SHENZHEN residents attached increasing importance to reading as a means of improving their general knowledge and personal development, according to a recent survey.

　　The survey found most readers were in the 20 to 29 age group, accounting for 60.4 percent of respondents while readers from 10 to 19 accounted for 18.2 percent and from 30 to 39 represented 16.2 percent.

　　Paid employees with medium educational levels from colleges and secondary schools represented the majority of readers.

　　More than 42 percent aimed to broaden their knowledge and improve themselves by reading while only 6.48 percent read to while away the time.

　　About 33 percent thought reading was an effective way to increase knowledge while 25.94 percent chose newspapers as their preferred reading material, 19.1 percent preferred watching TV and 16.28 percent chose Internet surfing.

　　More than 73 percent thought reading was becoming more important for themselves.

　　However, 67.3 percent of those surveyed said books were expensive.

　　Books on economic management, culture, history, computer science and philosophy are the most favorite among the readers, the survey said.

　　(Peng Zhaoxia)