Despite easier access to education, a significant number of adults do not know how to read or write. In what ways are they disadvantaged without these skills? What can governments do to solve the problem?

Although modern society provides more accessible education, several adults are unable to read or write, which is a problem that brings a magnitude of limitations to these individuals and can be resolved with multiple measures by the government.

• a magnitude of

magnitude: The large size or importance of something. 

例句里的magnitude可以理解为 “严重性”；

这个短语这里可以理解为：范围大的，数量多的

• measures

n. 措施，办法

e.g.: New safety measures were being demanded after last night’s horrific train crash.

The abilities to read and write are considered as rudimentary skills in today’s world, without which an individual faces trouble across all areas of their life, whether personal or professional. Consequently, a person who lacks these basic skills would not be able to find a good paying job or even connect well with other people. For instance, an adult who cannot read or write would not be able to use computers, the most commonly used devices for work and socialising, as they would not be able to understand the meaning of different icons and the letters on the keyboard. 

• rudimentary: 

adj. 基本的，初步的

e.g.: Gradually, I acquired a rudimentary knowledge of music.

• face trouble:

面临麻烦

e.g.: I know that half the battle is won if I can face trouble with courage, disappointment with spirit, and triumph with humility.

• a good paying job:

高新工作

e.g.: When I think about quitting a good paying job to move my family across the world so I can work on my own business, I start to panic.

[在这里要单独和大家讲解一下文中的 ‘they’ 的单数用法:

You use they instead of ‘he or she’ to refer to a person without saying whether that person is a man or women. For example: The teacher is not responsible for the student’s success or failure. They are only there to help the student learn.]

However, the above-mentioned problem can be solved with some simple steps by the government. Firstly, campaigns to spread awareness of the benefits of being able to read and write would promote more people to acquire these skills. For example, the government could introduce an advertisement of how proficient reading and writing skills could allow one to get a respectable job, which would make people see these skills as a way of building a career. Moreover, national television programs that teach these skills could be broadcasted so that people can simply learn them while sitting at home.

• spread awareness of: 

传播意识

e.g.: Organisations pooled their resources to spread awareness of these events with flyers, ads, parties, and the like.

• broadcast:

Vt. 播送，播放，广播

e.g.: The interview was broadcast live across Europe.

In conclusion, a large number of adults are incapable of reading or writing, which is a severe problem as they face numerous challenges, professionally and personally; but the government can introduce awareness campaigns and TV programs to promote reading and writing skills amongst adults and solve the issue.