XII. Complete the spaces by finding one word which fits in all three sentences.

a) When we had finished acting, the teacher gave us all а … out of ten.

Elka has only been in the office for three months, but already she has really made her….

The teacher told Jeremy off for making а … on Emma's notebook.

b) We are very pleased with Susan's effort – she … herself very well to the task in hand.

Incidentally, the comment I have just made to Smith … equally to everybody in this room.

I really hope my sister … for that new job; she'd be so good at it.

c) I've virtually … any ambition I ever had of becoming a teacher.

I … out of college after one term and went traveling around the world instead.

On police advice, Mr Bortello has … the charges he brought against his neighbors.

d) Mr Ross, our old history teacher … his classes with a rod of iron!

The judge … that Newton had acted in self-defense, and instructed the jury to find him 'not guilty'.

Police have not … out the possibility of murder in this case.

e) The entire workforce at Holman Avionics downed tools today, in … of two sacked colleagues.

I'll come along to your speech, if you like, and give you some moral ….

If you need help, put your hand up and I or Mrs Kent, the... teacher will come to you.

XIII. Consider possible influence of the following on academic success: a) reasons for studying; b) physical energy patterns or “bio-rhythms”; c) study methods; d) intelligence; e) time spent studying; f) personality. Which do you think are the most and the least important? Why? Until recently one of these factors was thought to be very important in academic success. However, a number of studies carried out in Britain have not confirmed this. Which factor do you think it might be? Discuss your choice with another person. Now read the text below and find the answer to the questions above. Do the exercises coming after the text.

Twenty years ago, if teachers in universities and colleges had been asked what individual differences influenced success in higher education, they would almost certainly have mentioned differences in intellectual ability and very probably the effects of interests other than academic ones, such as holding office in the Students’ Union, which limited the time that students were willing to give to study. Possibly they would have mentioned study methods. In any case, their answers would have depended on observation and personal belief, since few relevant research results were available in Britain.

Today teachers, owing the growing body of research findings, would be more likely to refer to students’ orientations and consequent motivations; to their differing levels of maturity in so far as these influence methods of study and expectations of courses and teachers; to study methods, whether systematic or disorganized; to cognitive styles and personality differences which influence subject choice and may determine how students choose to spend their time; and, in light of some recent research, they might speculate on possible influences of physiological differences on levels of arousal, application to study or even on the development of one cognitive style rather than another.

Interestingly, informed teachers today would be less likely to mention differences in ability or intelligence in relation to success, for a number of investigations have shown that in the highly selected populations of British sixth forms and colleges, students who do well are usually no more intelligent on average than those who do poorly (British sixth forms − British schools or colleges for pupils in the highest section of secondary school, usually entered after the age of 16. Pupils prepare for Advance Level Examinations (“A” Levels), on the basis of which many go on to higher or further education).

a) How many different time periods are specified in the text? Identify the words which mark or indicate these time periods.

b) For each word indicating time, think of a similar word or expression which could replace it in the text. How is the text organized? How do the time periods relate to the way the text is organized?

c) The text above contains a number of generalizations about the changes in teachers’ ideas concerning academic success in higher education. Identify at least three generalizations in the first paragraph. The first one has been done for you: Teachers would have mentioned differences in intellectual ability. Which words or phrases are used to qualify or modify the genera­lizations in the text in terms of probability? Consider all three paragraphs in the text. The first one has been done for you: almost certainly.

XIV. Below are some words taken from the text. Try to guess their meaning by thinking about the context in which they are found. In each case choose one of the three answers which you think best expresses the meaning.