The birthrate in Europe has been in a steady decrease since the 1960s. European countries, realizing crisis is at hand, are providing great encouragement for parents to create more babies in the 21st century.

Affairs Ministry concluded last year that,    11    cash encouragement, some women just don’t want to be    12    holding the baby. “What we know is that it’s good for the    13___ if men and women share the burden of having children,” says Soren Kindlund, family policy adviser at the Swedish ministry.    14    Swedish parents can take their paid leave as they wish, men use a mere 12% of it; 60% of fathers do not take even a(n)    15 _   day off work.

Experts fear that the tendency for women to use most of the parental leave could make employers    16    to give young women the permanent jobs they need to qualify for paid maternity leave (产假). In January, Sweden decided to allow new fathers two months’ paid leave, with a warming: use it or    17    it.

Kindlund admits that men are under   18    to stay at work, even though parental pay comes out of the public purse. “It’s not popular among bosses and perhaps with other men in the workplace,” he says. “But it’s good for the father and for the child if they can    19    a relationship.”

In Norway, a(n)   20    policy has worked wonders. 70% of dads in Norway now take parental leave, and the birthrate of 1.85 children per woman is one of the highest in Europe.

11. A. is spite of   B. at the cost of 

 C. in addition to         D. due to

12. A. sent    B. left      C. caught    D. seen

13. A. birthrate   B. income      C. health    D. spirit

14. A. Just as   B. Only if     C. Even though      D. Now that

15. A. one   B. mere     C. only   D. single

16. A. willing   B. reluctant    C. likely   D. unable

17. A. reserve     B. misuse     C. ignore    D. lose

18. A. discussion  B. attack     C. control     D. pressure

19. A. make out    B. add up    C. build up     D. set aside

20. A. impersonal   B. similar     C. severe     D. global

The birthrate is Europe has been in a steady decrease since the 1960s. European countries, realizing crisis is at hand, are providing great encouragement for parents to create more babies in the 21st century.

Affairs Ministry concluded last year that, __1__ cash encouragement, some women just don’t want to be __2__ holding the baby. “What we know is that it’s good for the __3__ if men and women share the burden of having children,” says Soren Kindlund, family policy adviser at the Swedish ministry. __4__ Swedish parents can take their paid leave as they wish, men use a mere 12% of it; 60% of fathers do not take even a(n) __5__ day off work.

Experts fear that the tendency for women to use most of the parental leave could make employers __6__ to give young women the permanent jobs they need to qualify for paid maternity leave (产假). In January, Sweden decided to allow new fathers two months’ paid leave, with a warming: use it or __7__ it.

Kindlund admits that men are under __8__ to stay at work, even though parental pay comes out of the public purse. “It’s not popular among bosses and perhaps with other men in the workplace,” he says. “But it’s good for the father and for the child if they can __9__ a relationship.”

In Norway, a (n) __10__ policy has worked wonders. 70% of dads in Norway now take parental leave, and the birthrate of 1.85 children per woman is one of the highest in Europe. 

A. is spite of       B. at the cost of     C. in addition to     D. due to

A. sent        B. left           C. caught        D. seen

A. birthrate    B. income         C. health       D. spirit

A. Just as      B. Only if        C. Even though      D. Now that

A. one        B. mere           C. only            D. single

A. willing     B. reluctant        C. likely          D. unable

A. reserve      B. misuse         C. ignore      D. lose

A. discussion   B. attack          C. control     D. pressure

A. make out    B. add up         C. build up  D. set aside

A. impersonal   B. similar       C. severe    D. global

 It is a fact that there is a (n) _______ towards regional cooperation.

We have every reason to believe that our business has shown a(n) ____ to improve.

A．direction                              B．tendency

C．aspect                                D．effect

I was eight years old then. Looking __36__ I remember the time in a baseball field passing the team that we had just __37__ . We shook their hands and said, "Good game!"

It is __38__ to do that when you win! When you lose, you have a tendency(倾向) to slap (拍) the hand — instead of shaking it — and __39__ the ground instead of the eyes. This is not only true for an eight-year-old; it is true for adults, too.

A few years ago, in a softball league, we lost 15 games! And we thought it was __40__ . But during the " Good game" handshake after each __41__, I looked each player in the eyes and shook their hands. I couldn't look my opponents (对手) in the eyes and congratulate them on a good __42__ when I was eight. Somehow I took the loss as a __43__ on my self-worth and felt my self-confidence had been slapped; __44_- I did what most eight-year-olds do and I slapped the opponents' hands, not giving them the satisfaction of a shake. I was wrong to do this. I'm happy today as a(n) __45__ that I have learned this __46__ : There is something to be said for losing well.

__47__ it is a baseball game or an important examination, you can __48__ a lot about a person by now they deal with defeat. The person who deals with defeat as an __49__ blow is not allowing the event to define (定义) him, while someone who cannot __50__ defeat is allowing the event to __51__ his self-worth. In my opinion, when you __52__ in something— though it may be __53__ — look at your opponents in the eyes, and shake their hands in a __54__ way as you say, "Good game!" __55__ to allow the event to define your life. You might find yourself winning the next game.