I get really concerned to know that we are breeding a generation of young people who are so used to 'watching' and not 'reading'. The Tv set Pc/laptops, computer games, cinema is already the average young person's life routine. So many young people I come across are ignorant of what goes on in the news, harldy read newspapers/magazines and are never really into reading books that will expand their knowledge. I keep hearing the phrase: people get so easily bored with reading (particularly young people), and that pictures have a way of capturing people's attentions. While I agree with the latter, the former is definitely a misguided and stereotypical statement to make.
A large proportion of young people; particulary in the Western society we live in can spend the whole day playing video games or spend valuable time on social networking sites: particulary Facebook and hardly ever enhance their general knowledge and intellect with important subjects such as history, current affairs, politics and science.
It is so crucial to educate our young people on the importance of being intellectually aware of the society around them. Knowing what goes on around the world on a regularly basis is vital to them knowing how the world works so that they can be confident wherever they go and fit into whichever society they find themselves in.
The reading campaign started by the Evening Standard is a good step in ensuring that young people are not so consumed by media technology and are well rounded individuals in terms of how they live their lives spend their time.
Common questions which a lot of young people will fail to answer as a result of ignorance and lack of interest in the society they live in include:
1. What is the Queen's full name?
Answer: Elizabeth Alexandria Mary Windsor
2. Who is the UN secretary general
Answer: Ban Ki Moon
3. The name of the current pope
Answer: Pope Benedict xvi (the sixteenth)
4. What is the worlds most popular book (all-time bestseller)
Answer: The Bible
5. The world's biggest country in terms of land mass
Answer: Canada
6. Which nation in Africa is the most populous
Answer: Nigeria; with over a 150million people
7. Which country is the highest producer/supplier of oil
Answer: Saudi Arabia
8. The only country in Africa not to be colonised by a major European power/country
Answer: Ethiopia
9. Which ancient languages is the modern English language derived from?
Answer: Latin, and old French (Norman language)
10. Who built the famous wall that clearly seperated England from the Scottish land?
Answer: The Roman Emperor Hadrian
11. What is the name of the building that is the American government headquarters for military, intelligence, and security affairs?
Answer: The Pentagon
12. What does the F.B.I stand for?
Answer: Federal Bereau of Investigation
13. In the Arab Muslim world, what is the two main islamic sects?
Answer: Shia and Sunni
14. Which modern day European country used to be referred to as the Ottoman Empire?
Answer: Turkey
15. Alexander the great was from which modern day European country located in the meditteranean?
Answer: Macedonia Read less
Guest
Lydia Phillips
I completely agree, so many people at my school would never choose to read simply for the sake of reading and a lot of them probably couldn't tell you who England's prime minister is. Another issue with the lack of reading is that it's effecting teenagers' basic communication skills, something that really needs to be sorted out.
Emily Willson
I think that many people don't read as much as they perhaps should do, well not 'proper' books anyway. But some people would argue that despite maybe never actually picking up a book to read they are still able to develop their knowlege of the world through the use of social networking delevering them news as it happens, or the use of such things as Online Newspapers/Magazines or Kindles which enable... Read more
Laura Hepburn
Only part of Turkey is in Europe. Most of it is Asia Minor, called the Anatolian peninsula.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey
Onyere Kene
Thanks Laura: I know that already.. However I am talking more in terms of their political and economic stance. They stand more with the EU than the Arab League.
Kathy Marshall
I don't think it really matters if no one knows the Queen's middle names.