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.
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RESOURCES BELONG TO THE SOCIETY
When I arrived in Hamburg Germany, my colleague who worked there arranged a welcome party for me in a 36 . We noticed a few customers including several old ladies, were having their meal. When a dish is 37 , the waiter would distribute the food for them, and they would 38 every bit of the food on their plates.
As I was hungry, my local colleague 39 much food for me. Since there were other things to do, we did not 40 much time dining. When we planned to leave, there was still about one third of 41 food left. When we were leaving the restaurant, we 42 someone calling us. When the old ladies spoke to us in English, we understood that they were 43 about us wasting so much food.
“We 44 for our food; it is none of your 45 how much food we left behind”, my colleague told the old ladies. They got angry, and one of them 46 made a call to someone. After a while, an officer in 47 arrived. Upon knowing what had happened, he issued us a 50-euro 48 . The officer told us in a stern（严厉的）voice: “order 49 you can consume. Money is yours, 50 the resources belong to the society. You have no 51 for wasting them.” Our face turned red. We all agreed with him in our 52 . My colleague took out a 50-euro note and repeatedly 53 to the officer.
My colleague copied the fine ticket and gave a copy to each of us as a souvenir. We all 54 it to remind us that we should never be 55 .
A．restaurant B．company C．family D．bank
A．cooked B．served C．gathered D．missed
A．desert B．refuse C．oppose D．finish
A．kept B．sold C．ordered D．made
A．save B．spend C．divide D．find
A．undiscovered B．undeveloped C．unconsumed D．undetermined
A．appointed B．knew C．realized D．heard
A．curious B．unhappy C．nervous D．optimistic
A．paid B．asked C．applied D．accounted
A．matter B．mind C．question D．business
A．immediately B．passively C．excitedly D．regularly
A．rags B．uniform C．fashion D．dream
A．award B．food C．fine D．souvenir
A．how B．it C．that D．what
A．but B．and C．or D．so
A．ability B．problem C．reason D．power
A．words B．hearts C．faces D．ears
A．apologized B．accused C．admitted D．approved
A．stuck B．broke C．kept D．threw
A．hopeful B．grateful C．merciful D．wasteful
Time is very important in our lives. It organizes our everyday moments. However, time never had any importance in my life until I 16 a watch from my father, which organized my life and made me more responsible. It’s round in the center with two silver bands(带) that 17 around my wrist and all of it is made of silver.
I received this 18 on a gray – sky day. I had to go to the airport at 9:00 am to19 up my Uncle Ali and take him to my father’s house.20 , I was late because I was 21 out with my friends. Later on that day, around 11:00 am, I 22 my uncle, but I was very late for him. He had 23 the airport and taken a taxi to my father’s house.
I got to my father’s house at 2:00 pm that day and felt ashamed of myself at that moment. After I said hi to my 24 father and tired uncle, my father asked me to sit next to him and handed me this watch as a gift from him. Then he said, “Peter, did you have 25 with your friends today?” I answered, “Yes, father, and 26 apologized for not meeting my Uncle Ali.” He said, “What you 27 was not very nice and you should be sorry for your action.” I was ashamed and said, “Father, I’ll never do it again . I promise.” He said, “I hope today you learned something important, and this watch will be a 28 for you.” He told me to take this watch and use it as an organizer of my 29 .
I learned a very important lesson from my father: to respect time and never to be late to get someone. This watch is 30 to me, not because of its price, but because of the lesson that I learned from it.
A．received B．accepted C．won D．achieved
A．go B．run C．are D．attach
A．card B．letter C．gift D．thing
A．call B．pick C．put D．bring
A．Otherwise B．Besides C．However D．Therefore
A．going B．leaving C．standing D．hanging
A．forgot B．remembered C．saw D．visited
A．arrived B．recognized C．left D．found
A．kind B．happy C．angry D．doubtful
A．lunch B．quarrel C．appointment D．fun
A．I B．he C．they D．we
A．said B．did C．thought D．forgot
A．wonder B．hope C．requirement D．reminder
A．life B．day C．way D．thought
A．useful B．necessary C．different D．Important
It is well known that Albert Einstein was one of the greatest scientists of all time, but I think he was also a really great person. I’ve done some research on him and 1. _______ something interesting.
When Einstein started to work in America, someone asked him what he needed. He said he needed a desk, some 2. _______ and a pencil. He also asked for a big wastepaper basket to 3. _______ all of his mistakes. This shows that he knew even the 4. _______ man in the world can only learn by making mistakes.
Einstein was also very modest(谦虚的). Many children wrote letters to ask him for help with their homework. One day, he wrote a letter to a young girl to tell her not to 5. _______ about her maths homework because he thought maths was difficult too.
