Section III

Higher education in great britain

Text 3

Higher Education in Great Britain

Pre-reading task: Answer the following questions:

1. What do you know about higher education in Great Britain?

2. What do you think are the oldest universities in Great Britain?

3. Would you like to study at Oxford University?

There are many academic institutions in Great Britain that make up the system of higher education.

Universities have traditionally been regarded as centres of academic learning, in contrast to polytechnics, which have focused on vocational (work-related) education. However, this distinction has gradually disappeared.

You can also study at colleges of higher education. These institutions are generally smaller than universities, and tend to concentrate on more specialized fields of study, such as education, art and design, music and drama.

There are about one hundred universities in Britain. The oldest and best-known universities are located in Oxford, Cambridge, London, Manchester, Liverpool.

The most common requirements for admission to establishments of higher education are General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) and good A-level results. Universities choose their students after interviews.

English universities differ from each other in date of foundation, size, history, general organization, methods of instruction, way of student life.

The academic year in Britain’s universities, polytechnics, colleges of education is divided into three terms, which usually run from the beginning of October to the middle of December, from the middle of January to the end of March, and from the middle of April to the end of June or the beginning of July.

After 3 years of study a university graduate will leave with the Degree of Bachelor of Arts, Science, Engineering, Medicine, etc. Later he/she may continue to take a Master’s Degree and then a Doctor’s Degree. Research is an important feature of university work.

Ex.17 Answer the questions:

1. What used to be the difference between universities and polytechnics?

2. What are the differences between universities and colleges of higher education?

3. What are the admission requirements?

4. How many terms does the academic year consist of?

5. When does the first term begin?

6. What degrees are awarded at British universities?

Text 4 Oxbridge

Pre-reading task: Answer the following questions:

1. Where can one get higher education in Great Britain?

2. Would you like to study at any college in Britain? Why?

Oxford and Cambridge are the oldest and most prestigious universities in Great Britain. “Oxbridge” is the term which is used to refer to them collectively.

Nowadays they continue to attract many of the best brains. Both universities grew gradually, as federations of independent colleges most of which were founded in the 14, 15 and 16 centuries. In both universities new colleges have been established, for example, Green College, Oxford (1979) and Robinson College, Cambridge (1977).

The colleges of Oxford and Cambridge are essentially residential institutions and they mainly use a tutorial method. The students work under direction of a tutor who directs a group of 10-15 students. Each student is to write essays and papers on the subject he/she is studying and submit them to the tutor regularly for correction and discussion.

Sport is a part of student’s life at Oxbridge. English students are especially keen on football and boat races. Social life is highly developed at English colleges. The students edit college newspapers, take part in various amateur theatricals and enjoy discussions in their debating clubs.

The universities have over a hundred societies and clubs, enough for every interest one could imagine.

Ex.18 Answer the questions using the information from the text.

1. What does “Oxbridge” stand for?

2. Are the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge residential institutions?

3. What does a “tutorial method” mean?

4. What can you say about sport and social life at English colleges?

Ex. 19 Visit websites www.4icu.org or www.wikipedia.org to find more information about British universities.

Ex.20 Speaking. Pair work. Work with a partner or in groups of 3-4. Roleplay or discuss the following situations:

1. A Russian and an English student are exchanging information on the variety of higher educational institutions in their countries.

2. Two students of the Academy are discussing their life. One of them is enthusiastic about everything, the other is dissatisfied grumbler and finds fault with every little thing.

3. A student is speaking with a friend of his/hers about the programme and the course of study he/she is taking.

4. The difference between the systems of higher education in Britain and Russia.

5. Exchange information on social life of the students in your higher school, on sport and amateur activity.

Ex. 21 Speaking. Speak on what you think may surprise a Russian student at an English University:

a) curriculum;

b) teaching methods:

2. students’ extra-curricular activities. Use the following expressions:

• In comparison with

• It goes without saying that

• An advantage of

• What attracts me most of all is

• The best thing about +Ving is that

• It is not surprising that

• It’s common knowledge that

• I can’t but mention that

Ex. 22 Grammar Focus 8. The Continuous Tenses.

