5. Make your sentences with the words.

READING 3: OXFORD UNIVERSITY

A. Study the vocabulary.

to affiliate with Chancellor (warden, provost, principal, president, rector) Vice-Chancellor Congregation Convocation de facto fellow (tutor, don)

присоединяться, входить в состав ректор проректор конгрегация, сенат (совещательный орган в английских университетах) конвокация (совет Оксфордского университета) на деле, фактически, в действительности младший научный сотрудник колледжа или университета; наставник; член совета колледжа; преподаватель

B. Read and translate the text.

The University of Oxford (informally Oxford University or simply Oxford) is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. It is also regarded as one of the world's leading academic institutions. The university traces its roots back to at least the end of the 12th century, although the exact date of foundation remains unclear.

The university's formal head is the Chancellor, though as with most British universities, the Chancellor is a titular figure, rather than someone involved with the day-to-day running of the university. Elected by the members of Convocation, a body comprising all graduates of the university, the Chancellor holds office until death. The Vice-Chancellor is the de facto head of the University. Five Pro-Vice-Chancellors have specific responsibilities for Education; Research; Planning and Resources; Development and External Affairs; and Personnel and Equal Opportunities. The University Council is the executive policy-forming body, which consists of the Vice-Chancellor as well as heads of departments and other members elected by Congregation, in addition to observers from the Union. There are 38 colleges of the University of Oxford and six Permanent Private Halls, each with its own internal structure and activities. All students, and most academic staff, are affiliated with a college. The heads of Oxford colleges are known by various titles, according to the college, including warden, provost, principal, president, rector, master, or dean. The colleges join as the Conference of Colleges to discuss policy and to deal with the central University administration. Teaching members of the colleges (fellows and tutors) are collectively and familiarly known as dons (though the term is rarely used by members of the university itself). In addition to residential and dining facilities, the colleges provide social, cultural, and recreational activities for their members.

The admission process for undergraduates is undertaken by the individual colleges, working with each other to ensure that the best students gain a place at the University regardless of whether they are accepted by their preferred college. Selection is based on achieved and predicted exam results; candidate-submitted written work; interviews, which are held between applicants and college tutors; and, in some subjects, written admission tests prior to interview. Personal statements and school references are also considered.

There are many famous Oxonians, as alumni of the University are known.

C. Choose the right answer to the following questions.

1. Which century does the University of Oxford date back to?

a) the 12^th

b) the 13^th

c) the 14^th century

2. What kind of figure is the Chancellor?

a) involved with the day-to-day running

b) university’s formal head

c) a department’s head

3. Who is the University’s de facto head?

   1. Chancellor

   2. Pro-Vice-Chancellor

   3. Vice-Chancellor

4. What kind of facilities do the colleges provide?

   1. residential and dining ones

b) social, cultural and recreational activities

c) all of them

5. Are there many famous graduates of the University?

a) Yes.

b) No.

c) Doesn’t say.

D. Match the words to synonyms.

gain	name
university	President
Chancellor	real
de facto	fellow
titular	academic institution
tutor	to be situated
candidate	to get
to graduate	acceptance
to be located	applicant
title	formal
admission	alumni

E. Answer the following questions and use them to speak about the system of higher education in the UK.

1. When do pupils take their A-level exams?

2. How do universities select students?

3. Why do all students usually complete their studies?

4. What are grants and loans aimed at?

5. How many terms is the academic year divided into?

6. What kinds of degrees can the students get? Speak about each type in detail.

7. Do universities represent the only type of higher educational establishments in the UK?

8. What facilities are offered to students in the UK?

9. What is the oldest University in the UK? How can students be admitted there?

10. Who is the real head of the university? Who is its formal head?

11. Which university has traditionally been the choice of the Royal family?

12. Were any famous people graduates of Oxford and Cambridge universities?

F. Look at the following chart and characterize the system of higher education in the UK.

The campus
Library	Books ordered, recalled
Dormitories (Halls of residence)	Single rooms
Buildings	Decentralized campus
The classroom
Admissions	A- level exams
Coursework organization	Lectures, reading lists, seminars
Lectures	Narrow, specialized topic
Seminars	Open-ended, questions raised
Grading and assessment
Feedback	Written work: one or two essays
Exams	Essays, 3 hours, wide choice of topics
Essays	Discursive, speculative, structured
Grades	Passing, 35-70%

GRAMMAR 1: COMPARISON

Adjectives and adverbs	Comparative degree	Superlative degree
monosyllabic
big new	bigger newer	(the) biggest (the) newest
disyllabic ending in -er, -ow, -y, or -le
clever simple	cleverer simpler	(the) cleverest (the) simplest
polysyllabic
beautiful easily	more beautiful more easily/easier	(the) most beautiful (the)easiest/most easily
Exceptions
good bad far (for distance) far (for time and distance) little old (for age) old (for seniority) well much/many	better worse farther further less older elder better more	(the) best (the) worst (the) farthest (the) furthest (the) least (the) oldest (the) eldest (the) best (the) most

1. Complete the sentences with the comparative forms of the adverbs in the box.

early fast late well badly carefully frequently quietly slowly efficiently

1. I arrived in New York a little later than I had planned because the plane was delayed by bad weather.

2. PCs with clock speeds of 66 mhz process information much … than PCs that run at only 33 mhz.

3. I got to the meeting a few minutes … than the others, so I had time to look through my papers before we started.

4. The company did … than analysts had been expecting, so their shares fell when they announced their losses for the year.

5. I speak Spanish well, but my assistant speaks it even … than I do.

6. I don’t think Quantas flies to Paris very often. Air France flies there much …

7. There were a lot of mistakes in that report you gave me last week. I think you need to check your figures a bit …

8. Could you speak a little …, please? I don’t understand English very well.

9. The new engine uses fuel … than previous models, so it is cheaper to run.

10. We used to have a very noisy dot matrix printer, but the new ink jet prints much …

B. Open the brackets using the comparative or superlative degree.

1. The Royal Dutch Shell Group is (profitable) company in the world.

2. She has been working as an accountant for 3 years, so now she’s (experienced) than before.

3. The town is small, we have (little) branches here.

4. He is one of (clever) candidates I have ever met.

5. Philips is the second (large) electronics company in Europe.

6. There are too many sections in the catalogue. It needs to be (short).

7. We decided to interview him, because his CV was (good) one.

8. I spent (much) time on the project than I had expected.

C. Complete the sentences using a superlative adjective and the present perfect.

1. good meal/have The best meal I have ever had was in France.

2. interesting course/go on

3. good computer/use

4. nice country/visit

5. expensive hotel/stay in

6. fast car/drive

7. reasonable boss/work for

8. bad job/have

GRAMMAR 2: COMPARATIVE CONSTRUCTIONS

as … as	такой же …, как	He is as experienced as people think.
not so … as	не такой…, как	This product is not as expensive as that one.
as much/many … as	столько же…, сколько	Just do as much as you can.
the (bigger) … the (bigger)	чем…, тем	The more you earn, the more you spend.
twice as much/many…as	вдвое больше, чем	They employ 90 people, twice as many as last year.
more than/less than	более, чем/менее, чем	Our company is more interested in development projects than others are.
as (soon) as possible	как можно быстрее	Try to make a decision as soon as possible.
the (highest) possible	наивысший	The competitor’s goods are of the highest possible demand on the market.
as well as	так же как	We usually have lectures as well as seminars.