Question

7. The birthrate in Europe has been in a steady decrease since the 1960s. European countries,realizing crisis is         ，are providing great encouragement for parents to create more babies.

   A. at a loss   B. at any rate

   C. at hand   D. at first

Answer 1

7. C句意為："從上世紀六十年代以來，歐洲的人口出生率持續下降，各國政府意識到危機迫在眉睫，紛紛鼓勵父母們生育更多的孩子。"at hand是"在手邊,在附近；即將到來，即將發生" 的意思，這里指"迫在眉睫"，符合語境。at a loss意為"困惑，茫然"；at any rate意為"無論如何，至少"；at first意為"起先"。