Exercise 1

Comprehension check:

What role do Ruth' s mother and father play in her upbringing?

Why did they decide to educate her at home?

What is Ruth's ambition?

How old will she be when she achieves her ambition?

How will the college change the course for Ruth?

What was the Lawrence family's reaction to the news?

Exercise 2

What do you think?

"Ruth has not mixed with other children". Do you think this is important?

What were your interests when you were ten?

What makes Ruth unusual?

Exercise 3

Make up questions to the answers:

A computer consultant. Her mother She was four Mathematics Yes, she does. She plays. She said, she is obviously quite brilliant. Dr. Glenys Luke He's going to help Ruth's sister in a similar way.

Exercise 4

Match the summary to the correct paragraph

• Her father has been her teacher, while her mother goes out to work;

• The university tutors are pleased that Ruth is coming and they are going to change the course a little to suit her;

• She wants to be a research professor. Before university she hopes to take four more A-levels;

• Ruth's academic background;

• She made history by coming first, but she herself wasn't happy with all the examination papers;

• Her family are very excited and wonder if the younger sister will be as talented;

• The kind of person that Ruth is. Her likes and interests;

Exercise 5 Fill in:

Ruth Lawrence, aged 10, has become _____________ in a mathematics examination out of 530 other students, all hoping to go to St. Hugh's College, Oxford. She has already __________________ her maths A-level, but admitted that she was a bit _____________________ to do so well in the entrance exam. She will go to Oxford ___________________ of 12. The principal of the college said, "She is obviously _______".

Exercise 6

Translate into English.

Хочеш знати який секрет успішного навчання в університеті? Ще школярем я турбувався про своє майбутнє, вирішуючи, яку професію обрати. Вчителі казали, з мене б вийшов гарний письменник чи журналіст, бо мені легко давалась література, а особливо гарно я проявляв себе у мовах. У мене була чудова пам'ять, я працював наполегливо і ніколи не зубрив і, тим більше, не користувався шпаргалками на контрольних. Ви повинні бути працьовитими, старанними, сумлінними, щоб досягти бажаного успіху у навчанні. Якщо ви не готуєтесь до екзаменів, ви можете провалитись. Звичайно, вдача вам може посміхнутись, але знань ви ніяких не отримаєте і не станете кваліфікованим фахівцем. Ніколи не розгублюйтесь на екзамені, зберіться з силами і спробуйте справити задовільне враження на екзаменатора. Яким чином? Відповідайте впевнено і чітко, не нервуйте, зберіться з думками. А головне - вірте у свої здібності і будьте оптимістом.

Child's play  Speaking

For most people, learning a subject like math or a skill like playing the piano is difficult. But for some remarkable people, it's so easy that we say it's "child's play". It's even more remarkable when the people who learn these things easily are children. Children who are exceptionally intelligent and who perform at a very high level in a difficult field are called "child prodigies".

• What other activities do you find easy or difficult?

• Do you know the names of any famous child prodigies? What do you know about them?

• Which words and phrases refer to child prodigies and which to ordinary people?

Words		Phrases
high level exceptionally remarkable superior average	unexceptional outstanding smart gifted	it's a breeze it's like taking candy from the baby it's a snap it's smooth sailing it's a piece of cake