Text4 Europeis not a gender-equality heaven.In particular, the corporate workplace willnever be completely family—friendly until women are part of senior managementdecisions,and Europe,s top corporate-governance positions remain overwhelminglymale .indeed,women hold only 14 percent of positions on Europe corporateboards. TheEurope Union is now considering legislation to compel corporate boards tomaintain a certain proportion of women-up to 60 percent.This proposed mandatewas born of frustration. Last year, Europe Commission Vice President VivianeReding issued a call to voluntary action. Reding invited corporations to signup for gender balance goal of 40 percent female board membership. But herappeal was considered a failure: only 24 companies took it up. Do weneed quotas to ensure that women can continue to climb the corporate Ladderfairy as they balance work and family? “Personally,I don’t like quotas,” Reding said recently. “But i like what the quotas do.”Quotas get action: they “open the way to equality and they break through theglass ceiling,” according to Reding, a result seen in France and othercountries with legally binding provisions on placing women in top businesspositions. Iunderstand Reding’s reluctance-and her frustration. I don’t like quotas either;they run counter to my belief in meritocracy, government by the capable. Bur,when one considers the obstacles to achieving the meritocratic ideal, it doeslook as if a fairer world must be temporarily ordered. Afterall, four decades of evidence has now shown that corporations in Europe as theUS are evading the meritocratic hiring and promotion of women to top position—no matter how much “soft pressure ” is put upon them. When women do breakthrough to the summit of corporate power--as, for example, Sheryl Sandbergrecently did at Facebook—they attract massive attention precisely because theyremain the exception to the rule. Ifappropriate pubic policies were in place to help all women---whether CEOs ortheir children’s caregivers--and all families, Sandberg would be no morenewsworthy than any other highly capable person living in a more just society. 36. Inthe European corporate workplace, generally_____. [A]women take the lead [B]men have the final say [C]corporate governance is overwhelmed [D]senior management is family-friendly 37.The European Union’s intended legislation is ________. [A] areflection of gender balance [B] areluctant choice [C] aresponse to Reding’s call [D] avoluntary action 38.According ti Reding, quotas may help women ______. [A]get top business positions [B]see through the glass ceiling [C]balance work and family [D]anticipate legal results 39.The author’s attitude toward Reding’s appeal is one of _________. [A]skepticism [B]objectiveness [C]indifference [D]approval 40. Womenentering top management become headlines due to the lack of ______. [A]more social justice [B]massive media attention [C]suitable public policies [D]greater “soft pressure”