1. School rules 2. School subjects
3. After school activities 4. School Facilities
5. School Punishment 6. A typical English school
A. Chiswick School is a secondary school in London. It has about 1.250 pupils between the ages of 11 and 19. Like in most British schools, all the pupils study the same subjects in the first three years. Then they work for their GCSE exams – usually taking about nine subjects. Everyone takes English, Maths and Science, but there is quite a wide choice of other subjects. After the exams, some pupils leave and get jobs; others go on to do their A levels at other schools or further education college; some stay on in school.
B. There are six tennis courts, a gym, two squash courts and a large games field, where boys and girls play football and hockey. Pupils can also row on the nearby River Thames. There are also three main computer centres, and most subjects (such as Chemistry and Languages) have their own computers. All pupils study Information Technology. The school has a large library and a Learning Resources Centre with photocopying facilities, computer scanners and printers.
C. When the classes are over, Chiswick students are busy too. There is judo, dance, cooking and chess provided by the school at lunch time and in the afternoon. There are music and photography clubs. There is a theatre group which puts on a play at the end of each year. The teachers and the parents encourage as many pupils as possible to take part in numerous clubs. In the holidays, the school organizes trips such as camping in Wales or skiing in Switzerland.
D. There is one basic law in the school: to respect others and their property and behave in a normal, sensible way, with due consideration for the health and safety of all. In really serious cases, it is possible to exclude pupils for a period of time from school, or to expel them permanently. As in most schools in Britain, pupils have to wear a uniform. There is some resistance to wearing school uniform, but generally teachers and parents agree that the uniform is good for discipline.
E. If, as a pupil, you misbehave there is a system known as WRO – Warning, Report, Out. First you get a warning from your teacher, you have to carry a form around with you and the teacher signs it after each lesson – to show that you were present and behave well. If you do anything wrong at this stage, you are out; you have to go to the hall to join any other pupils in trouble. In the hall, you all work in silence under the supervision of a teacher.
1. Our never sleeping part 2. Influence on academic results
3. Advantages of bedtime routine 4. Good sleeping conditions
5. Pre-sleep activities 6. Sleeping classes
7. A negative effect on health 8. The mechanism of dreaming
A. Recent research shows that lots of teenagers are suffering from lack of sleep which is causing problems with their behaviour and learning. As a result schools have introduced a new lesson where students are given more of an idea of the importance of sleep. According to medical data, they should get at least nine hours' sleep a night. Young people should realise that sleep is very important if they want to do well at school and enjoy life.
B. It’s common knowledge that people sleep best in a dark room that is slightly cool. It's important to close your blinds or curtains and make sure they're heavy enough to block out the light. You can add extra blankets or wear pyjamas if you're cold. Note that an uncomfortable bed, heat and noise can ruin a good night's sleep. A TV is also a distraction.
C. If you don’t sleep enough or have a disturbed sleep you can get heart disease, high blood pressure and even diabetes. People who don't sleep enough get colds and flu more often than those who do. Moreover, recent research proves that poor sleepers gain weight more easily than people who sleep well. Extra kilos are the reaction of the body to the stressful sleepless situation.
D. Think twice before watching a movie late at night. Don’t spend sleeping time on endless computer games. The thing is that by getting up and going to bed at the same time every day, even on weekends, you teach your body to follow a healthy regime. You'll quickly fall asleep, will have a good night’s sleep and will wake up at the expected time feeling fresh and active.
E. Some easy steps can prepare your body for going to sleep. You probably have some regular bedtime habits, even if you don’t realise it. Brushing your teeth, taking a shower, reading a book and setting your alarm clock may all be part of your evening routine. Remember that you should perform these activities in the same manner and in the same order every night.
F. Sleepless nights at exam time are very bad for students. If you prepare for your exam late at night, it will not improve your performance during the exam. On the contrary, it will affect your ability to concentrate, to react quickly and to analyse information. Recent research shows that the results of the tests written after sleepless nights are lower than usual grades.
G. If you think that during sleep, the brain rests, you're mistaken. It's a common myth about sleep. Sleep is definitely needed – but it's not your brain that needs to rest, it's your body that needs to relax. Your brain is still working when you're asleep, controlling physical functions like breathing and your heart beat. However, because the brain does not have to go through the constant stress of thinking, you get up refreshed and recharged.
1. Generation gap 2. Attractive but unhealthy
3. Youth movements and societies 4. Always busy
5. Conflicts with friends 6. Parents’ ambitions
7. Are teenagers happy? 8. They want to earn and spend
A. The age between 14 and 17 is often considered to be one of the best periods in a person’s life. Grown-ups remember it with excitement and happiness. The wish they were teenagers again. However, most teenagers won’t agree with this point of view if they were asked. They're sure that they are facing a lot of difficult problems and that's quite true.