1. to be (am, is, are, was, were, shall be, will be) + Participle I

	Present	Past	Future
Affirmative	I am speaking We You are speaking They He She is speaking It	I was speaking We You were speaking They He She was speaking It	I We shall be speaking You They He will be speaking She It
Negative	I am not speaking We are not You aren’t They speaking He is not She isn’t It speaking	I was not (wasn’t) speaking We were not You (weren’t) They speaking He was not She (wasn’t) It speaking	I shall not (shan’t) We be speaking You They will not He won’t She be speaking It
Interrogative	Am I speaking? we Are you speaking? they he Is she speaking? it	Was I speaking? we Were you speaking? they he Was she speaking? it	Shall I be speaking? we you they Will he be speaking? she it

Времена группы Continuous обозначают действие в процессе его развития в определенный момент в настоящем, прошедшем или будущем.

Некоторые глаголы не могут выражать действие или состояние как процесс, совершающийся в определенный момент времени, и, следовательно, употребляться во всех временах группы Continuous. К ним относятся: to love – любить, to want – хотеть, to like – нравиться, to hate – ненавидеть, to wish,

to desire – желать, to see – видеть, to hear – слышать, to feel – чувствовать,

to notice – замечать, to know – знать, to understand – понимать, to consist – состоять, to belong – принадлежать, to recognize – узнавать, to be – быть и др.

С временами группы Continuous обычно употребляются следующие указатели времени:

now, right now, just now, at the moment, today, this week (month, season), these days, tonight (this evening);

at that time, all day (night) long, at 6 o’clock, the whole evening (morning, afternoon), from seven to nine;

at this time tomorrow(next week, next month), at 10 o’clock on Friday.

2. Put the verb into the correct form. Sometimes you need the negative (I’m not doing etc.).

Model: I’m tired. I (go) to bed now. Goodnight!

I’m tired. I’m going to bed now. Goodnight!

1. We can go out now. It…………(rain) any more.

2. “How is your new job?” “Not so good at the moment. I………(enjoy) it very much.”

3. Kate phoned me last night. She’s on holiday in France. She ……….(have) a great time and doesn’t want to come back.

4. I want to lose weight, so this week I………. (eat) lunch.

5. Angela has just started evening classes. She……………. (learn) German.

6. I think Paul and Ann had an argument. They…………… (speak) to each other.

3. Here is a list of some things that Ann did yesterday (and the times at which she did them):

1. 8.45-9.15 - had breakfast 4. 12.45-1.30 –had lunch

2. 9.15-10.00-read the newspaper 5. 2.30 – 3.30 –washed some clothes

3. 10.00-12.00-cleaned her flat 6. 4.00 -6.00 –watched television

Write sentences saying what she was doing at these times:

1. At 9 o’clock she was having breakfast.

2. At 9.30 she _____________________

3. At 11 o’clock ___________________

4. At 1 o’clock ____________________

5. At 3 o’clock____________________

6. At 5 o’clock ____________________

Ex. 23 Use your own ideas to complete these sentences. Use the past continuous.

Model: Tom burnt his hand while he …………………

Tom burnt his hand while he was cooking the dinner.

1. The doorbell rang while I……………………………

2. We saw an accident while we……………………….

3. Mary fell asleep while she…………………………..

4. The television was on but nobody…………………..

Ex. 24 Put the verbs into the correct form, past continuous or past simple.

Model: Jane ………… (wait) for me when I ……….(arrive).

Jane was waiting for me when I arrived.

1. “ What ……………….(you/do) this time yesterday?” “I was asleep.”

2. “……………… (you/go) out last night?” “No, I was too tired.”

3. “Was Carol at the party last night?” “Yes, she ………………(wear) a really nice dress.”

4. How fast ………… (you/drive) when the accident…………(happen)?

5. John………….. (take) a photograph of me while I ………….(not/look).

6. We were in a very difficult position. We……….. (not/know) what to do.

7. I haven’t seen Alan for ages. When I last…….. (see) him, he………(try) to find a job in London.

8. I………….. (walk) along the street when suddenly I………..(hear) footsteps behind me. Somebody………….. (follow) me. I was frightened and I………… (start) to run.

9. When I was young, I………………… (want) to be a bus driver.

Ex. 25 Put the verb in brackets into the Future Continuous.

Model: Don’t ring her up at 12 o’clock. She (write) her composition then.

Don’t ring her up at 12 o`clock. She will be writing her composition then.

