新奇事件簿 阿联酋出台法律鼓励阅读

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has introduced a new law to get people to read more. The law includes a large number of measures to support the government's wish for a higher literacy¹ rate. Government employees will have paid time during working hours to read books. The law encourages private companies to create libraries at their offices, factories and other workplaces. It will also encourage shopping centres to offer spaces to set up public libraries so people can read when they go shopping. These libraries will be easy to use for people with reading disabilities. Even coffee shops at shopping malls will have to offer books and other reading materials to their customers.

阿拉伯联合酋长国(UAE)推出新法，鼓励人们增加阅读。该法律囊括了大量措施，支持政府提高识字率的意愿。政府公务员可以在工作期间享受带薪阅读时间。该法律鼓励私营公司在办公室，工厂或其他工作场合创建图书馆。法律还鼓励购物中心开辟空间设立公共图书馆，这样人们购物时也可以读书。这些图书馆将使有阅读障碍的人得到便利。甚至购物商场的咖啡馆也必须为顾客提供图书和其他读物。

The UAE's National Reading Law was issued by President Sheikh Khalifa. In May of this year, he launched² the National Strategy³ for Reading, which has a 10-year goal to create a nation of "avid⁴ readers". It aims to make reading a lifelong habit for 50 per cent of the nation's adults and 80 per cent of school students. It also aims to get students to read an average of at least 20 books a year. Hussain Al Hammadi, Minister of Education, said the new law is: "A road map for building a reading, civilised society capable⁵ of change, and a world leader in development." Dr Tod Laursen, President of Khalifa University, said that in the age of the Internet, it was still important for books and libraries to have their place in society.

《阿联酋全国阅读法》由总统谢赫·哈利法(Sheikh Khalifa)颁布。今年五月份，他提出了“全国阅读战略”，确立了十年内打造成“渴望阅读的国家”的目标。该战略旨在让阅读成为全国50%的成年人和80%的学生一生的习惯，还希望让学生们每年至少读20本书。教育部长Hussain Al Hammadi表示，新的法律是“打造有能力改变的阅读文明社会和致力于发展的世界领导人的路线图”。哈里发大学教授Tod Laursen博士表示，在互联网时代，书籍和图书馆在社会中占有一席之地仍然至关重要。

1 literacy   

n.识字，有文化，读写能力

参考例句：

• I can't believe that he failed the literacy test.我无法相信他识字测试不及格。
• The literacy rate there is the highest in Central America.那里的识字率居中美洲之首。

2 launched   

v.发射( launch的过去式和过去分词 )；[计算机]开始（应用程序）；发动；开展（活动、计划等）

参考例句：

• He launched a bitter diatribe against the younger generation. 他对年轻一代发起了猛烈的抨击。
• The product was launched amid much fanfare worldwide. 这个产品在世界各地隆重推出。

3 strategy   

n.方法，策略，战略

参考例句：

• The only way to take the enemy position is by strategy,not by forceful attack.只可智取，不可强攻。
• Tactics differs from strategy.战术有别于战略。

4 avid   

adj.热心的；贪婪的；渴望的；劲头十足的

参考例句：

• He is rich,but he is still avid of more money.他很富有,但他还想贪图更多的钱。
• She was avid for praise from her coach.那女孩渴望得到教练的称赞。

5 capable   

adj.有能力的，有才能的

参考例句：

• The new woman secretary was extremely clever and capable.这位新来的女秘书很是精明强干。
• Jim is capable at sports.吉姆擅长运动。