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