1. At this time tomorrow the boys of our group (play) football.

2. When we arrive in St. Petersburg, it probably (rain).

3. It is nearly autumn, soon the leaves (change) color.

4. If you want to see us, come to Tom’s house on Sunday. We (wait) for you there at midday.

Ex. 26 Speaking. Answer the questions using the Future Continuous Tense and the given suggestions. Begin your sentences with I think, I am sure…

1. What will she be doing on Sunday? (make a dress)

2. What will you be doing at this time next week? (swim in the Black Sea)

3. What will he be doing at the University for five years? (study law)

4. What will they be doing at this time tomorrow? (fly to Kiev)

5. What will grandfather be doing when we arrive? (work in the garden)

UNIT 3

DESCRIBING A COUNTRY: GENERAL OUTLINE

Section I

GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION OF GREAT BRITAIN

AND NORTHERN IRELAND

Ex. 1 Pronunciation practice. Read and practice the pronunciation of the following words and word-combinations:

Europe, the British Isles, the Atlantic Ocean, the Irish Sea, the Thames, the Severn, vegetables, islands, Northern Ireland, surface, mountainous, descendants, manufacture, natural resources, textiles, equipment, pharmaceuticals.

Text 1

Great Britain

Pre-reading task:

a) Scan the text and answer the following questions:

1. What is the full official name of Great Britain?

2. What parts does the UK consist of?

3. What is the territory of Great Britain?

4. How many people inhabit the UK?

b) Read the text, divide it into parts and give headings .

Great Britain is situated on the British Isles. The island of Great Britain together with the neighboring minor islands and the northeastern part of Ireland constitute the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The total area of Great Britain is 244,000 square kilometers. The west coast of the country is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea, the east coast is washed by the North Sea. Great Britain is separated from France by the English Channel which is 32 km. wide. The seas surrounding Great Britain are not very deep. The surface of England and Ireland is flat, but the surface of Scotland and Wales is mountainous. In Wales, there are the Cambrian Mountains, the highest peak of which is Snowdon. It is 3,560 feet high (nearly 1,000 meters). In Scotland, the main chain of mountains is called the Grampians, its highest peak is Ben Nevis (4,400 feet high). The mountainous northern part of Scotland is called the Highlands.

The rivers of Great Britain are short. The Thames, the Severn and the Clyde are the most important. There are many beautiful lakes in Great Britain, the largest part of them is in the Lake District in northwestern England.

The climate of Great Britain is typically maritime with frequent rains and strong winds. The Gulf Stream makes the climate mild and damp.

The population of the UK is about 60 million people (estimate 2001). The country is more densely populated than most countries. About nine - tenths of the people live in cities and towns. Most of the British are descendants of many early peoples who invaded Britain. These are the Celts, Romans, Angles, Saxons, Scandinavians, and Normans. Since the late 1940’s many immigrants from Commonwealth countries have settled in the United Kingdom. Most of them came from the West Indies, Asia, and Africa.

The largest cities of Great Britain are: London, the capital, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Cardiff, and Edinburgh.

The UK is one of the world’s great manufacturing and trading nations. The country’s farms produce only about two – thirds of the food needed by the people. Vegetables are grown in all parts of the country, especially in the south. Sheep breeding and cattle breeding are also developed in Great Britain.

Except for coal, low-grade iron ore, natural gas and oil, the UK has few natural resources. The UK also produces heavy machinery for industry, farming and mining; railway equipment, household appliances, and machine tools. An increasing percentage of the UK’s manufactured goods consists of electronic equipment.

The UK is also famous for its chemical industry, pharmaceuticals, pottery industry. The UK is one of the world’s chief centers of printing and publishing.

Ex. 2 Answer the following questions:

1. Where is Great Britain located ?

2. What are the two large islands called?

3. What seas and oceans surround the territory of Great Britain?

4. What can you say about the rivers of Great Britain?

5. What mountains do you know in Great Britain?

6. What influences the climate of Great Britain?

7. What natural resources is the country rich in?

8. What facts can prove that the UK is still a leading industrial nation?

Ex. 3 Test yourself:

1.The UK consists of… parts.

a) three

b) five

c) four

2. … is the most closely related with England.

a) Scotland

b) Wales

c) Northern Ireland

3. The total area of the UK is … square kilometers.

a) 210,000

b) 244,000

c) 240,000

4. Great Britain is separated from … by the English Channel.

a) France

b) Republic of Ireland

c) Iceland

5. … is Northern Ireland’s capital and largest city.

