SSC CPO 2022 PYQ — Question 48

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.