appear to have chosen the path of cooperation rather than confrontation
4 You are buying direct, rather than through an agent.
5 It seems political expediency, rather than absolute economic need, will determine who gains from the conflict
看来是政治上的权宜之计,而不是绝对的经济需求,将决定谁会从这场冲突中获益。