The idea may hit you once or twice a year. You come home on a hot summer
day, hoping to have a cool bath, and find out there is no water. Then you see how
important water is in your everyday life. However, in many parts of the world, water
is not just about one’s everyday needs.
In countries like Tanzania, water is hard to get, and the job of collecting water
falls on women’s shoulders. Girls are often kept home from school to collect water
while their brothers stay at school studying. Studies show Tanzanian girls who live
15 minutes from clean water spend 12% more time at school than those who live an
hour away. More time spent collecting water means less time for learning. For these
girls, “Knowledge is power” is not just words; it is a sad fact in real life. With less
time spent at school, their chances of getting well-paid jobs are small, and they often
have no voice in important matters, like who to marry. These girls are often married
into poor families. They have little money or knowledge to take care of their children,
who often end up dying young. For the baby girls who are lucky enough to live, their
life may still center around “water,” just like it did for their mothers. 【題組】28. What does The idea mean in the reading?
(A) Water is important in one’s everyday life.
(B) Water is not just about one’s everyday needs.
(C) It is nice to have a cool bath on a hot summer day.
(D) We should not take a bath when there is little water.