Even today in the modem developed world surveys show that parents still prefer to have a

Even today in the modem, developed world, surveys show that parents still prefer to have a boy rather than a girl. One longstanding reason why boys have been【C1】______as a greater blessing has been that they are【C2】______to become better economic providers【C3】______their parents"old age. Yet it is time for parents to【C4】______again. Girls may now be a better investment.

Girls get better【C5】______at school than boys, and in most developed countries more women than men go to【C6】______. Women will thus be better【C7】______for the new jobs of the 21st century, in which brains【C8】______a lot more than physical strength. In Britain far more women than men are now【C9】______to become doctors. And women are more【C10】______to provide sound advice on investing their parents"nest egg. Surveys show that women consistently【C11】______higher financial returns than men do.

【C12】______, the increase in female employment in the rich world has been the main【C13】______force of growth in the past couple of decades. Those women have【C14】______more to global GDP growth than have either new technology or the new giants, China and India. Add the【C15】______of housework and child-rearing, and women probably account【C16】______just over half of the world output. It is【C17】______that women still get paid less and few【C18】______it to the top of companies, but,【C19】______prejudice fades over coming years, women will have great scope to【C20】______their productivity and in comes.

【C1】

A．seen

B．observed

C．watched

D．noticed