Listening comprehension

9 Form

Variant 4 text: how ruth made history at oxford

Child prodigy Ruth Lawrence made history yesterday when she came a clear first out of the 530 candidates who set the entrance exam for St. Hugh’s College, Oxford. The all-women’s college is likely to offer her a scholarship. Ruth sat three-hour papers — Algebra and Geometry; Calculus, Probability and Statistics; and Maths, Pure and Applied. “I was happy with the first two”, she said yesterday, “but I wasn’t sure about the third”.

Ruth, who lives in Nuddersfield, has never been to school. Her father, Harry Lawrence, a computer consultant, gave up his job when Ruth was five to educate her at home. Her mother, Sylvia, who. also works in computers, is the family breadwinner.

Harry Lawrence explained that, besides Mathematics, Ruth also enjoyed English, History, Geography, nature study and other subjects. She began to read at four and started academic subjects at five. “We did not start off with the thought that she would not go to school”, he said, “but we enjoyed teaching her so much and we seemed to be making quite a good job of it, so we just carried on”.

Because she does not go to school, Ruth has not mixed much with other children. “She enjoyed serious conversation with adults”, her father said, “and I don’t think she will feel out of place at Oxford”. He does not think she works harder than other children of her age, but concentrates on what she enjoys, principally Mathematics. “She watches television a little but not as a habit”, he explained, “but she plays the piano and has quite a wide range of interests”.

If she does well at the St. Hugh’s, Ruth expects to take a further degree and eventually hopes to become a research professor in Mathematics — an ambition she may achieve while still in her teens. The Lawrence family plans to move to Oxford when Ruth takes up her plans to take four A levels to satisfy the college matriculation requirements. Her father hopes she will be exempt from the requirement to pass a foreign language — a “diversion”, he feels, “from her main interest”.

Miss Rachel Trinket, the Principal of St. Hugh’s, said last night: “We are all very excited about Ruth. She is obviously quite brilliant and she shows genuine originality. “Ruth’s future tutor, Dr. Glenys Luke, admits that taking so young a student is a daunting responsibility but says it is one she expects to enjoy. “I shall tailor the teaching to her requirements”, she said. “Ruth should not have to suffer the same tensions and disappointments that older students face. I hope I shall make it fun for her”.

Last night the Lawrence family were thrilled at Ruth’s achievement. “We all jumped up and down a bit when we heard”, said Harry Lawrence. He looks forward to concentrating his efforts on her younger sister Rebecca, seven. “She’s doing very well”, he said, “but it’s too early to tell whether she’s a mathematician”.

Task 1. Mark sentences as true or false.

1. She works harder than other children of her age and concentrates on what she enjoys.

2. Ruth plans to study for a further degree after graduating form St. Hugh’s.

3. Miss Rachel Trinket, the Principal of St. Hugh’s, said the authorities were very excited about Ruth.

4. The Lawrence family may move to Oxford after Ruth’s studies at St. Hugh’s.

5. Ruth always did well at school.

6. Ruth liked socializing with grown ups.

7. It is difficult to predict whether her sister will be a brilliant mathematician.

8. Ruth’s ambition is to become a research professor in Statistics.

9. Ruth’s favourite subject was Mathematics.

10. The all-women’s college is going to give her a scholarship.

11. Her mother’s profession is connected with computers.

12. She began to read mathematical books at three.

13. Harry Lawrence used to be a computer consultant.

Task 2. Choose the correct variant.

14. She came out first of 530 candidates.

A She came out of St. Hugh’s as the best student.

B She was the first to finish her paper.

C Alphabetically her surname stood first in the list.

D She passed the exams better than other applicants.

15. Ruth will not feel out of place in Oxford.

A Ruth will fit in at the college.

B Ruth won a place at one of Oxford’s colleges by her good results..

C Ruth will not mix well with adult students.

D Ruth will not miss her family in Oxford.

16. Her mother, Sylvia, is the family breadwinner.

A Ruth enjoys home-made bread by Sylvia’s recipe.

B Sylvia works at home to earn money for the family.

C The family’s main income is Sylvia’s salary.

D Ruth’s mother, Sylvia, is a rich person.

17. Her father gave up his job.

A He had to retire because of his health.

B Her father dedicated all his time to educating Ruth.

C The firm where he worked, was broken.

D Ruth’s mother couldn’t stay at home.

18. We didn’t start off with the thought that she wouldn’t go to school.

A The parents just wanted to get Ruth prepared for school.

B The parents knew from the very start that Ruth wouldn’t go to school.

C The parents didn’t begin with teaching Ruth a foreign language.

D The parents didn’t like Ruth to mix with other children.

19. Her father hopes Ruth will be exempt from the requirement to pass a foreign language.

A Her father hopes his daughter will pass an exam in a foreign language well.

B Her father didn’t prepare Ruth for an exam in a foreign language.

C Her father believes Ruth will not have to take an exam in a foreign language.

D Her father expects his daughter will not pass an exam in a foreign language well.

20. The future tutor promised to tailor the teaching to her requirements.

A The Principal of the college changed the academic plan.

B All future students promised to help Ruth.

C The future tutor was going to adapt his methods.

D The future tutor was thinking about Ruth’s requirements.