Question 11
ComprehensionJAMB 1990 Passage III: Education of girls in less developed countries
If we examine the opportunities for education of girls or women in less developed countries, we usually find a dismal picture. In some countries, the ratio of boys to girls in secondary schools is more than seven to one. What happens to the girls? Often they are kept at home to look after younger siblings and to perform a variety of […]es. Their education is not perceived as in any way equal in importance to […]. […] illiterate or barely literate girl reaches adolescence, she has little or no qualification for […] community provides any opportunity for the employment of women. The solution is to get […] soon as possible, with the inevitable result that she produces children too soon, too often and too […]. formal education, she is hardly aware that there is any alternative. In a study made in Thailand […] that the literate woman marries later and ceases childbearing earlier than her non-literate counterpart […] latter is so chained to her household by the necessities of gathering fuel, preparing food and tending children that she is very difficult to reach, even if health services, nutrition, education, maternal and child health centres are available in her community. She does not understand what they are intended to do.
(Adopted from Margot Higgins: War on Hunger)
(Adopted from Margot Higgins: War on Hunger)
The phrase 'a dismal picture' means
- A.a dull show
- B.an interesting show
- C.a sad situation
- D.a dreadful appearance
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: C (a sad situation)
Explanation
'Dismal' means gloomy or depressing, so 'a dismal picture' here is a sad situation for girls' education.