Ex.2 Translate the words in bold type, then read the article, be ready to answer the questions below the text.

The merry-go-round ofcollege life is something that one never forgets. It's a fascinating, fantastic, fabulous experience, ir­respective of the fact whether one is afull-time or a part-time stu­dent.

Who can forget the first day at the university when one turns from anapplicant who haspassed entrance exams into afirst-year student? I did it! Ientered, I got in to the university! A solemn cere­mony in front of theuniversity building and serious peoplemaking speeches. Hey, lad, do you happen to know who they are? Who? Therector, vice-rectors, deans, subdeans... and what about those la­dies?Heads of departments andsenior lecturers? Okay. Some of them must beprofessors, some — associateorassistant professors,but, of course, all of them havehigh academic degrees. And where are ourlecturers andtutors? Oh, how nice...

Themonitors hand outstudent membership cards, student record books andlibrary cards — one feels like a real person. First celebra­tions and then days of hard work. So manyclasses, so many new subjects to put on the timetable! Thecurriculum seems to be devel­oped especially for geniuses.Lectures, seminars andtutorials.Homepreparations; a real avalanche ofhomeworks.

If one can notcope with the work load of college he or she im­mediately startslagging behind. It is easier tokeep pace with the programme than tocatch up with it later. Everyone tries hard to be, or at least to look,diligent. Firsttests and examination sessions. The firstsuccesses and firstfailures: "I have passed!" or "He has not given me a pass!" Tears and smiles. And a long-awaitedvacation.

The merry-go-round runs faster.Assignments, written reproduc­tions, compositions, synopses, papers. Translationschecked up and marked. "Professor, I have neverplayed truant, I had a good excuse for missing classes". Works handed in and handed out. Reading up for exams. "No, professor, I have never cheated — no cribs. I just crammed".

Junior students becomesenior. Still all of them are one family — undergraduates. Students' parties in thestudents' club. Meeting people and parting with people. You know, Nora is going tobe ex­pelled and Dora is going tograduate with honours. Yearly essays, graduation dissertations, finals...

What? A teacher's certificate? You mean, I've got a degree in English? I am happy! It is over! It is over... Is it over? Oh, no...

Apostgraduate course,athesis,anoral,anda degree in Phi­lology. The first of September. Where are the students of thefa­culty of foreign languages? Is it theEnglish department?Oh, how nice...

1. Say a few words about your college: say what it is called, speak about its faculties and their specializations.

2. Would you compare college life with a merry-go-round or with some­thing else?

3. What do you think of the first months at college?

4. They say that it is a poor soldier who does not want to become a gen­eral. Name the steps of the social ladder which a student must pass to climb up to the position of the director.

Discuss college life in this country. Use these questions as a guide for your discussion.

1. What do students wear to college?

2. How do students get to college?

3. How do students know which class to go to?

4. How do students greet the teacher?

5. How does the teacher greet the students?

6. How do students address the teacher?

7. When does the term begin?

8. How long does it last?

9. How long is the college day?

10. Who decides what a student will study?

11. Who decides which students will attend college?

Translate into English.

1. Она поступила в университет прошлым летом и закон­чит его только через четыре года. 2. Лучше не пропускать занятия, а то можно быстро отстать от группы. Хорошо известно, что нагонять всегда сложнее. 3. Все студенты в группе получили зачёт по языкозна­нию. Это было серьёзное испытание. 4. Мой любимый предмет, конечно же, английский. А ещё мне нравятся страноведение Великобритании и США. 5. Я не очень люблю писать диктанты и изложения, но понимаю, что это необходимо для приобретения на­выков письменной речи. 6. Расписание составляется таким образом, чтобы лек­ции чередовались с практическими занятиями. 7. Староста нашей группы получила стипендию от Бри­танского Совета. Она будет учиться в Лондонском университете и одновременно писать дипломную ра­боту. 8. Не думаю, что, готовясь к экзаменам, имеет смысл всю ночь не ложиться спать. Эффект от такой подготовки может быть обратный. 9. Больше всего я боюсь провалить экзамен по психо­логии, поэтому стараюсь всё выучить почти наизусть. 10. В штате преподавателей у нас три профессора, четыре доцента, пять старших преподавателей и семь ассис­тентов. 11. Проверяя контрольные работы, преподаватель отме­чает ошибки на полях. 12. В эту сессию будет один письменный и два устных зачёта, а также четыре экзамена. 13. В начале года в деканате всем первокурсникам выдали студенческие билеты и зачётные книжки. 14. Когда я начинаю делать домашнее задание, то долго не могу сконцентрироваться на работе — меня постоян­но что-то отвлекает. 15. В обучении ему не нужно прикладывать никаких уси­лий — он всё хватает на лету.

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