18.4
1 c
2 a
3 d
4 b

18.5
1 That's partially right. However, nowadays many women try to reduce their maternity pariod as they're afraid to loose their qualification and social guarantees provided by the employer.   
2 I aggree, because in this case unemployed have bigger motivation to find themselves a job.
3 It might be right in some cases, but mostly those countries should learn to rely on their own resources.