Read the passage and answer the questions :-

  Adolescents constitute a nation's core resource for national renewal and growth. Adolescence is a period in life when transition from childhood to adulthood takes place and behaviours and lifestyles are shaped. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), adolescence is the period which shapes the future of girls or boys' lives. There are 28 million adolescents in Bangladesh: 13.7 million of them are girls and 14.3 million boys. The situation of adolescent girls in Bangladesh is characterised by inequality and subordination within the family and society. This inequality leads to widespread practice of child marriage, marginalisation and exclusion from health, education and economic opportunities and vulnerability to violence and sexual abuse.

In Bangladesh the legal age of marriage is 18 for girls and 21 for boys. However, 33 percent of adolescent girls are married before the age of 15 and 60 percent become mothers by the age of 19. Research finds that adolescents with higher level of education and from more affluent families tend to marry at a later age. Boys, however, become ready for marriage only after several years of adolescence and young adulthood.

Adolescence is a period in life when transition from childhood to adulthood takes place and behaviours and lifestyles are shaped. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is the period which shapes the future of girls' or boys' lives.

Adolescence is a crucial developmental stage characterized by significant physical, psychological, and social changes, bridging the gap between childhood and adulthood. This phase is fundamental for an individual's identity formation, the development of cognitive abilities, and the acquisition of life skills. As highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and in the passage, the experiences and developments during adolescence profoundly impact an individual's future life trajectory and their role in society. For a nation, adolescents are considered a vital resource for future growth and renewal due to their potential contributions.

Adolescence is considered an important period of life because adolescents are a nation's core resource for national renewal and growth. It is also the specific period when the transition from childhood to adulthood takes place.

Furthermore, it is a critical time when an individual's behaviours and lifestyles are shaped, significantly influencing their future lives and their potential contributions to society. Therefore, it lays the foundation for personal development and societal progress.

Adolescent girls in Bangladesh usually face inequality and subordination within the family and society. This inequality leads to widespread practices like child marriage, marginalisation, exclusion from health, education and economic opportunities, and vulnerability to violence and sexual abuse.

According to the provided passage, adolescent girls in Bangladesh encounter a challenging environment marked by systemic inequality and subordination. This societal context often results in the premature practice of child marriage, limiting their potential and autonomy. Furthermore, they frequently experience marginalisation and exclusion from essential services such as adequate healthcare, quality education, and viable economic opportunities. These vulnerabilities collectively expose them to heightened risks of violence and sexual abuse, shaping a difficult reality for a significant portion of the female adolescent population in the country.

Female inequality in Bangladesh leads to a multitude of severe consequences, profoundly impacting the lives and futures of adolescent girls, as elucidated in the provided passage. This systemic issue characterizes their situation within both family and society, perpetuating a cycle of disadvantage.

Primarily, the passage highlights that this inequality directly contributes to the widespread practice of child marriage. This is evidenced by the alarming statistics that 33 percent of adolescent girls are married before the age of 15, and 60 percent become mothers by the age of 19. Beyond child marriage, it also results in the marginalisation and exclusion of girls from crucial health, education, and economic opportunities, thereby limiting their developmental prospects.

Furthermore, this inherent inequality makes adolescent girls highly vulnerable to various forms of violence and sexual abuse. These combined effects prevent girls from realizing their full potential, curtail their access to essential services, and compromise their safety and well-being, ultimately hindering their ability to contribute meaningfully to national growth and renewal, as they are a nation's core resource.

The passage highlights a significant influence of wealth and education on the age of marriage for girls. Research indicates that girls who achieve higher levels of education and come from more affluent (wealthy) families generally tend to marry at a later age. This suggests that increased educational opportunities and better economic conditions can empower girls, allowing them to delay marriage, possibly to pursue further studies or career prospects, and avoid the risks associated with early marriage.