Reading comprehension

10 Form

Variant 1 text I: impressions of american education

A letter from a Ukrainian student studying as a US educational grant recipient

Let me begin in the beginning. There were fifty of us from the former Soviet Union who came to study in America. Each day we had orientation classes on how to write academic papers, how to study, and how to succeed in class. In the first weeks, we visited various tourist areas while in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. After a few weeks, we were met by the International Office of Grove University, and then we left for our universities where we would study.

This small private university is about fifteen minutes walk from the city center; the campus is small, about 2000 students. The university is nestled in the countryside with many hills which are covered with forests. Autumns is enchanting here, brighter and redder than in Ukraine. The campus is not very large, but it’s comfortable. On campus, each building contains at least one computer lab and all are open until midnight. Almost every student has a personal computer in his own living quarters or at home. The library doesn’t get copies of the textbooks so books are not provided by the university. It is up to the students to purchase all their own textbooks at a bookstore on campus. On average, each textbook runs about $70-$80.

Some teachers lecture directly on the material in the textbook, explaining in detail only the most necessary and difficult notions. Others lecture on additional material, and the students have to read and decipher the textbooks themselves. Their comprehension and progress is checked by tests. Teachers usually announce dates of the tests beforehand; some are simply announced as “pop quiz” — a test that comes unexpectedly to check your understanding of the material. .All teachers, without exception, bring to class some supplementary printed materials; they show slides, pictures and videos to illustrate the subject matter. It’s, no wonder classrooms are computerized and well-equipped with audio-visual devices like screens and projectors.

The classroom atmosphere is less official than it is at home, in fact it’s quite informal. Students come and go at will, no one considers it strange to see students leave before the final bell. Instructors /professors can have coffee or water and students can eat an apple or sweet during the session. When it was warm, we had classes out-of-doors on the grass beneath the shade trees.

I chose four subjects which would give me three credit hours each for a total of twelve semester credits. These were Media Graphics, Principles and Practices of Public Relations, Photo-Journalism and Introduction to Psychology. My major is Journalism. In addition, I study French but without credits because the course was closed already. This means that there was no more room for students. I asked the professor if I might attend the class without credit as an auditor. He allowed it. If a final paper is required in a course, students are told of it; it is expected that student work on it, research the literature* organize, write conclusions, and submit it at the end of the semester. Most of my professors prefer teamwork. Class groups of 4-7 students are formed and the subject is divided into sub-topics. Each person must research, write and present orally (3-5 minutes) his own aspect of the topic to the entire class. It is advisable to finish your talk early to leave time for questions. It is necessary to be fully prepared and not to ramble. A final exam is given at term end; there isn’t a ’debt system’ as we have in Ukraine. All work must be completed to get a passing grade.

Last week I had mid-term examinations followed by a four day break from classes. My grades were two Bs and two As (An A is like a 12 and a B is like n 9 or a IQ) Grades include everything, including attendance, your work in class, and your test scores. Some courses also require weekly 2-3 page essays. Other courses base grades on quiz and test results only; there isn’t a possibility to “retest’ or improve one’s score as there is at home.

At the beginning of the term, each professor present a syllabus which outlines the professor’s requirements for the course, attendance rules, the basis for grading, participation in class, learning objectives, deadlines for required tasks and, if allowed, make up dates if a student doesn’t meet the deadlines. There is also contact information, a schedule for consultations with the professor and the professor’s office hours. Each teacher has office hours and one must usually make an appointment to see the teacher beforehand. Every student has an academic advisor to help him/her choose the correct courses or to help solve other questions about the study program.

Next week I will register for next semester’s classes. The normal student credit load is 12- 15 credit hours. A three credit course usually meets three hours a week. Students who have families or are working to support themselves can take fewer credits and reach graduation more slowly. In the first week, a student is. allowed to “drop-add” classes — that is, decide not to take a course or add a course if there is room to enroll in it. After the first week or two, your schedule is set. If you decide to drop a class after the first weeks, you will receive a failing grade. The maximum class size is 15. One professor was very surprised to arrive in class and find twenty students waiting for him — it was his decision whether to allow this many students in his course.

American students have a great choice of subjects, although there are compulsory required courses to get a degree and also required courses for their major course of study. Usually the first two years are filled with required courses or courses which must be completed before a student can take an upper level.or advanced course. For example, a student must complete French 1 and French 2 before taking French Literature and Language. In private universities like mine, there may be additional courses which the students must take, such as at least one history course, at least one language course and at least one science course. When a student has fulfilled all the requirements, then he/she can choose elective courses to round out their study course (such a Studio Art, or Philosophy) or they can elect to take a class simply because they want to learn something new, like my French course. In my opinion, American students are not very interested in world events or even interested in the history of their own country. They are focused on themselves. It doesn’t surprise me but it isn’t pleasant.

Task 1. Choose the correct variant.

1. Before arriving at Grove University, the author

A received intense training in English;

B met more than 100 other students from the former USSR

C visited tourist sites;

D was given textbooks and a computer to use in America

2. The student arrived at Grove University

A in August;

B in autumn;

C after winter holidays;

D on a cold and snowy day

3. The student discovers that

A all the students have their own computers;

B students have to buy expensive textbooks themselves;

C students help each other to succeed;

D grades on tests are less important than at home

4. American classrooms are different from Ukrainian classrooms because

A students sit in groups;

B there are computers, screens and projectors in the classrooms

C teachers do not lecture;

D everyone arrives and leaves on time

4. A “pop quiz” is different from a scheduled examination because

A students are not prepared for it;

B it is not announced before class

C the grade doesn’t count as much as a regular examination

D students can take it again to improve their grade

6. An “auditor” in a class is

A a student who attends with special permission from the college

B a student who will not get credit for the course

C a student who is very interested in the subject

D a student who is not taking a required course

7. From this article, you could infer that a “debt system” means

A students can pay their school fees late with no penalty

B students may re-take tests until they are successful

C students can drop out of a course with no consequences

D students do not have to finish work on time

8. The writer says that American students

A are used to helping each other and cooperating on projects

B have more choices than Ukrainian students

C dress very informally to go to class

D often have coffee or meals with their professors

9. The writer states all of these except

A students must complete both a major course of study and required courses

B Americans are very curious about Ukraine and other Eastern European nations

C students have advisors to help them plan their studies

D Americans have access to computers in every campus building.

10. For her first semester of study, the writer selected

A three courses in her major and one outside her major

B five three credit courses

C all required courses with no electives

D courses that would improve her English skills