Read the passage and fill in each blank with the correct answer

International Women’s Day takes place every year on 8 March to celebrate the achievements of women worldwide. It started with a (20) that took place in New York City in 1908 where women went out onto the streets to demand the right to vote, shorter working hours and better pay. Nowadays, it is a global event that is supported by many charities, NGOs, governments and academic institutions.

In today’s world, it may appear that women have all the same opportunities as men. If you watch the news, you will see women astronauts, women prime ministers and women leaders in business. (21) , if you look at the statistics you will realise that there’s still a long way to go. A report by BBC a few years ago showed that in the UK, women occupied only 30.9% of the most senior positions in areas like politics and business. What is (22) , latest figures suggest that British women still earn on average 20% less than men. So, although progress has been made since 1908, there is still a lot to (23) before we see an equal number of men and women in the top jobs and receiving equal pay.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, a lot of special events take place in towns and cities all (24) the UK. There are exhibitions, theatre shows, talks, walking tours, films, workshops and so much more. All the events are designed not only to celebrate the role of women in society but also to encourage efforts to achieve gender equality.