# Paternity leave - 科目：雅思阅读真题（Part 2） - 考频：中频 - 最近考试：2026.4.10广东轻工职业技术大学 - 题目数：12 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/6b36564c-b78c-47a2-8624-0e94dc99c527（在线机考练习与音频请访问该页面） - 数据更新：2026-10-29 ## 题目原文 Men have long been discouraged from playing an equal role at home. That is at last starting to change. A At a course for fathers-to-be in New York, participants are introduced to baby maintenance for beginners: how to keep their babies fed, warm, and clean. The City Dads Group was founded when Matt Schneider and Lanee Somerfeld became fathers and discovered that people saw their place as firmly outside the home. New York was full of parents' support groups, but nearly all were aimed at mothers. Frustrated, the friends set up their own group, which has spread to 17 cities in the USA, helping fathers who want to get involved from day one. B In general, legal and financial support for new parents is better than it has ever been. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), 85% of countries now provide at least 12 weeks' maternity leave. In all but two of the 185 countries it surveys, mothers are entitled to some leave paid for by the state, companies or some combination of the two. Although only a third of countries meet the ILO's recommended minimum of at least 14 weeks off for new mothers, paid at two-thirds their salary and funded publicly, the picture is improving. But how many countries meet the ILO's guidelines on paternity leave? None, because no such guidelines exist. Though it publishes detailed advice regarding female employees, the organisation has drawn up no formal recommendations on fathers' rights and duties. Until recently, national governments have been similarly uninterested; less than half of countries offer paternity leave of any sort. Only around half a dozen offer new fathers more than a fortnight, and companies, not the state, usually foot the bill for the costs of paternity leave. In the eyes of most people, responsibility for bringing up baby still falls squarely on the mother. C Now a different view is slowly emerging, as growing evidence suggests that children benefit from seeing more of their fathers. But much of the demand for a shift in approaches to childcare has come from women, who have started to conclude that they are victims as well as beneficiaries of generous maternity-leave policies. D This may appear paradoxical, as most countries have found that when they offer decent maternity leave, they increase female employment. If women have no right to take time off, or are entitled only to short or poorly paid spells of absence, many have little choice but to leave the workforce when their baby is born. If they can take a few months of paid leave before returning to their old job, they are more likely to continue working. But it turns out that long maternity breaks have unintended consequences. Time away from the labour market reduces women's earning power, as their skills degrade and they miss chances to gain experience and win promotion. Moving into senior management becomes particularly hard, partly because of discrimination by boss and hiring committees, who reject candidates they think may be away a lot, and partly because many high-level jobs are hard to combine with serial leave-taking. And the effect is magnified when lengthy maternity leave is combined with policies to encourage part-time work, which tempt more women back into the labour force but help keep them in junior positions. E Rather than simply cutting maternity leave in response to such findings, a growing number of governments are trying to spread the child-rearing burden (or joy, depending on how one looks at it). Britain recently became the latest country to combine maternity and paternity leave into a single chunk of parental leave, to be split between mother and father however they see fit. Several European countries, as well as Australia and New Zealand, already have such a system. The problem is that dads tend not to take up the offer. In Austria, the Czech Republic and Poland, where all parental leave is transferable, only about 3% of dads make use of it. In Britain, the government estimates that 2-8% of dads will take more than their existing fortnight. The main reason for low take-up by fathers is financial: even pre-childbirth, women are paid less than men, meaning that their salaries are easier to forgo during a period of unpaid or low-paid leave. But pressure related to culture also weigh heavily. Mothers still tend to be seen as the main carers, with dads portrayed in domestic terms as blundering sidekicks or well-meaning buffoons. F To overcome these obstacles, some countries are giving fathers a firm nudge. In a few, including Chile, Italy and