139-3-653
What do you know?
It is not merely a question of literacy. Anecdotal evidence suggests that Egypt’s high rate of traffic accidents, for instance, may be largely due to ignorance of basic rules. High fatality rates in hospitals reflect poor standards of training, accountability and hygiene. A 2008 study of public awareness of AIDS revealed that only 1.8% of women among the poorest fifth of Egyptians, and less than 16% among the richest, knew the basic facts of the disease. Men were better informed, but even so less than 30% of the wealthiest class were aware, for example, that someone might be HIV-positive yet look healthy.
Recent surveys also show that two-thirds of Egyptian girls aged 10-14 have been subjected to the traditional practice of female circumcision. This is down from 90% among women in their 20s, which suggests a rapid decline. But the persistence of the brutal and dangerous custom, despite an official ban and public-awareness campaigns, is disturbing.
A government survey this year found that, apart from school textbooks, 88% of Egyptian households read no books, and three-quarters of families do not read any newspapers or magazines either. Of those who do read, 79% concentrate on religious subjects. Perhaps more encouragingly, the study found that nearly three-quarters of youths aged 15-29 have used the internet, and almost half of them have read books on the web. But again, religious fare was the favourite subject, followed by sport, and only distantly by scientific subjects. Other surveys have found far lower levels of internet use.

A. 어휘
literacy 문자해득. anecdotal 逸話(일화)의, 일화 같은.
due to ... 때문에. ignorance 無知(무지). fatality rate 사망률.
reflect 반영하다. training 훈련. accountability 책임. hygiene 위생.
awareness 自覺(자각), 의식, 앎. reveal 드러내다, 알리다.
subject 당하게 하다, 맡기다, 복종시키다. practice 관례, 습관.
circumcision 割禮(할례). persistence 끈덕짐, 완고.
brutal 잔인한, 가차 없는. official ban 공식적인 금지. awareness 각성.
disturbing 혼란스러운, 攪亂(교란)시키는. three-quarters 4분의 3.
subjects 주제. encouragingly 鼓舞的(고무적)으로.
fare 내용, 상연작품, 음식.