Consult the TEXTS FOR SUPPLEMENTARY READING and complete the information about Harvard — the most famous American university (Text 6). Be ready to discuss the information you have read.
33. Read and translate the text below to learn about education in the United States:
Text 2 D
Post-Secondary Education in the United States
Post-secondary education in the United States is known as college or university and commonly consists of four years of study at an institution of higher learning. Students traditionally apply to receive admission into college, with varying difficulties of entrance. Schools differ in their competitiveness and reputation; generally, public schools are viewed as more lenient and less prestigious than the more expensive private schools. Admissions criteria involve test scores (like the SAT and ACT) and class ranking as well as extracurricular activities performed prior to the application date. Also, many colleges consider the rigor of previous courses taken along with the grades earned. Certain test scores, class rank, or other numerical factors hardly ever have absolute, required levels, but often have a threshold below which admission is unlikely.
Once admitted, students engage in undergraduate study, which consists of satisfying university and class requirements to achieve a bachelor’s degree. The most common method consists of four years of study leading to a Bachelor of Arts (BA), a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree, or sometimes (but very rarely) another bachelor’s degree such as Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA). Some students choose to attend a «community college» for two years prior to further study at another college or university. A community college is run by the local municipality, usually the county. Though rarely handing out actual degrees, community colleges may award an Associate of Arts (AA) degree after two years. Those seeking to continue their education may transfer to a four-year college or university. Some community colleges have automatic enrollment agreements with a local four-year college, where the community college provides the first two years of study and the university provides the remaining years of study, sometimes all on one campus. The community college awards the associate’s degree and the university awards the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Graduate study, conducted after obtaining an initial degree and sometimes after several years of professional work, leads to a more advanced degree such as a Master’s Degree (MA), Master of Science (MS), or other less common master’s degrees such as Master of Business Admisitration (MBA), Master of Education (MEd), and Master of Fine Arts (MFA). After additional years of study and sometimes in conjunction with the completion of a master’s degree, students may earn a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or other doctoral degree, such as Doctor of Arts, Doctor of Education or Doctor of Theology. Some programmes, such as medicine, have formal apprenticeship procedures like residency and interning which must be completed after graduation and before one is considered to be fully trained. Other professional programmes like law and business have no formal apprenticeship requirements after graduation (although law school graduates must take the bar exam in order to legally practice law). Entrance into graduate programmes usually depends upon a student's undergraduate academic performance or professional experience as well as their score on a standardized entrance exam like the GRE (graduate schools in general), the LSAT (law), the GMAT (business), or the MCAT (medicine). Many graduate and law schools do not require experience after earning a bachelor’s degree to enter their programmes; however, business school candidates may be considered deficient without several years of professional work experience. Only 8.9% of students ever receive postgraduate degrees and most, after obtaining their bachelor’s degree, proceed directly into the work force.
TEXT AND VOCABULARY EXERCISES
34. Find in the text the words or phrases which mean the same as:
| § высшее образование | § приводить к… |
| § мягкий, снисходительный | § порог |
| § соответствовать требованиям | § присуждать степень |
| § подавать заявление о приеме в учебное заведение | § программы для обучения аспирантов |
35. Match each word in A with the Russian equivalent in B:
| A | B |
| 1. admission | a. аспирант |
| 2. competitiveness | b. продвинутый, успевающий |
| 3. expensive | c. учение, прохождение обучения |
| 4. test scores | d. привести к … |
| 5. a programme for undergraduates | e. муниципалитет (местное управление) |
| 6. local municipality | f. количество набранных баллов |
| 7. to lead to | g. программа для студентов |
| 8. advanced | h. дорогой |
| 9. apprenticeship | i. конкурентность |
| 10. postgraduate | j. прием, допуск |
36. Find in the text the right word to complete the sentences:
1. ___ education in the United States is known as college or university.
2. Schools ___ in their competitiveness and reputation.
3. Once admitted, students engage in undergraduate study, which consists of satisfying university and class requirements to achieve a ___ degree.
