5. Vocabulary Exercises

A. Put each of the following words in its correct place in the text below.

education libraries teachers discipline examinations dean learning staff tutor proctors professors study college students guidance courses headstudents practice theory enter progress lectures terms degrees vacation internal organization

Cambridge University

Cambridge is one of the loveliest towns of England; it is not a modern industrial city and looks much more like a country town. The dominating factor in Cambridge is its well-known University, a centre of (1) _______________ and (2) _______________, closely connected with the life and thought of Great Britain. In Cambridge everything centres on the University and its colleges.

The oldest college is Peterhouse, which was founded in 1284. The most recent is Robinson College, which was opened in 1977. The most famous is probably King’s, because of its magnificent chapel.

The University was exclusively for men until 1871 when the first women’s (3) _______________ was opened. Another was opened two years later and a third in 1954. In the 1970s, most colleges opened their doors to both men and women. Almost all colleges now are mixed, but it will be many years before there are equal numbers of both sexes. Until today there are more than 20 colleges in Cambridge.

There is a close connection between the University and colleges, though they are quite separate in (4) _______________ and (5) _______________. Each college has its own building, its own (6) _______________, its own (7) _______________ and (8) _______________. To (9) _______________ the university, one must first apply to a college and become a member of the university through the college. The colleges are not connected with any particular (10) _______________. Students studying literature, for example, and those trained for physics may belong to one and the same college.

However the fact is that one is to be a member of a college in order to be a member of the University. The colleges are governed by 20 or 30 ‘fellows’. Fellows of a college are ‘tutors’ ((11) _______________, often called ‘dons’). Each (12) _______________ has 10 – 12 students reading under his (13) ________________. Tutors teach their own subject to those students in the college who are studying it, and they are responsible for their (14) _______________.

Every college is governed by a (15) _______________. (16) _______________ is looked after by (17) _______________ and numerous minor officials called ‘bulldogs’.

The University is like a federation of colleges. It arranges the (18) _______________, the (19) _______________ and the (20) _______________, and grants the (21) _______________.

A college is a group of buildings forming a square with a green lawn in the centre. An old tradition does not allow the students to walk on the grass: this is the privilege of (22) _______________ and (23) _______________ only.

Students study at the University for four years, three (24) _______________ a year. Long (25) _______________ lasts about three months. There are many (26) _______________ at Cambridge; some of them have rare collections of books.

Find out whether the statement is true (T) or false (F) according to the information in the text.

1. Cambridge was founded in the 13th century. ( )

2. In 1871 the first women’s college was opened in Cambridge. ( )

3. The University grows as a federation of independent colleges. ( )

4. The proctors govern colleges. ( )

5. Dean is a person who looks after discipline. ( )

6. Everybody has the privilege to walk on green lawns on the territory of the Cambridge University. ( )

7. In Cambridge Peterhouse is the oldest college, Robinson College is the most recent one and the most famous is King’s College. ( )

8. From the 1970s in Cambridge University one group of the colleges open their doors only for men and the other one for women. ( )

B. Choose the correct answer.

1. New students must __________ for classes before term begins.

a) enrol b) enter c) join d) teach

2. The classes were closed because of _________ of interest.

a) absence b) emptiness c) lack d) missing

3. The tutorial system at Oxford and Cambridge is the _________ of many universities.

a) envy b) jealousy c) regret d) sorrow

4. If you want to attend a course, you should study the college _________ for full particulars of enrolment.

a) programme b) prospects c) prospectus d) syllabus

5. When you listen to a lecture, it is useful to ________ the important points.

a) clear b) notify c) put down d) write on

6. The students were interested in what the teacher was saying and listened _________.

a) attentively b) guardedly c) prudently d) watchfully

7. I have English classes ________ days – on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

a) all other b) each other

c) every other d) this and the other

8. The most important _________ that Dr. Projector was responsible for was the use of video in teaching.

a) innovation b) introduction c) novelty d) reformation

9. At the beginning of the school year, every teacher is _________ a classroom.

a) allocated b) distributed c) registered d) sorted

10. Remember that exams never start late, they always start _________.

a) ahead of time b) at the last moment

c) in time d) on time

11. Don’t forget to _________ your name at the top of the test paper.

a) get b) place c) put d) set

12. The examiners often _________ extremely difficult questions for the written exams.

a) create b) make c) set d) write

13. Congratulations _________ passing your exams. Well done!

a) by b) for c) form d) on

14. This test _________ a number of multiple-choice questions.

a) composes of b) composes in c) consists of d) consists in

15. In a multiple-choice exercise it’s sometimes easier to _________ the wrong answers before choosing the right one.

a) eliminate b) exclude c) give d) omit

16. Dr. Inventive received a _________ from the university in order to continue his research.

a) credit b) grant c) prize d) reward

17. The _________ for the course are $150 a term.

a) charges b) costs c) fees d) payments

18. Despite the excellent results in his A level exam he has not won a (n) ______to the university.

a) aid b) money c) pension d) scholarship

19. Grading is a _________ used in schools to record student achievements.

a) method b) common c) marking d) occasionally

20. A co-ordinate institution has __________ men’s and women’s colleges.

a) separate b) located c) university d) students

21. I never __________ a chance of improving my English if I can help it.

a) avoid b) lose c) miss d) waste

21. If you want to learn a new language you must __________ classes regularly.

a) assist b) attend c) follow d) present

C. Use the words given in capitals in brackets to form a word that fits in the space and read the text. Consult a dictionary if required.