Portugal, paternity leave is compulsory. Others offer incentives that are hard to turn down. Sweden grants a bonus to parents who share leave more equally. Swedish fathers now account for more than a fifth of all parental leave taken, compared with almost none when shared leave was introduced. Germany introduced the same system and saw the proportion of fathers taking time off rise from 3% in 2006 to 32% in 2013, and Poland has switched to gender-specific quotas, replacing the previous system of shared leave. Where leave is well-paid and not seen as 'belonging' to the mother, fathers seem willing to request it. State meddling in what has historically been regarded as a natural division of labour may annoy some people. But traditional maternity leave, which channels men into breadwinning and women into child-rearing, is hardly neutral. And shared involvement by parents stands to improve women's careers, children's development and perhaps even dads' life satisfaction. ## 题目与答案 ### 14. 14 Paragraph A 14 Paragraph A - opposition by employers to parental leave - an illustration of a trend in one country - an explanation for the limited success of government initiatives - pressure for change from an unlikely source - the need for cooperation at a global level - the contrast in attitudes towards leave for mothers and fathers **答案**：an illustration of a trend in one country 原文定位：At a course for fathers-to-be in New York, participants are introduced to baby maintenance for beginners;The City Dads Group was founded… Frustrated, the friends set up their own group, which has spread to 17 cities in the USA, helping fathers who want to get involved from day one ### 15. 15 Paragraph B 15 Paragraph B - opposition by employers to parental leave - an illustration of a trend in one country - an explanation for the limited success of government initiatives - pressure for change from an unlikely source - the need for cooperation at a global level - the contrast in attitudes towards leave for mothers and fathers **答案**：the contrast in attitudes towards leave for mothers and fathers 原文定位：According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), 85% of countries now provide at least 12 weeks' maternity leave;Though it publishes detailed advice regarding female employees, the organisation has drawn up no formal recommendations on fathers' rights and duties. Until recently, national governments have been similarly uninterested; less than half of countries offer paternity leave of any sort. In the eyes of most people, responsibility for bringing up baby still falls squarely on the mother ### 16. 16 Paragraph C 16 Paragraph C - opposition by employers to parental leave - an illustration of a trend in one country - an explanation for the limited success of government initiatives - pressure for change from an unlikely source - the need for cooperation at a global level - the contrast in attitudes towards leave for mothers and fathers **答案**：pressure for change from an unlikely source 原文定位：But much of the demand for a shift in approaches to childcare has come from women, who have started to conclude that they are victims as well as beneficiaries of generous maternity-leave policies 同义替换：「pressure for change」↔「demand for a shift in approaches to childcare」；「unlikely source」↔「women」 ### 17. 17 Paragraph D 17 Paragraph D - opposition by employers to parental leave - an illustration of a trend in one country - an explanation for the limited success of government initiatives - pressure for change from an unlikely source - the need for cooperation at a global level - the contrast in attitudes towards leave for mothers and fathers **答案**：the implications of maternity leave 原文定位：But it turns out that long maternity breaks have unintended consequences. Time away from the labour market reduces women's earning power, as their skills degrade and they miss chances to gain experience and win promotion. Moving into senior management becomes particularly hard;And the effect is magnified when lengthy maternity leave is combined with policies to encourage part-time work 同义替换：「implications」↔「unintended consequences」；「maternity leave」↔「long maternity breaks」 ### 18. 18 Paragraph E 18 Paragraph E - opposition by employers to parental leave - an illustration of a trend in one country - an explanation for the limited success of government initiatives - pressure for change from an unlikely source - the need for cooperation at a global level - the contrast in attitudes towards leave for mothers and fathers **答案**：an explanation for the limited success of government initiatives 原文定位：Britain recently became the latest country to combine maternity and paternity leave into a single chunk of parental leave;The problem is that dads tend not to take up the offer;The main reason for low take-up by fathers is financial;But pressure related to culture also weigh heavily ### 19. 