4. The ___ college awards the associate’s degree.
5. Graduate ___ leads to a more advanced degree such as a Master Degree (MD).
CONVERSATIONAL PRACTICE
37. Speak about English and American systems of education using the Active Vocabulary and the expressions below:
| § I think we should … | § It would be better to … |
| § I (don’t) agree | § I like …/ I quite like … |
| § I (don’t) think it’s a good idea to … | § It is important to … |
| § A good way to … is to … /The best way to … is to … | § I don’t mind … |
38. Read and act out the conversation:
Talking about Classes
Ann: What is the matter, Bob? You look worried and upset.
Bob: I am worried. I have an exam next period in my mathematics class, and I am afraid it is going to be hard.
Ann: Who is your professor?
Bob: Mr. Smith.
Ann: That is too bad. I had him last year and he failed one third of the class. I’d be worried too, if I were you.
Bob: Thanks for the good news. Say, did he have you write any papers?
Ann: And how! I had to write a term paper and two reports.
Bob: Well, we have to write two papers and three book reports.
Ann: In that case, I am glad I took the class last year.
Bob: Oh, oh! There goes the bell, and I am late.
39. Answer the following questions:
1. What is the matter with Bob?
2. Did Ann write any term papers?
3. Did her professor make her work hard?
4. Do you think Ann and Bob are going to be mathematicians? Why?
Let’s talk about you:
1. Are you thinking about your English test or have you already taken it?
2. Are you working on your paper or have you already written it?
3. Does your professor make you work hard?
4. Would you like to be an engineer (teacher, economist, etc.)?
WRITING PRACTICE
Read the article below about distance education; decide what the missing word might be in each case. None of the missing words are more than four letters long. Most of them are articles (a, an, the) or prepositions (in, at, on, etc.).
Distance Education: University Level
Not so long ago, getting ___ college degree meant enrolling in a three or four year programme and heading off ___ campus every day. Now, with the proliferation ___ correspondence and on-line courses, getting a degree might appear to be easier than ever.
Distance learning or education is completing a curriculum of studies without being present ___ a class room. The quality of education ___often equal ___ or better than that ___ a class room since most individuals who choose distance learning to obtain their education are more self motivated and every bit as conscientious about their education as their counterpart ___ the class room.
Due to today’s technology, made ___ part ___ the internet, more people than ever before are choosing distance learning over traditional class room settings as ___ vehicle of choice to obtain their education. Convenience, cost of travel and other costs associated with a more traditional setting and busy schedules are just some of ___ reasons more students are studying for ___ degree through distance education institutions. After all, consider the commuting time to and ___ a campus and the delays between classes. Wouldn’t your time be better spent ___ studies or leisure time.
Distance degree programmes are delivered using videotape, DVD’s or VCD’s, others are delivered entirely online, and some use ___combination of media. Some degree programmes require you to attend ___few classes a year ___ the university ___ question. Despite the obvious advantages ___ studying for a degree online, it is important to choose ___ University to study at ___ great care.
UNIT 3
| Pre-Text Exercises: Word Building Active Vocabulary Text 3 A. The History of Russia Text 3 B. Geography of Russia Text 3 C. Modern Russia’s Economy and Industries Text 3 D. Moscow Text And Vocabulary Exercises Conversational Practice Writing Practice |
PRE-TEXT EXERCISES
1. Look at the following international words, guess their meaning and check the pronunciation:
Civilization, territory, monarch, economic, political, system, social, geographic, modern, nationality, continental, zone, climate, nation, industry, electric, medical, instrument, financial, crisis, international, natural, problem, investor, corruption, administrative, federation, president, vandalism, association, elegant
2. Here are some expressions with the preposition by. Translate and learn them:
| to divide by | to increase by | to judge by |
| day by day | one by one | by chance (accident) |
| to mean by | by heart | by mistake |
| by name | by profession | by surprise |
| by the way | by train (plane, bus…) | step by step |
3. Fill in the gaps with the preposition by or the expressions above in the appropriate form:
1. They arrived in time and entered the ball room ___ .
2. We met ___ yesterday and went to the concert.
3. I do not like to learn ___ but I must learn a lot.
4. He called the boy ___ and gave him his documents.
5. What is she ___? Oh, she is an engineer.
6.We went there ___ and saw a lot out of the window of the carriage.
