Read the following map/graphs and answer the questions given below :[Graph: horizontal bar graph titled ‘ADULT LITERACY RATE 2016’, scale 0 to 100%. For each region there are two bars, M = Male (plain) and F = Female (hatched). Approximate values rea…

Answer: (1) South Asia; (5) North Africa and West Asia.

(1) South Asia has the lowest adult female literacy rate, about 55%.

(2) In all three regions male literacy is higher because boys are given preference in education; girls are kept at home for household work, married early and drop out of school; poverty and social customs limit girls’ schooling.

(3) Sub-Saharan Africa has low male and female literacy (male about 72%, female about 58%) because of widespread poverty, rapid population growth, lack of schools and teachers in rural areas, child labour, early marriage, conflict and poor health facilities.

(4) In every region the female literacy rate is lower than the male rate, and the gap is widest in South Asia (about 25 percentage points). Female literacy must be increased through free education for girls, scholarships, awareness campaigns and safe schools, because educated women improve family health, reduce birth rate and help development.

(5) North Africa and West Asia would be the most advanced in social factors, as it has the highest male (about 85%) and female (about 75%) literacy and the smallest gap between them.