In metalwork one advantage of adhesive-bonding over spot-welding is that the contact, and hence the bonding, is effected continuously over a broad surface instead of a series of regularly spaced points with no bonding in between.

(A) instead of

(B) as opposed to

(C) in contrast with

(D) rather than at

(E) as against being

不知道为什么要选D，D里的at到底是什么意思做什么用，实在想不通？请各位多多指教！

主要强调平行对应关系, the bonding  is effected  over a broad surface  rather than at  a series of regularly space points

 at points  与前面的 over surface  是对应的.

In metalwork one advantage of adhesive-bonding over spot-welding is that the contact, and hence the bonding, is effected continuously over a broad surface instead of a series of regularly spaced points with no bonding in between.

全句结构为 one advantage is that +从句(主语the contact)+插入语(and hence the bonding)+is affected over a surface instead of points

确保平行，points前要有介词

(D) rather than at 有介词at保持平行，并且符合逻辑意思。