N. Kryazheva - The United States and the United Kingdom. Past and Present (doc) (798446), страница 7
Текст из файла (страница 7)
The second stage of higher education leads, after one or more often, two years study in a university or in some colleges to the Master's degree. Candidates usually have to submit a thesis.
The third stage of higher education is reached after two or three years stucj in university or college either in faculties providing traditional teaching (arts, Ц science, etc.) or in specialized schools of engineering, agriculture, architecture economy, veterinary, medicine, etc. This culminates in the Doctor's degree which is the highest university degree.
The American academic year usually runs from some time in September to the end с June. Students have three terms with three holidays: Christmas, Easter and summer.
At the beginning of each term a list is published showing all the lectures be ing given during the term within each faculty and every student can choose whicf lectures he will attend. Attendance at University lectures is not compulsory, and nt records of attendance are kept. Apart from lectures a system of individual tuition is organized. The advantages of the constant personal contact between teachers ant students are obvious. Computer laboratories are also often used for science and fo language drill. In general there is about one teacher to every ten students.
Achievements are measured by grades, which are given on papers and tests during the course of the semester and a final examination at the end of the term Teachers and professors take various means of evaluation: tests, essay tests quizzes, home-works and assignments.
The final grade is based on all the work done for the course. At the University level grades are usually given in the form of letters that correspond to numbers 1-5. All students hate "F" and are happy if their teacher gives them an "A". Students and lecturers must work hard, if they want good marks.
At all US universities there is now an exceedingly active life in the way of societies of many kinds. In general colleges and universities sponsor a variety of cultural activities including musical concerts, dance and theatre performances, literally readings and films. College and university campuses are often spread out over the towns in which they are situated. The largest campuses are the University of California, The City University of New York, Michigan State University and others. But the "leading" universities of the USA are Harvard [1636], Yale University [1701], Berkeley [1868], Stanford [1885], California Institute of Technology [1891] and some others. Harvard University is the oldest, famous and respected University in the country. Yale is an old and respected US university, too established in 1701 in New Haven, Connecticut. Yale is one of the IVY League colleges.
Words and Phrases:
to believe - верить, полагать to submit a thesis - представить научную рабту
to deserve - заслужить versatile - разносторонний, изменчивый
ladder - лестница to offer - предлагать
to culminate - заканчиваться to spread out - зд.: разбрасывать
term - семестр to award - присваивать звание (степень)
attendance- посещаемость board of directors - совет директоров
apart from - не говоря уже o trustee - попечитель, опекун
degree - степень to be responsible- быть ответственным
tuition - обучение exceedingly - чрезвычайно, очень, крайне
obvious - очевидный to sponsor - финансировать, поддерживать
to belong to - принадлежать compulsory - обязательный
to admit - допускать applied science - прикладная наука о
access - доступ quiz - проверочный экзамен
feature - характерная черта means of evaluation - виды оценок
Tasks:
1. Situational practice.
a. Imagine that you are going to study at one of the American Universities...
b. Imagine that you are talking to the President of the Los Angeles University...
c. You want to find out the fee at the University...
2. Make up short dialogues about American colleges and universities.
3. Agree or disagree with the following statements:
a. universities in the US have complete academic freedom;
b. the highest body of a college or university is rector's board;
c. access to higher education is based on the results of entrance exams;
d. the average scores achieved on the tests by students are kept secret;
e. attendance at any university lectures is compulsory.
4. Compose an essay using one of these proverbs:
" Think today and speak tomorrow". "Two heads are better than one". "You cannot teach old dogs new tricks"." While there is life, there is hope".
HOLIDAYS IN THE USA
Although the United States is young compared to other countries, its culture an, r traditions are rich because of the contributions made by many groups of peopi ( who have come to its shores over the past two centuries. Hundreds of regional ho| 5 days have originated from the geography, climate and history of the different part ( of the country. Each State holds its own annual fair with local themes and music i and some celebrate the day on which joined the Union and became state.