19 Paragraph F 19 Paragraph F - opposition by employers to parental leave - an illustration of a trend in one country - an explanation for the limited success of government initiatives - pressure for change from an unlikely source - the need for cooperation at a global level - the contrast in attitudes towards leave for mothers and fathers **答案**：a range of measures to encourage more equal responsibility 原文定位：To overcome these obstacles, some countries are giving fathers a firm nudge. In a few, including Chile, Italy and Portugal, paternity leave is compulsory. Others offer incentives that are hard to turn down. Sweden grants a bonus to parents who share leave more equally;Germany introduced the same system;Poland has switched to gender-specific quotas ### 20-21. According to the writer, which TWO problems may be caused by maternity leave? According to the writer, which TWO problems may be caused by maternity leave? - Women may be less effective at work after maternity leave. - Women may find it difficult to find suitable part-time work. - Women may find they are paid less for doing the same work. - Women's chances of professional advancement may be affected. - Women's pay may be insufficient to support them during maternity leave. **答案**：Women may be less effective at work after maternity leave.,Women's chances of professional advancement may be affected. 原文定位：But it turns out that long maternity breaks have unintended consequences. Time away from the labour market reduces women's earning power, as their skills degrade and they miss chances to gain experience and win promotion. Moving into senior management becomes particularly hard 同义替换：「professional advancement」↔「win promotion」；「affected」↔「hard」；「problems may be caused」↔「unintended consequences」 ### 22. Encouraging more fathers to take paternity leave Even in countries where paternity leave is easy to get, few fathers make use of it chiefly for 22_____ reasons. Encouraging more fathers to take paternity leave Even in countries where paternity leave is easy to get, few fathers make use of it chiefly for 22_____ reasons. **答案**：financial 原文定位：The main reason for low take-up by fathers is financial: even pre-childbirth, women are paid less than men, meaning that their salaries are easier to forgo during a period of unpaid or low-paid leave 同义替换：「few fathers make use of it」↔「low take-up by fathers」 ### 23. However, issues connected with 23_____, including traditional views of male and female roles in the family, may also play a part. However, issues connected with 23_____, including traditional views of male and female roles in the family, may also play a part. **答案**：culture 原文定位：But pressure related to culture also weigh heavily. Mothers still tend to be seen as the main carers, with dads portrayed in domestic terms as blundering sidekicks or well-meaning buffoons 同义替换：「issues connected with」↔「pressure related to」；「including traditional views of male and female roles in the family」↔「Mothers still tend to be seen as the main carers」；「may also play a part」↔「also weigh heavily」 ### 24. Some countries, such as Chile, have made it 24_____ for men to take paternity leave. Some countries, such as Chile, have made it 24_____ for men to take paternity leave. **答案**：compulsory 原文定位：To overcome these obstacles, some countries are giving fathers a firm nudge. In a few, including Chile, Italy and Portugal, paternity leave is compulsory 同义替换：「such as」↔「including」 ### 25. Sweden and Germany both offer a bonus to families where parents share leave, and in Poland, mothers and fathers each have 25_____ of leave which are specified for them. Sweden and Germany both offer a bonus to families where parents share leave, and in Poland, mothers and fathers each have 25_____ of leave which are specified for them. **答案**：quotas 原文定位：Germany introduced the same system and saw the proportion of fathers taking time off rise from 3% in 2006 to 32% in 2013, and Poland has switched to gender-specific quotas, replacing the previous system of shared leave 同义替换：「specified for them」↔「gender-specific」 ### 26. Sharing children in this way may be good for both mothers and fathers and may also support the 26_____ of the child. Sharing children in this way may be good for both mothers and fathers and may also support the 26_____ of the child. **答案**：development 原文定位：And shared involvement by parents stands to improve women's careers, children's development and perhaps even dads' life satisfaction 同义替换：「Sharing children in this way」↔「shared involvement by parents」；「support」↔「improve」 --- 以上内容由鸭圈雅思真题库（www.yaquan.site）提供，收录近期雅思考试真题回忆，支持在线机考模式免费练习。