Task III. Act as an interpreter for Parts A, B

1. Мы рады приветствовать профессора Брэдфорда, доктора экономики, ведущего специалиста Лондонского Университета. Итак, профессор, наш первый вопрос: каков предмет изучения экономической науки? 2. Интересно было бы также узнать, в чем конкретно видят свою задачу экономисты. 3. Мы знаем, что современная модель экономики включает в себя 3 группы участников – производителей, потребителей и государство. Не могли бы вы поподробнее остановиться на роли каждого из них? 4. А в чем смысл деления экономической теории – науки, изучающей экономические законы и отношения, на макроэкономику и микроэкономики? 5. Большое спасибо, профессор, за интересную беседу.

Well, I’m really glad to have the opportunity to … There are some important points I’d like to make…     The point is that…     Let’s go into this in more detail.     Yes, that’s a very good point.     I hope you have found this useful.

Part 2

Text A

The system of higher education in the United States

The system of higher education in the United States differs from its counterparts in Europe in certain ways. In the United States, there is a nationwide assumption that students who have completed secondary school should have at least two years of university education. Hence, a great number of “junior colleges” and “community colleges” have sprung up to provide two years of undergraduate study, in contrast to the traditional universities and colleges, where a majority of students complete four years of study for a degree and where substantial numbers go on for one to three years of postgraduate study in a “graduate school”. Universities that provide four-year study courses are either privately funded foundations or are state or city foundations that depend heavily on the government for financial support. Private universities and colleges depend largely on tuition charges levied on students. The individual state governments fund the nation’s highly developed system of state universities, which ensure the provision of higher education for the vast majority of those willing and academically qualified to receive such education.

In the American system, the four-year, or “bachelor’s” degree is ordinary obtained not by passing a “finals” examination but rather by the accumulation of course “credits”, or hours of classroom study. The quality of work done in these courses is assessed by means of a continuous record of marks and grades in a course transcript. The completion of a certain number (and variety) of courses with passing grades leads to the “bachelor’s” degree. The first two years of a student’s studies are generally taken up with prescribed courses in a broad range of subject areas, along with some “elective” courses selected by the student. In the third and fourth years of study, the student specializes in one or perhaps two subject fields. Postgraduate students can pursue either advanced studies or research in one of the many graduate schools, which are usually specialized institutions. At these schools students work toward either a “master’s” degree (which involves one to two years of postgraduate study) or a doctoral degree (which involves two to four years of study and other requirements).

Text B

Education in the United States

The United States does not have a national school system. Nor, with the exception of the military academies, are there schools run by the federal government. But the government provides guidance and funding for federal educational programs in which both public and private schools take part, and the U.S. Department of Education oversees these programs.

In the United States, a college is an institution of higher learning that offers courses in related subjects. A liberal arts college, for example, offers courses in literature, languages, history, philosophy, and the sciences, while a business college offers courses in accounting, investment, and marketing. Many colleges are independent and award bachelor's degrees to those completing a program of instruction that typically takes four years. But colleges can also be components of universities. A large university typically comprises several colleges, graduate programs in various fields, one or more professional schools (for example, a law school or a medical school), and one or more research facilities. (Americans often use the word "college" as shorthand for either a college or a university.)

Every state has its own university, and some states operate large networks of colleges and universities. Some cities also have their own public universities. In many areas, junior or community colleges provide a bridge between secondary school and four-year colleges for some students. In junior colleges, students can generally complete their first two years of college courses at low cost and remain close to home. Unlike public elementary and secondary schools, public colleges and universities usually charge tuition.

Community Colleges

Community colleges provide the first two years of a university education. Students are able to transfer to a university for an additional two years to complete the Bachelor’s Degree. This system is called “2+2”. These institutions are an important sector of the US higher education system. There are nearly 1200 accredited community colleges with an enrollment of 11 million students.

Increasing numbers of international students are choosing to begin their higher education in the US at community colleges. During the past decade, the growth of international students attending US community colleges increased by 57 percent.

The Ivy League

The Ivy League is an association of eight Northeastern American universities. The term, “Ivy League” has connotations of academic excellence as well as a certain amount of elitism. These schools are also sometimes affectionately referred to as the Ancient Eight.

All of the Ivy League universities share some general characteristics: they are among the most prestigious and selective universities in the US; they rank within the top one percent of the world’s universities in terms of financial endowment; and they attract top-tier students and faculty. The Ivies are also among the oldest universities in the United States – all but Cornell University were founded during America’s colonial era.

All but one of the Ivy League universities are privately owned and controlled, although many of them receive funding from federal or state governments to pursue research. One of the eight, Cornell, has four state supported academic units, termed statutory colleges, that are an integral part of the university.

The eight Ivy League universities:

Brown University
Columbia University
Cornell University
Dartmouth University
Harvard University
University of Pennsylvania
Princeton University
Yale University