Meaning: 'Comparisons' refers to the act of evaluating two or more items to identify similarities and differences.

Wrong options:

• competitions: 'Competitions' refers to contests or rivalries, which does not fit the context of analyzing fertility rates.
• associations: 'Associations' implies a connection or relationship, which does not accurately describe the action of making comparisons.
• patterns: 'Patterns' refers to regularities or trends, but it does not convey the act of comparing, which is central to the sentence.
• significance: 'Significance' denotes importance, which does not relate to the act of making comparisons in this context.
• relativity: 'Relativity' refers to the relationship between things, but it does not fit the specific action of comparing fertility rates.
• postponing: 'Postponing' is a verb that means delaying something, which does not fit as it does not relate to the act of making comparisons.

Correct answer: patterns

Explanation: The term 'patterns' is a noun that fits grammatically as it serves as the object of the phrase 'changing age.' The context indicates that the article discusses trends in fertility, making 'patterns' the appropriate choice.

Meaning: 'Patterns' refers to regular or repeated forms or trends, particularly in data or behavior.

Wrong options:

• competitions: 'Competitions' does not relate to the context of fertility trends and is irrelevant here.
• comparisons: 'Comparisons' is already used in the first blank and does not fit the context of describing trends in fertility.
• associations: 'Associations' implies connections but does not describe the trends in fertility rates being discussed.
• significance: 'Significance' refers to importance, which does not apply to the description of changing trends in fertility.
• relativity: 'Relativity' does not fit the context of describing trends and is unrelated to the topic of fertility patterns.
• postponing: 'Postponing' is a verb that does not fit as it does not describe the trends in fertility.

Correct answer: postponing

Explanation: The word 'postponing' is a gerund that fits grammatically as it describes the action women are taking regarding childbirth. The context indicates that women are delaying childbirth, making 'postponing' the correct choice.

Meaning: 'Postponing' means to delay or defer an action to a later time.

Wrong options:

• competitions: 'Competitions' does not relate to the context of childbirth and is irrelevant here.
• comparisons: 'Comparisons' does not fit as it does not describe an action related to childbirth.
• associations: 'Associations' implies connections but does not describe the action of delaying childbirth.
• patterns: 'Patterns' refers to trends but does not convey the action of postponing childbirth.
• significance: 'Significance' refers to importance and does not relate to the action of delaying childbirth.
• relativity: 'Relativity' does not fit the context of describing actions taken by women regarding childbirth.

Correct answer: associations

Explanation: The term 'associations' fits grammatically as it serves as the subject of the phrase 'of women’s education levels and rates of employment.' The context indicates that the article explores the relationships between education, employment, and fertility, making 'associations' the appropriate choice.

Meaning: 'Associations' refers to connections or relationships between different factors.

Wrong options:

• competitions: 'Competitions' does not relate to the context of education and employment and is irrelevant here.
• comparisons: 'Comparisons' does not fit as it does not describe the relationships being explored in the context of education and employment.
• patterns: 'Patterns' refers to trends but does not convey the relationships between education, employment, and fertility.
• significance: 'Significance' refers to importance and does not relate to the exploration of relationships between factors.
• relativity: 'Relativity' does not fit the context of describing associations and is unrelated to the topic of education and employment.
• postponing: 'Postponing' is a verb that does not fit as it does not describe the relationships being explored.