Oxbridge

Notes: gown – мантия (студента университета, судьи и т. п.)

graduation – окончание курса (в учебном заведении), получение ученой степени.

rivals- соперники, конкуренты.

crew – экипаж корабля.

to bump – ударять, налетать , наскочить

When people speak about the universities of Oxford and Cambridge together and want to distinguish them from other British universities they usually use the word "Oxbridge", which is made up from the names of the two universities - Oxford and Cambridge. To use one word "Oxbridge" is quite natural because both universities do not differ greatly and have much in common. Oxford and Cambridge universities date back to the Middle Ages and have always been the universities for gentlemen. Now in both there are colleges for women. Each university consists of a number of semi-independent colleges. To become a student of Oxford or Cambridge one has to take an entrance exam in addition to "A" levels and after that he (she) may be accepted at one of the university colleges.

The teaching in both universities is based on the tutorial system. Students have tutorials called supervisions at Cambridge. Every student has a tutor who plans his (her) work. The student has to write essays and papers on the subjects he (she) is studying. The student is also required to submit regularly the results of his (her) work to the tutor who gives advice and helps him (her) in time of need.

Both universities are believed to be the best institutions to get education at. Most graduates of Oxbridge are former students of famous public schools. An Oxbridge degree is highly valued and recognized by the public and the government. As a rule most Oxbridge graduates get leading positions in Britain and become politicians, MPs and prime ministers.

In both universities students wear gowns. As for Oxford students, when taking exams or being at a degree ceremony, they have to wear a gown on top of their academic dress consisting of a black suit or skirt, black shoes and socks or tights, a white shirt or a blouse and a black tie. Besides they have to put on a black hat with a flat, square top. Cambridge students wear gowns when they become members of the university and at graduation.

The students of Oxford and Cambridge always compete with each other. They are rivals in academic affairs, in debating and sport. Rugby and cricket teams competitions as well as the Boat Races held each year attract public attention. Each May the river Thames, known at Oxford as the Isis, becomes like a Venetian carnival when colleges row against each other. Crews try to bump the boat in front of them. The leading crew at the end of four days wins the title Head of the River

National pride of oxbridge

Notes: PhD – высшая ученая степень доктора наук.

fellow – член Совета колледжа (часто профессор)

Civil Service Commissioner – член парламентской комиссии по гражданским делам

vice-versa - наоборот

knight- рыцарский титул, присуждаемый за личные заслуги перед Британской короной

life peer – лорд (пожизненный член палаты лордов)

A great number of men of letters graduated from Oxford university in different years of its long history. Among them are such world-known writers as: Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) John Golsworthy (1867-1933), James Aldridge (b. 1918), Thomas S. Eliot (1888-1965), Philip Larkin (1922-1985), William Golding (1911-1992), Graham Greene (1904-1991) and some others.

Cambridge University can boast of such world famous graduates as: Isaac Newton (1642-1727), George Gordon Byron (1788-1824), William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863). Charles Darwin (1809-1882), Iris Murdoch (b. 1919 - 1999) and others.

Among the most prominent people of the 20th century Britain it should be mentioned a well-known English writer of novels, a scientist, a literary critic and a public figure of importance Charles Percy Snow (1905-1980). Born in a lower middle-class family C.P. Snow was educated at Leicester University College where in 1927 he took a First Class Honours degree in chemistry. Then at Christ's College, Cambridge, he took a PhD for research in molecular physics and became a Fellow and a tutor teaching physics at Cambridge University.

During the Second World War C.P. Snow worked as a scientific expert for the British government. When the war was over he was made a Civil Service Commissioner and was thus brought into public affairs (1945-1960).

Alongside with his public activities Snow dedicated himself to literature. His first novel was a detective story Death Under Sail (1932).

Literary fame came to Snow when he started publishing a sequence of eleven novels under the general title of Strangers and Brothers (1940-1970) where he draws a vast canvas of the British way of life in scientific, academic and government fields. He writes that if people live alone, isolated from their environment, they are “strangers”. But in grieves and sorrows, happiness and joy they become "brothers". So today's "strangers" may become tomorrow's “Brothers", and vice-versa.