These are the main holidays in the US:
1. New Year's Day [January 1]
2. President's Day [traditionally February 22]
3. St Valentine's Day [February 14]
4. Martin Luther King [the third Monday in January]
5. Easter [a Sunday in March or April]
6. Mother's Day [ second Sunday in May]
7. Memorial Day past Monday in May]
8. Flag Day [June 14]
9. Father's Day [ third Sunday in June]
10. The Fourth of July - The US Independence Day
11. Labor Day [ first Monday in September]
12. Halloween [31 st of October]
13. Columbus Day [ second Monday in October]
14. Thanksgiving [fourth Thursday in November]
15. Christmas [ December 25]
New Year's Day [January 1]
New Year's Eve
In the United States, the legal holiday is January first, but Americans begin celebrating it on December 31. Sometimes people have masquerade balls, where guests dressed up in costumes and cover their faces with masks. According to an old tradition, guests unmask at midnight, and people say "Happy New Year!" to each other.
At New Year's Eve parties are across the United States on December 31. many guests watch television as part of the festivities. Most of the television channels show Times Square in the heart of New York City.
New Year's Day
On January first, Americans visit friends, relatives, and eighbours. There is plenty to eat and drink when you just drop in t0 wjsh Уоиг 'oved ones anc' friends the best for the vear ahead. Many families and friends watch television together enjoying the Tournament of Roses parade preceding the Rose Bowl football game in Pasadena, 
California. In the warmer regions all around the country there are other games whose names are characteristic of the state. People watch the Orange Bowl game in Florida, the Cotton Bowl in Texas.
In most cultures, people promise to be better, to change their lives in the following year. These promises are called New Year resolutions. Americans have inherited the tradition of writing down them. Whatever the resolution, most of them are broken or forgotten by February!
Words and Phrases:
legal - законный all around - повсюду
midnight - полночь to promise - обещать
to drop in - зайти bowl - ваза, кубок
to precede - предшествовать to inherit - унаследовать
resolution - обещание to originate - происходить
President's Day (traditionally February 22]
George Washington was the country's first president. Abraham Lincoln brought the country through Civil War. Their birthday were both in February and are celebrated together.
St Valentine's Day [February 14]
St.Valentines Day has roots in several different legends that have found their way to us through the ages. One of the earliest popular symbols of the day is Cupid, the Roman God of Love, who is represented by the image of a young boy with bow and arrow. Three hundred years after the death of Jesus Christ the Roman emperors still demanded that everyone believe in the Roman gods. Valentine, a Christian priest had been thrown in prison for his teachings. On February 14) Valentine was beheaded, not only because he was a Christian, but also because he had performed a miracle. He supposedly cured the jailer's daughter of her blindness. The night before he was executed, he wrote the jailer's daughter a farewell letter, signing it, "From Your Valentine". Another legend tells us that the same Valentine, well loved by all, wrote notes from his jail cell to children and Tr,ends, who missed him.
Another Valentine was an Italian bishop who lived at about the same time. He was imprisoned because he secretly married couples, contrary to the laws of e Roman emperor. Some legends say he was burned at the stake.
St. Valentine's Day is now a day for sweethearts, it is the day that you shovt your friend or the loved one your care. You can send candy to someone you think is special. Or you can send roses, the flower of love. Most people send "valen-tines", a greeting card named after the notes that St. Valentine wrote from jail.
"Valentines" can be sentimental, romantic, and heart-felt. They can be funny friendly, and anonymous if the sender is shy.
Americans of all ages love to send and receive valentines. Hand-made valentines, created by cutting hearts out of colored paper, show that a lot of thought was put into making them personal. "Valentines" can be heart-shaped, or have hearts, the symbol of love, on them. In elementary schools, children make "valentines" for their classmates and put them in a large decorated box, similar to a mail-box. On February 14, the teacher opens the box and distributes the "valentines" to each student. After the students read their "valentines" they have a small party with refreshments.
You can write short rhymes inside the "valentines":
I'll be your sweetheart,
If you will be mine
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