VI. Say whether the action of the object clause precedes, follows or is simultaneous with the action of the principal clause in the following sentences

1. A spokeswoman for the Savoy Group said that anything a concierge earned on top of his basic salary was entirely his affair.

2. He argued that the new government would have a clear mandate for change.

3. He said that the bill would take effect after receiving the assent of President.

4. He said there was an issue that should be explored by state and federal officials.

5. Respondents said the president would be able to handle a variety of issues.

6. She knew he would have a base salary while he set up his new career.

7. The chancellor said he had no plans to assume any other political posts.

8. The director said that the average salary had decreased by the end of the year.

9. The government said that Iceland had no plans to resume whaling.

10. They knew the authorities would never recognize this.

VII. Use the required tense aspect forms in the following sentences, observing the rules of the sequence of tenses

1. He ended by saying that Police (to recover) some of the stolen property.

2. He was sure that the national government (not to wish) to be responsible for a bloody slave uprising.

3. He wondered if all that (to suppose) to end with the new democratic government.

4. I could see they (to decide) to start suing bigots.

5. I knew that East Anglia (to affect) by the fall in the property market.

6. She didn’t know why Payne (to deal) in the risky syndicated property market.

7. She felt that he (to appropriate) his country's natural resources as his personal property.

8. She figured out that the property market (to soften).

9. She knew that banking (to be) the occupation yielding the greatest number of high salaries.

10. She knew that there (to be) increases in civil service wages.

VIII. Ask your friends and then say what they answered

Model: Ask your friend if the United Kingdom has Ministry of Justice. – Does the United Kingdom have Ministry of Justice? – Yes, it does.

The United Kingdom has Ministry of Justice. – He said that the United Kingdom had Ministry of Justice.

Ask your friend:

1. if state organs of the U.K. include the monarchy, the legislative, executive and judicial organs of Government.

2. if the British call their government “Her Majesty’s Government”.

3. if the centre of parliamentary power is the House of Commons.

4. if the crown symbolizes the British monarch’s supreme power.

5. if the Home Secretary is responsible for the prevention of criminal offences.

6. if the Lord Chancellor is responsible for the composition of the courts.

7. if the monarch asks the Prime minister to form a government

8. if the monarch formally summons, dismisses and dis­solves Parliament.

9. if the State System of any nation is not an artificial creation of some genius.

10. if the thrown passes from a king or a queen to his or her eldest son or daughter.

IX. Make up sentences from the words given below

1. ago; centuries; Constitution; over; the; two; United States; was; written.

2. are; by; certain; Consti­tution; federal; given; government; powers; the; the; to.

3. among; branches; divided; government; is; national; power; the; three; within.

4. ambas­sadors; and; appointed; are; by; officials; other; president; the.

5. ap­pointed; are; by; departments; government; headed; major; of; secretaries; the; the.

6. a count of; a; by; determined; districts; in; is; number; of; population; state; the; the.

7. branch; by; Court; headed; is; judicial; Supreme; the; the.

8. and; are; branches; divided; ex­ecutive; governments; into; judicial; legislative; state.

9. century; Democratic; eighteenth; formed; in; party; the; the; was.

10. and; are; by; classes; Democrats; poor; supported; the; the; the; working.

UNIT 10

BRITISH EDUCATION SYSTEM

BEFORE YOU READ

Answer these questions

1. What do we mean when we say that the UK has two distinct systems of courses and qualifications?

2. How many stages of education are there in Britain?

READING TASKS

A. Understanding main points

Read the text below about the education in the United Kingdom and answer the questions, beginning your answers with the fol­lowing phrases: as a rule …; to tell the truth …; as far as I know …; the matter is that …; as far as I remember …; as far as I am concerned …; frankly/strictly speak­ing …; to make a long story short … .

1. What separate school systems is British education divided into? What is the difference between them?

2. Do you think that all British children of com­pulsory school age go to state schools? Why?

3. Is education in the UK compulsory for everyone? At what age do many children start their education?

4. How many stages are there in educa­tion in Britain? What are they?

5. Till what age is preparatory school available for children studying in the independent system?

6. Do all UK secondary schools prepare pupils for the General Certificate of Secondary Education or equivalent qualifications?

7. What does the higher education in Britain include? Where does it take place?

8. Do you think that there are great distinctions between differ­ent types of universities in Britain? Why?

9. What British universities are the oldest ones? When were they founded? What do they consist of?

10. Are Ox­ford and Cambridge teaching systems unique in the world? Why?

11. What do we mean when we say that the university is self-governing?

12. Why is the Open University considered to be one of the developments in education in Britain?

13. What do you know about the system of education in Scotland?

B. Understanding details

Mark the statements T (true) or F (false) according to the information in the text. Give your reason using the fol­lowing phrases: as a matter of fact ...; I

don't think so …; I'm of the same opinion …; in my opinion …; on the contrary …;

strictly speaking ...; to my mind ... .