Snow also wrote a collection of biographical portraits, Variety of Men (1967) and a critical biography Trollop (1975). In his book Corridors of Power (1964) Snow presented a gallery of people governing Britain and responsible for its fate and policy. He showed their manipulations in the field of atomic energy, the struggle of different parties for power for the manufacture of rockets of a new type. Here he used his own service experience as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Technology.

Snow collected his public lectures and addresses in a volume Public Affairs (1971) where he speaks of himself, on the strength of his scientific interests, political career and that of a novelist as of a bridge between the literary traditional culture and the culture of science.

For his service in industry and government Charles Percy Snow was made a knight in 1957 and a life peer in 1964. Snow is a national pride of Britain rather than of Oxbridge.

Exercise 2. Do the test.

1. When speaking about the universities of Oxford and Cambridge together people want … them from other British universities.

A. to differ; B. to compare; C. to distinguish; D. to identify;

2. Oxford and Cambridge universities date back to …

A. the Ancient times; B. the Middle Ages; C. the Golden Age; D. the nuclear age;

3. To become a student of Oxford or Cambridge one has to take an entrance exam in addition to … .

A. the "11+" exam; B. "AS" Level; C. the General Certificate of Secondary Education; D. "A" levels;

4. Every student has a tutor who … his (her) work

A. does; B. plans; C. writes; D. copies out;

5. The student is also required to submit … the results of his (her) work to the tutor

A. regularly; B. every day; C. once a year; D. at end of the year;

6. Most graduates of Oxbridge are former students of famous … .

A. public schools; B. secondary schools; C. comprehensive schools; D. junior schools;

7. At Oxford the students have to wear a gown on top of their academic dress … .

A. in class; B. when taking exams or being at a degree ceremony;

C. when taking final exams; D. at different parties;

8. The students of Oxford and Cambridge always … with each other.

A. cooperate; B. hate; C. envy; D. compete;

9. Rugby and cricket teams competitions as well as … held each year attract public attention.

A. the Yacht Races; B. the Car Races; C. The Motor Bike Races; D. the Boat Races;

10. The leading crew at the end of four days wins the title Head of the

A. River; B. Lake; C. Town; D. University;

11. A great number of men of letters graduated from Oxford University.

A. Ernest Rutherford (1871-1937); B. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

C. Gordon Byron (1788-1824); D. Oscar Wilde (1854-1900);

12. Cambridge university can boast of such world famous graduates as …

A. Philip Larkin (1922-1985), B. Abram Ioffe,

C. Charles Darwin (1809-1882), D. Graham Greene (1904-1991)

13. At Leicester University College Charles Percy Snow took a First Class Honours degree in … in 1927.

A. biology; B. chemistry; C. mathematics; D. literature;

14. Charles Percy Snow took a PhD for research in molecular physics and became … and a tutor teaching physics at Cambridge University.

A. a Student; B. a Post-graduate; C. an Engineer; D. a Fellow;

15. His first novel was a detective story … (1932).

A. Variety of Men; B. Corridors of Power; C. Death Under Sail; D. Trollop;

16. In a sequence of eleven novels under the general title of Strangers and Brothers (1940-1970) he draws … in scientific, academic and government fields

A. a vast canvas of the British way of life; B. a vast canvas of the students’ life;

C. a vast canvas of the Second World War; D. a vast canvas of the British history;

17. Snow has also written a collection of biographical … .

A. portraits; B. facts; C stories; D. details;

18. Snow collected his public lectures and addresses in a volume … (1971)

A. Corridors of Power; B. Trollop; C. Variety of Men; D. Public Affairs;

19. For his service in industry and government Charles Percy Snow was made … in 1957 and a life peer in 1964.

A. a prime minister; B. a president; C. a knight; D. a servant;

20. Snow is a national … of Britain rather than of Oxbridge.

A. joy; B. symbol; C. fame; D. pride;

Text 9

Exercise 1. Read the text and get ready to do the tasks.

Notes:

vocational school - училище

intermediate school – средние классы

senior school – старшие классы

applicant - абитуриент

graduate course - аспирантура

specialized council – специализированный совет