In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in
each blank.
Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.
There (1)_______ progress over the last decades: More girls are going to school, fewer girls are forced into early marriage, more women
are serving in parliament and positions of leadership, and laws are being reformed to (2)_______ gender equality. Despite these gains,
many challenges remain: discriminatory laws and social norms remain (3)_______, women continue to be underrepresented at all levels
of political leadership, and 1 in 5 women and girls between the ages of 15 and 49 report experiencing physical or sexual violence by an
intimate partner within a 12-month period. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic could reverse the limited progress that has been
made on gender equality and women’s rights. The coronavirus outbreak (4)_______ existing inequalities for women and girls across
every sphere - from health and the economy to security and social protection. Women play a disproportionate role in responding to the
virus, including as frontline healthcare workers and carers at home. Women’s unpaid care work has increased significantly as a result
of school closures and the increased needs of older people. Women are also harder hit by the economic (5)_______ of COVID-19, as they
disproportionately work in insecure labour markets. Nearly 60 per cent of women work in the informal economy, which puts them at
greater risk of falling into poverty.