a) Londonderry

b) Belfast

c) Newry

6. There are two official languages in Wales: English and … .

a) Gaelic

b) Welsh

c) French

7. William Shakespeare was born in … .

a) Sheffield

b) Stratford-on-Avon

c) Windsor

8. Almost all Prime Ministers of the UK studied in the …

a) Eton College

b) Winchester College

c) St. Paul’s School

9. … is the place where “The Beatles” began their musical career.

a) Manchester

b) Edinburgh

c) Liverpool

10. The most important rivers of Great Britain are the Thames, the Severn and the …

a) Clyde

b) Cam

c) Avon

11. The climate of the UK is typically … .

a) subtropical

b) maritime

c) subarctic

12. The population of the UK is about … million people.

a) 100

b) 80

c) 60

13. … is the capital of Scotland.

a) Edinburgh

b) Glasgow

c) Aberdeen

14. The official residence of the Sovereign which is situated in the countryside is …

a) Buckingham Palace

b) Holy rood Palace

c) Windsor Castle

Ex. 4 Grammar focus 9. The Perfect Tenses.

1. to have (has, had, will have) + Participle II

	Present	Past	Future
Affirmative	I We have You written They He She has written It	I We You They had written He She It	I shall have We written You They will have He written She It
Negative	I We have not (haven’t) You written They He She has not (hasn’t) It written	I We You had not They (hadn’t) He written She It	I shall have We written You They will not He (won’t) She written It
Interrogative	I Have we written? you they he Has she written? it	I we you Had they written? he she it	Shall I have written? we you they Will he have written? she it

Времена группы Perfect обозначают действие, которое совершилось к определенному моменту в настоящем, прошедшем или будущем.

Времена группы Perfect переводятся на русский язык глаголами совершенного вида и употребляются с наречиями времени (already, just, yet, never, ever): I have already passed my exam. Я уже сдал экзамен; и со словами, выражающими еще не истекшие периоды времени (today, this year, this month, this week, this morning, etc.), I have seen the film twice this week. Я дважды посмотрел фильм на этой неделе.

Present Perfect может употребляться для выражения действия, которое началось в прошлом и не закончилось в к данному моменту, а все еще продолжается. Период действия обычно указывается с помощью слов for (в течение) или since (с, с тех пор, с тех пор как). В этом случае Present Perfect переводится на русский язык глаголов несовершенного вида: I have lived here since 1990. – Я живу здесь с 1990 года.

Определенный момент в прошлом (Past Perfect) или будущем (Future Perfect) выражается обозначениями времени с предлогом by – к: by 3 o’clock yesterday, by 3 o’clock tomorrow, by time he came (comes): By the end of this week my friend will already have written his report on history. – К концу этой недели мой друг уже напишет свой доклад по истории.

2. Read the situations and write sentences in the Present Perfect Tense. Choose one of the following verbs:

arrive break go up grow improve lose

Model: Mike is looking for his key. He can’t find it. He ………………...

Mike is looking for his key. He can’t find it. He has lost it.

1. Margaret can’t walk and her leg is in plaster. She……………………….

2. Maria’s English wasn’t very good. Now it is much better……………….

3. Tim didn’t have a beard last month. Now he has a beard………………..

4. This morning I was expecting a letter. Now I have it. …………………..

5. Last week the bus fare was 80 pence. Now it is 90. …………………….

3. Make questions from the words in brackets , ask your partner about the things he has done and when he did it.

Model: (ever/ride/horse?) Have you ever ridden a horse?

Yes, I have. When did you do it?

1. (ever /be/California?)…………………………………..

2. (ever/run/marathon?)…………………………………...

3. (ever/speak/famous person?)…………………………..

4. (always/live/in this town?)…………………………….

5. (most beautiful place/ever/visit?)………………………

d) Translate the sentences which are used in the Present ,Past or Future Perfect Tense.

1. We are late. The film will already have started by the time we get to the cinema.

2. By the time you arrived we had already left.

3. The students will have known the results of the exams by 3 o’clock tomorrow.

4. Have you heard from George recently?

5. When we got home last night, we found that somebody had broken into the flat.

6. Ted and Amy have been married for 24 years.

Ex. 5 Speaking. Browse the Internet and find additional information to fill in this chart. Summarize the information to compare the countries.

	UK	Russia
Area
Parts, regions
Seas, oceans, rivers, lakes
Neighboring countries
Population
Highlands, lowlands
Climate
Natural resources
Capital
Largest cities