VIII. A) Read and translate into Russian: Oxford

So this is Oxford. As soon as we emerge into the clean, broad streets, there are signs enough that this is the ancient seat of English learning. Gowns and mortar boards.¹⁴ Young undergraduates in loose black thigh-length gowns. A graduate's gown is generally of knee length and for ceremonial occasions at least, has a hood lined in silk of the colour prescribed by the wearer's faculty.

Oxford's main railway station is some half a mile to the west of the area in which are clustered most of the colleges: Queen's College and University College, Magdalen College and quite a number of others.

All these together make up the University of Oxford.

The central University, in general, arranges lectures for the whole body of students in a particular subject and holds examinations and grants degrees; an individual college provides for residence and tutorials. Great emphasis is laid at Oxford and Cambridge on what are called "tutorials", in which a Don¹⁵ gives personal instruction in his study at least once a week to students numbering not more than four at a sitting.

For a lover of old architecture, Oxford has much to offer. Many of the colleges present a lovely picture of ancient pearl-grey walls, noble towers, picturesque gothic archways. All have grass lawns of velvet smoothness which must be seen to be believed, and many have, in summer, most magnificent displays of flowers.

(After "The British Scene" by George Bidwell)

B) Argue the pros and cons of: 1. Tutorial system. 2. Students' uniform. 3. Residential colleges.

IX. Read the text. Comment on its content: Students in Tents

Three small tents — two blue and one khaki — are pitched among trees on a hill above Sussex University campus. This weekend they are 'home' to three students who cannot find a bed in the neighbouring town of Brighton.

They are an apt symbol of an accommodation crisis that is affecting thousands of students throughout the country. Tonight 80 other Sussex students will bed down on mattresses on the floor of the university senate chamber. It will be the sixth — and probably final — night of a'protest occupation!

In every major city there are students on camp beds in nooks and crannies and others 'crashing' on the floors of friends' flats.

The National Union of Students describes it as the worst ever student accommodation crisis! The indications are that it is a foretaste of a massive problem.

Unless something radical is done, the concept of a student having the right to go away to university may soon be dead. (See: Ttofi C., Creed T. S. English in Mind. Lnd., 1982)

Unit nine

I. Speech patterns

1. They were about Mrs. Burlow's age, so were the attendants.

"I tell you I was moved. So were you, I dare say."

"I wasn't trying to act. 1 really felt." "So did I, my boy," said Le Ros.

My friend guessed what mystery they were talking about. So did I.

She was greatly impressed by Laurence Olivier's acting. So were they.

2. Rose thought him quite funny.

Christine thought this cheque for twenty guineas rather strange.

They always found Le Ros magnetic.

The Trasker girls considered Fabermacher very romantic.

For the first time in a long while Erik thought himself won­derfully free.

3. She saw his face peering through that mask.

Lanny saw Gret Villier sitting at the table motionless and impersonal.

When passing a coffee stall Lanny noticed two white men staring at him.

Jim and his mother heard the blind man approaching the door.

It was easy to imagine Ida performing as the keeper of a second-rate club.

Dave frowned as he saw Dan leaving.

4. Rose wanted him to stop clowning for them.

When Erik finished reading the letter, he couldn't take his eyes off the paper.

Presently Tom picked up a straw and began trying to bal­ance it on his nose.

The sailor began rowing towards the harbour's mouth.

Meanwhile she went on talking in her earnest, convinc­ing voice.