Life at College and University

The academic year in Britain’s universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education is divided into three terms, which usually run from the beginning of October to the middle of December, from the middle of January to the end of March, and from the middle of April to the end of June or the beginning of July.

There are about one hundred universities in Britain. The oldest and best-known universities are located in Oxford, Cambridge, London, Leeds, Manchester, Edinburgh, Southampton, Cardiff, Bristol, and Birmingham.

Good A-level results in at least two subjects are necessary to get a place at a university. However, good exam passes alone are not enough. Universities choose their students after interviews. For all British citizens a place at a university brings with it a grant from their local education authority.

English universities greatly differ from each other. They differ in date of foundation, size, history, tradition, general organization, methods of instruction, and way of student life.

After three years of study a university graduate will leave with the Degree of Bachelor of Arts, Science, Engineering, Medicine, etc.

Later he may continue to take a Master’s Degree and then a Doctor’s Degree. Research is an important feature of university work. Distance learning is getting more popular nowadays.

The two intellectual eyes of Britain – Oxford and Cambridge Universities – date from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The Scottish universities of St. Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh date from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

During these years the Government set up thirty Polytechnics. The Polytechnics, like the universities, offer first and higher degrees. Some of them offer fulltime and sandwich courses. Colleges of Education provide two-year courses in teacher education or sometimes three years if the graduate specializes in some particular subject.

Some 80, 000 overseas students study at British universities or further education colleges or train in nursing, law, banking or in industry.

2. Дайте відповідь на запитання:

1) How many terms is the academic year in Britain’s universities divided into?

2) Where are the oldest and best-known universities located?

3) Do English universities similar or differ from each other?

4) What do the polytechnics offer to their students?

3. Заповніть пропуски відповідною формою дієслова to be: am, is або are. Перекладіть речення на українську мову:

1) How much … this sweater?

2) What … your aunt’s name?

3) I… glad to see you. How … you?

4) The dog … in the garden.

5) Tom’s parents … travel agents.

4. Перекладіть речення українською мовою. Пам’ятайте про те, що в сталих виразах дієслово to have втрачає своє основне значення “ мати (щось)»:

1) Max always has breakfast with his elder brother.

2) I don’t have time even to have a walk in the evening.

3) These boys are very naughty. They like to have a fight.

4) In summer we always have a good time in a village.

5) Dan has a terrible toothache. He is at the dentist now.

5. Заповніть пропуски одним із поданих у дужках дієслів. Перекладіть речення українською мовою:

1) How often you … (has, have) your English classes?

2) My working day … (lasts, last) eight hours.

3) I … (am. Shall be, was) absent because I … (was, am, shall be).

4) Last Sunday’s rugby match … (were, was) disappointing. Our team …(loose, lost).

5) Last year we …(spent, spend, shall spend) two weeks in Greece.

6. Перекладіть наступні речення:

1) Гарного вам дня!

2) Вона рано лягає спати?

3) Ми не вивчали французьку мову в школі.

4) Сестра Віктора не вчиться в університеті.

5) Вони перекладуть цей текст пізніше.

7. Оберіть правильну відповідь:

1) Jim’s … sister wants to become an economist.

A) elder

B) older

C) old

D) the oldest

2) This car is ….I can’t afford it.

A) cheap

B) expensive

C) bad

D) good

3) … Volga is the longest river in Europe.

A) –

B) The

C) A

D) An

4) Would you like … piece of cake?

A) other

B) another

C) more

D) others

5) I am sure that Jim is … lies.

A) pronouncing

B) telling

C) talking

D) saying

6) Before we parted Wilson asked me … I would like to go and see his house one day.

A) that

B) which

C) about

D) if