Reading comprehension: Short answer questions
Hinweise zur Aufgabenform „short answer questions“
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„Short answer questions“ prüfen in der Regel Detailkenntnisse eines Textes ab. Dabei folgt die Anordnung der Fragen dem Aufbau des Textes.
Text: Voice of the voiceless
A Huddled around a microphone in the tiny rural radio station of Nankori in the forest region of Guinea, four young people are discussing girls‘ education. „Girls should go to school, because they’ll become mothers one day, and if they are educated, they’ll educate their own children and will be able to look after them better,“ says Moriko Kaki, a 17-year-old villager who is obviously proud of having been invited to the discussion. „When you educate a girl, you educate an entire nation,“ Mamadou Malick, 18, adds emphatically. Lancei Tour, the programme’s 16-year-old host, nods in agreement.
B In countries such as Guinea where a large part of the adult population is illiterate, many children don’t have access to school and electricity is rare generator-powered rural and community radio stations are a lifeline. In the region of Nankori, two out of three families have a transistor, and when the station broadcasts early in the morning and in the evening, the whole village listens. „We speak their own language, we know their traditions and customs, we transmit their messages, announce births and deaths, and we discuss agriculture issues and community problems,“ says Gnouma Camara, programme director at Nankori rural radio station, which broadcasts six days a week in one of five regional languages and in French within a radius of 100km. „We are the voice of the community. The voice of the voiceless.“ he adds with pride.
C To children in developing countries, who are rarely heard, this voice is especially important. „Before, adults were always telling me to be quiet, but now they are listening to me. I give them information, and they respect me more,“ says Sia Simone Kamano. The 18-year-old has been working at Nankori radio station for two years as part of a child radio project by Plan, an international children’s organisation.
D In Guinea many children don’t have enough to eat, are not immunised and don’t go to school. Infant mortality is high, child labour is common. A 1999 national survey showed that 97% of all women were subjected to genital mutilation. To address these issues, Plan launched a mass child radio campaign in Guinea in 2001. Across the country more than 300 children were involved in the project. They worked with professional actors to produce fairytales in which familiar animals – a lion, a hyena, an elephant, a monkey and a hare – communicate with the children and defend their rights.
Adapted from an article in Guardian Weekly, March 14, 2005