1. The UK has one system of courses and qualifications for England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

2. Education in the UK is compulsory for everyone between the ages of six and eighteen.

3. Children start their education with the Pre-school education which is available in the independent systems.

4. All UK state secondary schools teach pupils until the age of sixteen.

5. Only state schools prepare students for the General Certificate of Secondary Education or equivalent qualifications.

6. There are four stages in educa­tion: pre-school education, primary education, secondary education and education at university or college.

7. After completing compulsory education at the age of sixteen, students may legally leave school and start work.

8. The grading system is A to G; D is usually required by universities.

9. Oxford and Cambridge universities were founded in the nineteenth century.

10. Universities don’t have substantial freedom from central control.

11. One of the developments in education in Britain is the Open University which allows everybody to study for degree.

12. The university courses are taught through television, its students work individually and discuss their work through correspondence; only in summer they attend short courses.

EDUCATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

The UK has two distinct systems of courses and qualifications: one for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and one for Scotland. Since 1995 the English Department for Education and Employment is responsible for development, interpretation, carrying out and control of the national education.

British education is divided into two separate school systems: state maintained schools and private fee-charging schools. Any child may attend school without paying fees. Over ninety percent of children of com­pulsory school age go to state schools.

Education in the UK is compulsory for everyone between the ages of five and sixteen. They start with the Pre-school or Pre-preparatory education. Pre-school education is available in both, the independent and the state systems. Many children start their education at the age of three or four at a nursery school.

There are three stages in educa­tion. The first stage is primary education, the sec­ond stage is secondary education and the third stage is further education at university or college. In the state system they go to primary school at the age of five and generally leave at the age of eleven. In the independent system they go to preparatory school which is available for children aged from five to thirteen. All UK Secondary schools, both state and independent, teach pupils at least until the age of sixteen and prepare them for the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSEs) or equivalent qualifications.

After completing compulsory education at the age of sixteen, students may legally leave school and start work. Those who stay at school after GCSE, study for two more years for A (Advanced) level exams in two or three subjects. There are over six hundred Further Education colleges, both state-funded and independent. The grading system is A to E. B is usually required by universities. The students finish their Secondary Education at the age of eighteen with A-levels or equivalent qualifications.

The Higher Education includes degree courses, postgraduate programmes and MBAs. It takes place at Universities, colleges and institutes offering studies at degree level and higher. The UK has over ninety universities and more than fifty Higher Education colleges offering a wide range of courses. There are no great distinctions between differ­ent types of universities in Britain. But still there are some categories of them. Oxford and Cambridge universities were founded in the medieval period. These uni­versities consist of semi-independent colleges, each of them having its own staff (“Fellows”). The “Fellows” teach the college students either one-to-one or in very small groups. This system is unique in the world and known as tutorials in Ox­ford and supervisions in Cambridge.

Studying for your first degree can take three years for an honour degree: Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Engineering, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Science. The degrees are classified in the following ways: first-class degree, upper second-class degree, lower second-class degree, third-class degree and pass. Students with good degrees can go on to higher degrees. This study can lead to: a postgraduate diploma, a master's degree and a doctorate.

The university is self-governing. Universities have substantial freedom from central control and are able to appoint their own staff. They can decide which students to admit, what and how to teach, which degrees to award. They usually select students on the ba­sis of A-level results and an interview but students who wish to enter Oxford and Cambridge have to take certain exams. Those who have better A-level re­sults are usually accepted. The nor­mal course of study lasts three — four years. Students are not supposed to take a job during the term unless their parents are rich. They receive a state grant, which covers most of their expenses, includ­ing the cost of accommodation. Quite a lot of stu­dents live on campus or in rooms nearby.

One of the developments in education in Britain is certainly the Open University. It was founded in 1971. Some people don't have an opportunity to study full-time, and this university allows them to study for degree. The university courses are taught through television, radio and coursebooks. Its students work individually and with tutors, to whom they send their papers. The students discuss their work at meetings or through correspondence. In summer they attend short courses.

The system in Scotland is subject to its own distinct laws and practices. Education is compulsory between the ages of five and sixteen. From ages five to fourteen the curriculum in Scottish schools follows guidelines set by the Scottish Executive Education Department. The five to fourteen curriculums take pupils through primary education and two years of secondary. Secondary education in Scotland begins at the age of twelve. At sixteen students take the examinations for the Scottish Qualifications Certificate (SQC), and they can also choose to leave school or continue for two more years to prepare for vocational training, employment, or higher education.

There exist twenty-one universities and colleges of higher education in Scotland. Students can choose from two levels of degree: the general degree, which takes three years to complete and the honours degree, which takes four years. Scotland also offers a wealth of course options at the postgraduate level.