Einstein regarded time as very valuable. He never wore socks, because he thought 6. _______ socks was a waste of time as people already wore 7. _______. He also thought it was a waste of time remembering things that could be found in a book. That’s 8. _______ he never remembered his own phone number, which was in the phone book. He knew what was worth 9. _______. It is true that if we are going to do 10. _______ things in our lives, we can’t waste time.
A．put out B．found out C．carried out D．made out
A．paper B．food C．water D．air
A．hold B．take C．carry D．bring
A．kindest B．coolest C．cleverest D．coldest
A．think B．talk C．worry D．set
A．putting on B．waiting on C．riding on D．getting on
A．suits B．shoes C．trousers D．clothes
A．how B．why C．when D．where
A．remembering B．seeing C．writing D．saying
A．useless B．terrible C．small D．great
When Sang Lan got to the Goodwill Games held in New York, she felt very happy. She was a devoted athlete, who had spent many years practising her sport. Her strongest 31 was the vault and she was the best in China. She hoped to win this event at the games. However, during a practice vault, this young girl made a small mistake. Her mistake 32 her the ability to walk. Instead of landing on her feet, Sang landed on her head and broke her neck. She was 33 to a top hospital, and doctors said she would never walk again.
While in hospital, Sang had many 34 , including Christopher Reeve, an actor who once played Superman. Reeve could not 35 either, due to an unfortunate horse riding accident. He 36 Sang to stay positive and told her that being 37 wouldn’t help her get better. Sang already knew this and 38 the sympathy and admiration of people across the world with her good 39 and beautiful smile.
Sang 40 to China, and hosted a sports programme about the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Sang Lan works hard at everything she does. She is a role model for young people nationwide!
A．wish B．event C．point D．happiness
A．spent B．took C．cost D．moved
A．forced B．told C．persuaded D．rushed
A．thoughts B．visitors C．partners D．players
A．walk B．work C．live D．play
A．asked B．taught C．encouraged D．reminded
A．sad B．positive C．cheerful D．frightened
A．gave B．showed C．won D．needed
A．friendship B．attitude C．figure D．reaction
A．came B．returned C．went D．Flew
My husband and I sat outside. A small child about three came up the street, accompanied by her mother. As she saw another girl a few feet away, she gave her admiring comment, “Mommy, I like her dress.” Her mom 21 , “Well, why don’t you go and tell her?”
The little girl walked 22 toward the girl wearing the pretty dress. The other one,
23 the same age, was standing with her 24 turned, alongside her parents. They had not heard the compliment (赞美). Receiving no answer, this little one 25 . My husband said to the other girl, “ 26 wants to tell you something.” As she turned around, connection was made. Once again, the little one 27 “I like your dress,” and upon hearing those words, the other one gave her a big smile and excitedly 28 “Look, it’s a spinning (旋转) dress!”, at which moment she began to spin in 29. Both of them smiled widely.
Now, the one stopped spinning and said, “It’s my favorite dress and I have (a) 30 that match!” She 31 running toward a stroller (婴儿车) parked nearby.
The mom and the daughter started to 32 down the street, 33 the encounter (邂逅) had ended. Moments later, the “spinning dress girl” reappeared, shoes in hand, 34 her new friend who had seemingly disappeared. Now, an elderly couple, seated on a bench, had obviously been 35 of all this. The man 36 the child, saying, “There’s someone coming behind you.” Then we saw one showed and the other 37 the beautiful shoes.
If you can make a 38 better, do it. I have no idea how many others that evening might have 39 this act, hoping to help good things to happen. But such brief moments, 40 together, make up what might very well be the important times in our lives.
A．replied B．scolded C．laughed D．required
A．secretly B．shyly C．heavily D．suddenly
A．usually B．hopefully C．likely D．luckily
A．back B．head C．nose D．hand
A．shouted B．left C．cried D．hesitated
A．Anyone B．Someone C．Everyone D．No one
A．suggested B．apologized C．explained D．announced
A．turned B．shared C．jumped D．agreed
A．circles B．lines C．directions D．rows
A．shoes B．socks C．shirt D．hat
A．took off B．turned down C．put on D．made up
A．lead B．look C．head D．get
A．remembering B．hoping C．saying D．thinking
A．coming across B．looking for C．shouting at D．calling on
A．watchful B．careful C．proud D．fond
A．calmed B．comforted C．stopped D．seated
A．wore B．admired C．compared D．bought
A．moment B．life C．girl D．dress
A．learned B．performed C．praised D．observed
A．seized B．spent C．threaded D．lost