Johnson Kinyago, a sun-dried Masai herder, has two sons. “One is a genius—he can identify every animal and find water anywhere. So he’s with the goats,” he says proudly. “The other is stupid so he’s in school.” At a cattle market in Laikipia in northern Kenya, other Masai elders nod their approval. Herding is for bright sparks, school for “thickies,” all of them say. Only 35% of Masai children attend school. The reason is that pastoralists depend on their children’s labor, so even if persuaded of the merits of school, few could spare their ablest offspring. The result is an illiteracy rate of over 90%, leaving the Masai vulnerable to abuse from their more worldly neighbors.
With their stretched ear lobes, their ochre-stained warriors, and gap-toothed brides, the Masai live much as they have for centuries, but in a world which has changed radically. When their—illiterate—forebears made peace with the first British settlers, they unwittingly signed away 90% of their land. The remaining arid patch no longer supports their swollen population. During a recent three-year drought, more than 89% of their animals died, and the proud Masai are now humiliatingly dependent on food aid.
@ 【題組】46 According to the Masai tradition, who is considered smart?
(A)One who knows much about animals and water (B)One who goes to school
(C)One who can work part-time to make money (D)One who can talk business with the British settlers
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