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Question : Comprehension:
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 12 months. 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 percent of women work in the informal economy, which puts them at greater risk of falling into poverty.

Question:
Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank number 1.

Option 1: are

Option 2: has been

Option 3: is

Option 4: were