Ex. 2. Answer the following questions.

1. What educational establishment do you study at? 2. How many freshmen are enrolled every year? 3. What department do you study at? 4.Does the Academy have a big library? 5. How many students study at the Academy? 6. Is there an extra-mural department at the Academy? 7. When are terminal examinations held? 8. When do the students of the Academy have their practice? 9. Are you a member of the Students' Scientific Society? 10. Do you take part in the amateur activities? 11. Is it a good thing to leave home at the age of 18? What are the advantages and disadvantages? 12. What do you know about British universities? 13. How do British universities differ from universities in our republic? 14. Does the Academy have contacts with other foreign educational establishments? 15. What do you like and dislike about studies at the academy?

Ex. 3. Find in the text the English equivalents of the following expressions:

1) поступать в; 2) составлять; 3) высшее учебное заведение; 4) аудитория; 5) быть в распоряжении; 6) склонность к научной работе; 7) способствовать; 8) вести практические занятия, 9) место в общежитии; 10) производственная практика.

Ex. 4. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets:

1 The Academy (to occupy) fourteen study buildings.

2. Study laboratories (to provide) with modern equipment.

3. The academic town (to bury) in the greenery of parks and gardens.

4. The academic year (to divide) into two terms.

5. The period of study (to last) from four to five years

Ex. 5. Give the beginning of the following sentences:

1)...................in eight faculties.

2).................2-3 percent of the total.

3)...................at a veryhigh level.

4)................... oral tests and examinations.

5)...............for a few months to a factory or an agricultural enterprise.

6).................... in social science and special subjects.

7)............... with foreign educational establishments.

Ex. 6. Speak about the Academy using the following plan:

a) the foundation;

b) the departments and the equipment of the Academy;

c) the standard of teaching,

d) the organisation of studies;

e) the students' practice;

f) the students' rest;

g) contacts with foreign educational establishments.

Ex. 7. Comment the following quotations:

1) “I would live to study and not to study to live” (F. Bacon)

2) “I’m quite agreeable that a woman shall be informed about everything, but I cannot allow her the shocking passion for acquiring learning in order to be learned” ( Moliere).

3) “ The Romans would never have time to conquer the world if they had been obliged to learn Latin first of all” ( H. Heine)

4) “The specialist is a man who fears the other subjects”( M. N. Fisher)

5) “We shoud live and learn; but by the time we’ve learned, it’s too late to live” (G. Wells)

6) “They know enough who know how to learn” ( H. Adams)

Text B

From the history of the Academy

Belarusian Agricultural Academy was founded on April 24, 1836. It was opened on August 15, 1840. Its first name was Gory - Goretskaya agricultural school. This school consisted of two ranks. It trained managers and manag­ers' assistants for state and private estates.

For the first time in the world the Academy in Gorki started to train man­agers for agriculture.

In 1848 the highest rank of agricultural school was reorganized into an agricultural institute with four years of schooling. It was the first agricultural institute in Russia with "the right of University".

An agricultural secondary specialized school with six years of schooling is created instead of the lowest rank providing a secondary special education. In 1858 land-surveying classes were opened. They trained land-surveyors. An educational farm of the Academy for practical training of stu­dents was built. It also trained skilled agricultural workers.

For the first time in the world an agricultural scientific – educational centre "higher educational institution – secondary specialized educational es­tablishment – professional school" was founded in Gorki with a multilevel system of education .

The graduates of Gory - Goretski agricultural school had great influence on agricultural science. A.V. Sovetov, the first doctor of agronomy in Russia, I.A. Stebut and others were among them.

During the years of existence of Gory - Goretski agricultural school the first in the world training and experimental field was organized, the first in the world combine harvester was built, the first in Russia tile drainage was laid.

The results of scientific research were published in the "Recordings of Gory - Goretski agricultural school". These were the first scientific agricul­tural papers in Russia.

Because of participation of the students and teachers in the uprising (1863-1864) the school was closed. An agricultural and trade school, and surveying classes worked on its basis in 1864 – 1919.

In 1919 the agricultural higher school in Gorki was reopened and in 1925 Belarusian Institute of Agriculture (founded in Minsk in 1922) was added and Belarusian Agricultural Academy was established.

During pre-war years 3493 students graduated from the academy and be­came specialists. F.A. Surganov, a former Chairman of the Presidium of the Belarusian Supreme Soviet, Academician Belarusian Academy of Sciences S.G. Scoropanov, S.I.Nasarov, I.S.Nagarsky, K.M.Solntsev, Academicians of the Belarussian Academy of Sciences A.G. Medvedev, A.S. Vecher, I.D. Yurkevich and others were among them.

According to the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet from De­cember 17, 1940 the Academy was awarded with the Order of the Red Ban­ner of Labour for "success in training highly skilled specialists of agricul­ture".

During the Great Patriotic War the academy was not evacuated and it didn't function. Many teachers and workers of the Academy fought actively on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War and were awarded with orders and medals. Two former students – B.E.Lobanok and N.T. Sushanov – were awarded with the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union. December 1, 1945 the Academy renewed its activities.

In post - war years further development of the Academy went on under rectors N.N. Kovtsevich, V.I. Shempel, I.F. Garkusha, K.M. Solntsev, V.E. Bormotov, S.I. Nazarov, V.A. Sharshunov. New departments appeared, some new study buildings, hostels and dwellings were built.

Since 1962 the Academy started training foreign specialists.

According to the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR from January 9, 1976 the Academy was awarded with the second or­der – the Order of the October Revolution for "great achievement in training highly skilled specialists for agriculture and for the development of agricul­tural science".

In connection with the 155 anniversary the staff of the Academy was awarded with "Memorable badge", which the President of the Republic of Belarus A.G. Lukashenko presented to the graduates of the Academy.