Vocabulary and Comprehension Exercises

Ex. 1. Match English and Russian equivalents.

Ex. 2. Complete the sentences using the words from the text.

1. E… school is a school at which children are taught for the first six years of their education.

2. A g… is a particular year of a school course in the US.

3. A j… high school includes grades 7 and 8 (ages 12 and 13), attended after elementary school and before high school.

4. C… college is a college which is attended by students who live at home, and which is cheaper than other colleges because it is partly paid for by the local government.

5. T… is the payment for education.

6. A s… is a unit within a university.

7. The a… to community colleges is open.

8. A d… is a title given by a university or colleges to a student who has completed a course of study successfully.

9. T… degrees guarantee admission to colleges of higher education.

Ex. 3. Read the text again and mark the sentences T (true) or F (false). Correct the false ones.

1. There are twelve years of school education in the US.

2. Most Americans go to college after the tenth grade.

3. High school (in the US) is a school for children aged between 14 and 17 (18).

4. There are only private higher educational institutions in the US.

5. State universities are larger in size.

6. A Bachelor’s degree is a five-year program in the US.

7. The College of William and Mary is not a university.

8. Law school doesn’t give a university education.

9. Community college graduates can continue their education at university.

10. Community colleges admit students with different school results.

Ex. 4. Translate the following sentences into Russian and comment on the problems of higher education in the USA.

1. The high cost of a university education is a major concern in the United States of America.

2. The government started funding the state institutions less, which caused increases in tuition. These colleges could no longer offer competitive wages to attract experienced professors.

3. Major spending at universities includes infrastructure, administration, scholarships and sports teams - but investing in classrooms and professors, which could impact student learning, isn't on this list. It's a sign that education is secondary to other interests.

4. Universities and colleges are becoming more selective, they are turning away Hispanic, African Americans and Native Americans and students who belong to families of low-income groups.

5. The level of education is rather low. Research has shown that all over the world America has the lowest high school graduation rate.

6. From 50% to 95% of American students admit to have cheated in high school or college at one time or another. These poll results cast some doubt on measured academic attainment tests.

7. 44% of college faculty believe that incoming students are not ready for writing at the college level.

Read the text about Ivy League Universities – the most prestigious colleges in the USA. Answer the following questions.

1. What is the Ivy League? What institutions does it consist of?

2. What must an applicant do to be admitted to an Ivy League University?

3. What positions do its graduates hold (занимают)?

4. What sports is the Ivy League competitive in?