B. Smoking has become one of the most important problems for modern teenagers. About 40 percent of teenagers are attracted by the bright cigarette advertisement. It seems they just don't realize the harm it does to their health, because advertisements show smoking as something positive. They really believe that smoking will make them look like they're cool and grown-up.
C. In fact, teenagers have got a lot of work. They're busy with their studies, household chores, some of them have jobs. They can’t even find a moment to entertain themselves at times. It’s a more serious problem especially for those who are responsible and want to be successful students and good children.
D. The problem number one for most young people is between fathers and sons. All young people want to be independent, they want their parents to listen to their opinion. As for parents, they want to control their children’s lives. At the same time some parents can’t find a common language with their kids and simply don’t pay enough attention to them.
E. They say that all teenagers want to have a lot of money to dress well, to go to theatres, to visit foreign countries, to eat what they want and to buy books. But how can they do all these things? They have to get some money and it’s possible to do it. Some teenagers wash cars, others sell newspapers, help elderly people and babysit.
F. School ages are also very difficult. Children are always stressed because of their marks at school. It seems to teenagers that they do a lot of homework, but mothers and fathers are never satisfied. They want their children to have the highest marks at school. Teenagers do their best, but adults are never happy. They always want more.
G. There are many organizations which unite young people. Teenagers get together because of common interests and beliefs. Members of every organisations have their own attitudes to the world. There are some informal clubs, for example: emos, hippies, punks, and so on. However, some teenagers choose to join more serious groups like Greenpeace.
Cambridge University
Cambridge University is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world (after the University of Oxford) and the seventh-oldest in the world.
The story of Cambridge University begins in 1209 when several hundred students arrived in the little town of Cambridge after having walked 60 miles from Oxford. These students were all churchmen and had been studying in Oxford at that city's well-known schools. It was a hard life at Oxford for there was constant trouble, even fighting, between the citizens of the town and the students. Then one day a student accidentally killed a man of the town. The Mayor arrested three other students who were innocent and they were put to death. In protest, many students left Oxford, some of them went to Cambridge. And so the new University began.
It was Cambridge University. Of course, there were no Colleges in those early days and student life was very different from what it is now. Students were of all ages and came from anywhere and everywhere. Life in College was strict. Students were forbidden to play games, to sing (except sacred music), to hunt or fish or even to dance. Books were very rare and all the lessons were in the Latin language which students were supposed to speak even among themselves.
In 1440 King Henry VI founded King's College, and other colleges followed.
Nowadays there are more than 30 different colleges, including five for women students and several mixed colleges, in the University. The number of students in colleges is different: from 30 to 400 or 500.
The training course lasts 4 years. The academic year is divided into 3 terms. The students study natural and technical sciences, law, history, languages, geography, medicine, economics, agriculture, music and many other subjects. After 3 years of study a student may proceed to a Bachelor’s degree, and later to the degrees of Master and Doctor.
There are many ancient traditions that are still observed at Cambridge. Students are required to wear gowns at lectures, in the University library, in the street in the evening, for dinners in the colleges and for official visits. One more tradition is to use Latin during public ceremonies of awarding degrees.
All the students must pay for their education, examinations, books, laboratories, university hostel, the use of libraries. The cost is high. It depends on college and university speciality. Very few students get grants.
Many great men studied at Cambridge, for example, Bacon (the philosopher), Milton and Byron (the poets), Cromwell (the soldier), Newton (the outstanding physicist), Darwin (who is famous for his theory of evolution) and Kapitsa (the famous Russian physicist).
Cambridge University was started by the students of Oxford University. 1) True 2) False 3) Not stated
In early days of Cambridge University the students were taught in English.
The first students of Cambridge University got only religious education.
There are several female colleges in Cambridge University.
The students of the University study Oriental languages.
The students wear uniform in the University.
The education at Cambridge University is free.
There are famous scientists among the graduates of Cambridge University.
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1. Learn and play 2. A less popular subject
3. Never too late to learn 4. The essential piece of uniform
5. Keeping the tradition 6. The advantages of learning together
7. Choosing the place to learn 8. School exchange programmes
A. Christ's Hospital school was founded in the 16th century. Its uniform at that time consisted of a long blue coat, a leather belt and yellow socks. Today students still wear the same uniform because they think it's a symbol that unites them. There was some talk about making the uniform more modern, but it was decided to keep the original uniform
B. Nola Ochs from the USA is the world's oldest university graduate. She says she has always loved learning and has never lost her taste for knowledge. She started university when she was over 90. Her example proves that age is not important if you want to be a student. You can acquire new skills at any age.
C. The Dublin College of English offers one, two or three week Football and English Programmes. They are for young people who are interested in both learning English with native speakers and practising football. The students enjoy the friendly, inspiring atmosphere in the classrooms, after which they improve their skills on the school football pitch.
D. Harrow is a prestigious boys' school in northern London with a strict uniform policy. You can easily recognise a Harrow student by his hat, which is part of the uniform. All boys have to wear their hats every day when going to or from lessons. Some students are allowed to wear a different scarf, tie or jumper but the hat should always be there. Wearing it remains a must.
