Reading for specific information
Read the article and make a list of the things that make Ruth unusual for a ten year old.
1. CHILD PRODIGY Ruth Lawrence made history yesterday when she came a clear first out of the 530 candidates who sat the entrance exam for St. Hugh's College, Oxford. The all-women's college is likely to offer her a scholarship. Ruth sat three three-hour papers—Algebra and Geometry; Calculus, Probability and Statistics; and Maths, Pure and Applied. 'I was happy with the first two,' she said yesterday. 'But I wasn't sure about the third.'
2. Ruth, who lives in Huddersfield, has never been to school. Her father, Harry Lawrence, a computer consultant, gave up his job when Ruth was five to educate her at home. Her mother, Sylvia, who also works in computers, is the family breadwinner.
3. Harry Lawrence explained that, besides mathematics, Ruth also enjoyed English, history, geography, nature study and other subjects. She began to read at four and started academic subjects at five. 'We did not start off with the thought that she would not go to school,' he said, 'but we enjoyed teaching her so much and we seemed to be making quite a good job of it, so we just carried on.'
4. Because she does not go to school, Ruth has not mixed much with other children. 'She enjoys serious conversation with adults,' her father said, 'and I don't think she will feel out of place at Oxford.' He does not think she works harder than other children her age, but concentrates on what she enjoys, principally mathematics. 'She watches television a little but not as a habit', he explained. 'But she plays the piano and has quite a wide range of interests.'
5. If she does well at St Hugh's, Ruth expects to take a further degree and eventually hopes to become a research professor in mathematics—an ambition she may achieve while still in her teens. The Lawrence family plans to move to Oxford when Ruth takes up her place in October 1983. Before then, she plans to take four A-levels to satisfy the college matriculation requirements. Her father hopes she will be exempt from the requirement to pass a foreign language—a 'diversion', he feels, 'from her main interest'.
6. Miss Rachel Trickett, the principal of St Hugh's, said last night: 'We are all very excited about Ruth. She is obviously quite brilliant and has shown genuine originality.' Ruth's future tutor, Dr Glenys Luke, admits that taking so young a student is a daunting responsibility but says it is one she expects to enjoy. 'I shall tailor the teaching to her requirements', she said. 'Ruth shouldn't have to suffer the same tensions and disappointments that older students face. I hope I shall make it fun for her.'
7. Last night the Lawrence family were thrilled at Ruth's achievement. 'We all jumped up and down a bit when we heard', said Harry Lawrence. When Ruth becomes a student, Harry Lawrence will look forward to concentrating his efforts on her younger sister Rebecca, seven. 'She's doing very well,' he said, 'but it's too early to tell whether she's a mathematician.'
2)Should be cut!
| 1. Is it difficult to be a teacher? | It depends on many things: pupils, subject, type of school etc. |
| 2. What does it mean to be a good teacher? | The main thing is to love your job. |
| 3. How long have you been teaching? | Let me see…For about 27 years. |
| 4. Do you have favorite students? | No, all pupils are equal to me. |
| 5. What features do you value in pupils? | I would like all the students to be optimistic and creative. |
| 6. What was your favourite subject at school? | It seems to be surprising…but it was Maths. |
Opinion poll results.
| What do students cannot go to school without? | |
| Telephone | |
| School bag | |
| Head | |
| Pen | |
| Textbooks | |
| Knowledge | |
| Legs | |
| What do teachers usually tell their students if they are not ready for the lesson? | |
| Two! | |
| Give me your day book | |
| Why? | |
| Bring it next time | |
| OK! I forgive… | |
| Doesn’t matter! | |
| Parents to school! | |
| What would you like to add to the menu of our canteen? | |
| Good coffee | |
| French fries | |
| Fruits | |
| Cocktails | |
| Pasta | |
| More salads | |
| Sushi | |
| What do students say if they don’t want to do homework? | |
| No homework | |
| I’ll do later | |
| I’ve already done | |
| I feel bad | |
| I don’t want | |
| The teacher is ill | |
| I don’t understand how! | |
| What is the most interesting subject? | |
| Physical education | |
| Principles of personal and social safety | |
| Mathematics | |
| Biology | |
| English | |
| Information technology | |
| Handicraft | |
| What students would like to change in school? | |
| No dress code | |
| Less classes | |
| More holidays | |
| Two days off | |
| Some subjects | |
| Prices at the canteen | |
| Some teachers | |
| What do teachers usually say when they begin lessons? | |
| Stand up! | |
| Hello! Sit down | |
| Get ready for the lesson! | |
| OK! Calm down! | |
| Check your homework up | |
| Let’s begin… | |
| I’ll linger, be quiet | |
| What do students usually tell teachers when they don’t want to go to school? | |
| I am sick | |
| Go to the dentist | |
| Go to the polyclinic | |
| Mum doesn’t have keys | |
| I’ve overlooked it at the timetable | |
| Should take care of little brother… | |
| I thought there wouldn’t be the lesson | |
| What is the most interesting thing at school? | |
| Breaks | |
| Communication | |
| Everything besides classes | |
| Discos | |
| Getting knowledge | |
| Optional courses | |
| Jokes about teachers | |
| What feature do teachers value in students? | |
| Intelligence | |
| Being hardworking | |
| Being attentive | |
| Being tidy and neat | |
| Being creative | |
| Being quiet | |
| Being active | |
| What features do students value in teachers? | |
| Being kind | |
| Understanding | |
| Sense of humour | |
| Tolerance | |
| Good knowledge | |
| Appearance | |
| Being strict | |
| What do students like school for? | |
| Holidays | |
| Friends | |
| Dining room | |
| Classmates | |
| Communication | |
| No parents nearby | |
| For no reason | |
| What do NOT students like school for? | |
| Homework | |
| Teachers | |
| Day book | |
| Twos | |
| Getting up early | |
| Tests | |
| Cleaning the classroom |