7. He led her slowly ___ and looked into her eyes.
8. Ann took somebody’s umbrella ___.
9. He had to visit the police ___.
10. She took her daughter ___ and led her to the car.
11. Can you ___ nine ___ three?
12. The rain caught her ___.
13. What do you ___ that?
14. We took their copy books ___.
15. Walter appeared in this town ___.
16. I prefer to travel ___ because I like to watch dolphins and sea-gulls.
17. Kevin tamed his lion cub quietly, slowly, ___.
18. What did he ___ that?
19. We never ___ people ___ appearances.
20. Mona is an architect ___.
21. ___ can you give me your umbrella? I have left mine.
4. Fill in the gaps with the prepositions of place: at, in or on:
1. What did you learn ___ the institute today?
2. We wanted to live and work ___ a farm.
3. We stopped ___ the traffic lights.
4. They built a new factory ___ the west of England.
5. There is nothing ___ my pocket.
6. There is nothing interesting ___ TV tonight.
7. There is an interesting picture ___ page seven.
8. There is a large black cloud ___ the sky.
9. Someone stopped ___ front of the house.
10. Someone stood ___ the door.
11. Peter sent me to buy some pills ___ the chemist’s.
12. My sister does not like city life. She wants to go to live ___ the country.
13. My father was working ___ home when I got home.
14. Mount Everest is the highest mountain ___ the world.
15. He lived ___ the third floor.
16. He is not in the office. He is ___ a business trip.
5. Choose the correct word and fill in the gaps:
1. We were caught ___ the storm.
a) in; b) on; c) by; d) at; e) with.
2. We arrived ___ the station too early.
a) in; b) on; c) by; d) at; e) with.
3. The sofa is very convenient ___ me.
a) in; b) on; c) by; d) for; e) to.
4. It makes no difference ___ me.
a) in; b) on; c) to; d) for; e) with.
5. Game was always very cruel ___ his family.
a) in; b) on; c) to; d) for; e) with.
6. It is necessary ___ him to take this exam.
a) to; b) in; c) on; d) for; e) with.
7. Daniel was always laughing ___ me when we were children.
a) on; b) at; c) in; d) with; e) for.
6. Arrange the words to make affirmative sentences:
Example: like / I / you = I like you
1. English / I / speak
2. hates / pigeons / he
3. they / song / a / sing
4. sell / flowers / we
5. you / see / me / can
6. buy / milk / he / wants to
7. feed / you / my / cat / can
8. sister / has / my / got / a dog
9. must / the book / read / you
7. BRAINSTORMING: Read the paragraph below and then choose the main idea for it:
It was a backward day at school. The students had to do things backward. Some of them wore their T-shirts backward. They took a test before they studied the lesson! Dessert was served first instead of last. They tried to walk home backward, but they bumped into each other and fell down.
| The main idea in this passage is: | § Dessert is supposed to come last. § The students had a backward day. § It is hard to do things backward. § Students failed their tests. |
8. Explain the meaning of the following phrases in English:
| § racial group | § dominant position | § to exist as a state |
WORD BUILDING
9. For each question choose one correct answer:
1. Which word doesn’t make a derivative with -able? e.g. countable
| a. help | b. understand | c. rely | d. respect |
2. Which of the following adjectives ending in -ful doesn’t exist?
| a. painful | b. beautiful | c. funful | d. fruitful |
3. The following are all negative adjectives with un-. Which should be dis-?
| a. untidy | b. unhonest | c. unsociable | d. unreliable |
4. What is the opposite of contented?
| a. uncontented | b. incontented | c. imcontented | d. discontented |
10. Find the derivatives to the words in italics on the left:
| 1.cruelty 2. safe 3. happy 4. adopt 5. read 6. dense 7. backward | a) crew a) save a) have a) adaptation a) readings a) design a) density | b) raw b) sure b) happen b) adoptive b) law b) dependence b) building | c) cruel c) insure c) happiness c) alone c) remark c) dependent c) backwardness | d) cry d) safety d) certain d) advance d) order d) density d) break |
11. Think of more words with negative prefixes mis- and dis- to continue the list below:
| behave – misbehave | calculate — miscalculate |
| count — miscount | handle — mishandle |
| agree – disagree | approve – disapprove |
| like – dislike | please — displease |