TEXT 4. OXBRIDGE

 

Task 1. Read the text and say:

 

· What are the most prestigious universities in Great Britain?

· What is the most popular custom at Oxbridge?

· Who studied at Oxford and Cambridge?

 

The oldest and most prestigious universities in Great Britain are Oxford and Cambridge. They were founded towards the end of the twelfth century and are often called collectively Oxbridge to denote an elitarian education. Both universities are independent. Only very rich and aristocratic families can afford to send their sons and daughters to these universities because the fee for study is very high.

The academic year is divided into 3 eight-week terms. The tutorial system is one of the ways in which Oxford and Cambridge differ from all other English universities. Each student meets a tutor with whom he discusses his written work and whose advice he follows. Besides, the tutor acts as a parent to the student away from home. He helps in time of need and is an understanding friend to his pupils.

Oxford and Cambridge universities consist of a number of colleges. Each college has its name, its coat of arms. Each college is headed by a Master. Within the college one will normally find a chapel, a dining hall, a library, rooms for students, fellows and the Master, and also rooms for teaching purposes. Each college offers teaching in a wide range of subjects according to the chosen faculty: divinity, medicine, philosophy, law, music, natural sciences, economics, engineering, agriculture, commerce and education. The head of each faculty is the dean. After three years of study a student may proceed to a Bachelor’s Degree and later to the Degree of Master and Doctor.

Keeping to the customs of the past the students at Oxford and Cambridge wear long black gowns and students’ caps. Undergraduates try to get old gowns so that people would think that they have been at Oxford for years. Without his or her gown no student is allowed to call on a tutor, to have dinner in the college dining room or attend a lecture – where the gowns are rolled up and used as cushions.

Many great men studied at Oxford and Cambridge, among them Cromwell and Chamberlain, the statesmen, Bacon, the philosopher, Byron and Milton, the poets, Newton and Darwin, the scientists, John Galswothy, the writer, and Kapitsa, the famous Russian physicist.

 

Notes:

1. coat of arms – герб

2. Master – мастер (титул главы некоторых колледжей в Оксфордском и Кембриджском университетах)

3. fellow – младший научный работник Оксбриджа

4. Bachelor’s Degree – ученая степень Бакалавра

5. Master’s Degree – ученая степень Магистра

 

Task 2. Match the words with their definitions:

 

1) prestigious 4) fee 7) coat of arms

2) independent 5) tutor 8) gown

3) aristocratic 6)college 9) to afford 10) fellow

 

a) having or bringing respect based on good reputation, past achievements etc.;

b) amount paid for professional advice or service;

c) institution for higher education or professional training;

d) financed by private rather than government money;

e) design on a shield used as an emblem by a family, city, university, etc.

f) belonging to or typical of the highest social class;

g) loose flowing robe worn to indicate profession or status (eg. by a judge, lawyer, teacher, member of a university);

h) university teacher who supervises the studies of a student;

i) have enough money, time, space for a special purpose;

j) member of the governing body of some colleges or universities.

 

Task 3. Fill in the gaps with the words from task 2.

 

1. She may be a very … author, but she does not live at a very … address.

2. Most universities in Great Britain are … .

3. Her … says she is making a good progress.

4. Our daughter is going to … in the autumn.

5. She wears a BA … .

6. The … for study is very high in Oxbridge.

7. Our city has its own … .

8. They walked because they couldn’t … a taxi.

9. The college I studied at had a chapel, a dining room and rooms for students, … and the Master.

10. Only very rich and … families can afford to send their sons and daughters to these universities because the fee for study is very high.

 

Task 4. Complete the sentences:

 

1.	Oxford and Cambridge were founded …	… towards the end of the twelfth century.
2.	They are often called collectively …
3.	The fee for study is …
4.	The academic year is divided into …
5.	Oxford and Cambridge universities consist of …
6.	Each college has …
7.	Within the college one will normally find …
8.	The head of each faculty is …
9.	After three years of study a student may proceed to …
10.	Many great men studied at Oxford and Cambridge, among them …

 

 

Task 5. Translate the sentences into English.

 

1. Оксфорд и Кембридж были основаны в конце 12 века.

2. Только богатые и знатные люди могли позволить себе обучать своих детей в этих университетах.

3. Учебный год состоит из трех семестров.

4. Оксбридж состоит из нескольких колледжей.

5. У каждого колледжа свое название и свой герб.

6. В каждом колледже студентам предлагается широкий выбор предметов в зависимости от выбранного факультета.

7. По окончании трехгодичного курса обучения студентам предлагается получить степень Бакалавра.

8. Соблюдая древние традиции, студенты Оксбриджа носят форму.

9. Без формы студенты не допускаются на занятия с преподавателем, в столовую или на лекции.

10. В Оксфорде и Кембридже учились Байрон, Мильтон, Голсуорси и другие знаменитости.

 

 

Task 6. Answer the questions to the text:

 

1. What are the oldest universities in Great Britain?

2. When were they founded?

3. Are these universities independent?

4. Is the fee for study low or high?

5. How many terms is the academic year divided into?

6. What is the system of study at Oxbridge? Describe it.

7. Do Oxford and Cambridge consist of a number of colleges?

8. What can you normally find within the college?

9. What does each college offer?

10. What degree can a student proceed after 3 years of study?

11. What custom do the students at Oxbridge keep?

12. Why do they try to get old gowns?

 

 

Ознакомительные тексты для изучения материалов по теме «Высшее образование в Британии, США и России» (Higher education in Britain, The USA and Russia)

 

В этой подборке текстов вашему вниманию представляется информация о системе высшего образования трех государств — Великобритании, Соединенных Штатов Америки и Российской Федерации.

 

Еще раз обращаем ваше внимание на то, что вам рекомендуется прочитать данные тексты несколько раз: первый раз — чтобы выделить и выучить незнакомые слова, второй — чтобы ответить на вопросы, третий — пересказать.