Read the text and find answers to the given questions.

STUDENTS' LIFE

1) What are students “sconced” [штрафовать] for?

In the old days when Colleges were religious institutions the students were clergymen [священник], and their life was much more strict and disciplined than now. Friendship with young ladies was not allowed and the only women inside the college were washerwomen. The legend is that these had to be “old and ugly”.

The students eat their meals in the College dining-hall. At some Colleges there is an interesting tradition. It is known as “sconcing” [наложение штрафа на студентов за нарушение правил]. If a student comes late to dinner or he is not correctly dressed, or if he breaks one of the laws of behavior, then the senior student orders him to be “sconced”. A large silver cup, known as «sconce cup», filled with beer is brought and placed in front of him and he must drink it in one attempt without taking the cup from his lips (it holds two and a half pints, or 1, 5 liters). If he can do it, then the senior student pays for it, if not, the cup is passed round and the student who has been “sconced” must pay for it.

2) What do the so-called “Bulldogs” do if a student whom they come up to runs away?

The students can stay out till twelve o'clock. Each evening a Proctor [административное лицо, в обязанности которого входит надзор за поведением студентов и наложение дисциплинарных взысканий] with two assistants, called “Bulldogs”, walks about the town keeping an eye on the students' behavior. If he sees a student breaking a rule he will come to him and say: “Are you a member of the University, sir? ”, and if a student runs away, then “Bulldogs” run after him and if they catch him (they are chosen, it is said, because they are good runners), fine him.

Apart from fines a student may be dismissed from the University for one term.

3) In what case is “Boredom Button” pushed?

In most schools and universities teachers give their students marks for their work. All students hate a “D” and are happy if their teacher gives them an “A”. Now at one American University both the students AND the lecturers must work hard if they want good marks.

During classes the students give their lecturers marks. Each desk is equipped with a “Boredom Button”. If a student thinks that the lecture is boring he can press the special button. When he does this, a light at the back of the classroom is switched on. There is one light there for every student. The lecturer can look at the lights and he can see if his students think the class is interesting or boring. The lecturer can't see which students are pressing the buttons. So, the students can be completely honest. If too many lights come at the back of his class, a lecturer knows that he must do something quickly and make the class more interesting.