Question

7. The birthrate in Europe has been in a steady decrease since the 1960s. European countries,realizing crisis is         ，are providing great encouragement for parents to create more babies.

   A. at a loss   B. at any rate

   C. at hand   D. at first

Answer 1

7. C句意为："从上世纪六十年代以来，欧洲的人口出生率持续下降，各国政府意识到危机迫在眉睫，纷纷鼓励父母们生育更多的孩子。"at hand是"在手边,在附近；即将到来，即将发生" 的意思，这里指"迫在眉睫"，符合语境。at a loss意为"困惑，茫然"；at any rate意为"无论如何，至少"；at first意为"起先"。