Text c After the Exams

Malcolm: What did you think of the exams, Pete? I reckon they were dead easy.

Pete: Maybe they were easy enough for you but they were much too hard for me.

Malcolm: Oh, come on. You’ve probably done better than you think.

Pete: No, I’m dead certain I’ve failed in Latin, and most likely in French and History too. Thank goodness* it’s all over though. We can forget about it now – at least until the results come out.

Malcolm: Yes. Now I can get on with reading all the books I’ve been wanting to read for months, but haven’t had time for.

Pete: What! …Well, it’s up to you, I suppose, but I’ve had enough of reading. I’m not going to open another book for months. Don’t you think we all deserve a break?

Malcolm: Well, yes… I’ll take a day or two off perhaps. And I think I’ll come to Bob’s sister’s party tomorrow night. But if I’m going to university in October, I’ll have to get down to some serious work again pretty soon.

Pete: I’ve got to get through the A level exams first. I’ll worry about university if and when I ever get there.

Malcolm: That’s the trouble with you. You always try to do everything at the last minute.

Pete: And you’re too serious; that’s your trouble. You never stop swotting.*

Malcolm: Well, I like reading.

Pete: And I can’t stand it. I don’t know why I decided to try to go to university in the first place. I think I’ll run away and join the army or something.

(London Linguaphone Course)

Notes

Thank goodness! – Слава богу!

swotting – зубрёжка; to swot - зубрить

Exercises

I. Answer the following questions:

Text A: 1. Are all English universities new? 2. What does London University consist of? 3. What does a university usually have? 4. What faculties are there in English universities? 5. What do the departments include? 6. Who is at the head of the university? 7. Who helps professors? 8. Whom do professors and lecturers give lectures to? 9. Do the students have a chance to organize discussions? 10. What do most universities provide for their students? 11. Are there many types of colleges in England? 12. What kind of colleges are to be found in England? 13. How many years is it necessary to study to become a teacher?

Text B: 1. What is Oxbridge? 2. Are Oxford and Cambridge universities new or old? 3. Both of them are independent, aren't they? 4. Who are most of the students of Oxford? 5. How long is it necessary to study for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts? 6. How many years does it take to study languages and medicine? 7. Where are the degrees awarded? 8. What are the traditions they keep at Oxford and Cambridge? 9. What do Oxford and Cambridge consist of? 10. What can you say about the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge? 11. What can one find within a college? 12. Was Oxford popular with the early kings? 13. How many colleges for men and women are there at Oxford? 14. What are the oldest colleges? 15. When did Cambridge start? 16. How many colleges does Cambridge university consist of? 17. Which of them is the oldest one? 18.What is King's College famous for? 19. When was the first women's college opened? 20. Are the students engaged in extracurricular activities? 21. What sports are popular at Oxford?

II. Write Russian equivalents:

Text A: fairly new; to give a special training; arts faculty; science faculty; a large number of students; at the head of; a staff of teachers; to admit men and women to universities; to provide hostels; to study various subjects; to have practice classes; an English department; colleges and schools of various types; law faculty; to have a chance; to discuss various themes; science and technology.

Text B: the oldest and most prestigious universities; the education elite; former public schools leavers; the degree course; a wide range of subjects; over a hundred societies and clubs.

IV. Retell Text C 1) in the third person; 2) as if you were Malcolm; 3) as if you were Pete.