E. One of the recent trends is the growing number of elderly students in universities and colleges. It is believed that the elderly and the young can benefit from studying in a mixed class. The older ones are quicker at detailed and logical tasks. On the other hand, younger students can often help their older classmates with new gadgets and technologies.
F. When it comes to studying English abroad, try to get as much information about the school as possible. Asking the right questions will help you save money, time, and avoid culture shock. Remember that the school should provide you both with good teaching and with an unforgettable experience, so besides everyday classes, social activities should be part of the programme.
G. In most British schools children start studying a foreign language at 11, but many are happy to give up languages completely at 14. Research suggests that students think that it is more difficult to get good marks in Modern Foreign Languages than in other subjects such as Science or History. They also say that foreign languages are less fun than other lessons like PE or Art.
Bella was a good student. She _______ENJOY_____ learning but she always started to feel very nervous when she had to write tests. That Monday ____NOT/BE____ a lucky day for her and she realised it as soon as she came into the classroom.
“Oh, no! I ______LEAVE______ all my pens at home.” She turned to Jenny: “Have you got a spare pen?”
“Let ______I______ see,” Jenny opened her bag and pulled out a pen. “I’ve got this one. But it’s green.”
“Give it to me anyway,” Bella said. “If I don’t find a proper pen, I _____WRITE_____ in green ink. I hope it won’t affect my grades.”
When the teacher handed out the tests, Bella felt even ______BAD_____ than she had felt before. The test was really long – the tasks _____PRINT_____ on both sides of the page! Bella did the first task quickly, but the ______TWO_____ one was a real problem. Bella got panicky. Time ticked on but she _____NOT/CAN_____ concentrate on the tasks.
Linda was looking forward to her holidays. First of all, she _________FEEL_________ really tired from school and wanted to have a break. The _________TWO_________reason was that they were going to take a trip to the mountains. Linda enjoyed it very much when they went somewhere all together as a family. They _________NOT/DO_________ it very often since her parents were very busy people. Linda ________NOT/CAN__________ ski but the prospect didn’t scare her. She learnt everything very quickly, especially when her father taught ________SHE__________. He was the ________GOOD__________teacher in the world! “I _________BUY_________ special sunglasses for skiing,” Linda boasted to her father. “Have a look! Nice, aren’t they?”
“They are,” he gave Linda a quick look and turned back to his computer. He ________PREPARE__________ a presentation or something else very important.
Linda could see diagrams on the screen. They _________DRAW_________ in different colours which made them look complicated.
Paul was going to be late for his morning class again. He ______NOT/UNDERSTAND_____ why it happened to him so often. This was going to be the ______THREE_____ time in one week and that was too much even for Mrs Pitt. She was the ______KIND______ teacher in the world but Paul wasn’t sure that she would forgive him again.
“If I don’t invent a very good excuse, she _____CALL_____ my parents.” Paul thought.
His parents ______NOT/BE_____ very strict people but they didn’t approve of Paul’s habit of playing computer games till late at night. As a result, he couldn’t make ______HE_______ get up in the morning and was regularly late for school. Paul quietly opened the door and ______GO____ into the classroom. His classmates _____WRITE_____ something in their notepads and didn’t pay any attention to him.
Mrs Pitt looked at him and said in a flat voice: “You are late again, Paul. What _________HAPPEN_________?”
Paul was not ready with an answer.
Most adults miss their childhood. “Your school years are the _________GOOD_________ years of your life,” – have you ever heard that phrase? Just recently, while I was on my way to work, I started thinking back to my own school years. They probably were not trouble-free but there _________BE_________ many reasons for us to feel happy at school. One of them was spending every single day with friends. We ________NOT/GET__________ tired of being together. The ________TWO__________ one was uniform. Yes, in my opinion, the school uniform had more advantages than disadvantages. _________I_________ was dark green. It was unfashionable but comfortable. It _________MAKE_________ of natural materials. Besides, the uniform saved a lot of time in the mornings. Now it _________TAKE_________ me hours to decide what to wear. Another thing is that I don’t really like sport. But at school we _________PLAY_________ football, netball, hockey and so on. Sport was compulsory. Now I realise that this was a good thing! And of course there were… holidays! Christmas, Easter, half-term, and the jackpot – the summer holidays. I wish I ________HAVE__________ as much free time now.
You have received a letter from your English-speaking pen friend, Ben.
…We’ve moved house and now I have to go to a new school. It’s a pity because I liked my old school and I had a lot of friends there. Now I feel a bit lonely but I hope to find some friends here too….
…What do you like most about your school? Have you got a lot of friends at school? What do you usually do with your school friends in your free time? …
Write him a letter and answer his 3 questions.
Write 100–120 words. Remember the rules of letter writing.
14 749
2 499 
