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Oxford and Cambridge universities
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1. Look at the following words and try to remember them:
1) to congregate – собираться
2) coat of arms – герб
3) theology – богословие
4) law – право
5) liberal arts –гуманитарные науки
6) to hire– нанимать, снимать
7) to be associated with – быть связанным с
8) to expel –удалить (силой), выгнать
9) to murder– убивать
10) to secure –гарантировать
11) support – поддержка
12) to remain – оставаться
13) recognition – признание
14) to incorporate – легализовать
15) revised body of statutes –статут (устав) с внесенными в него поправками
16) chapel –часовня
17) scenery – пейзаж, ландшафт
18) boater – путешествующий на лодке
19) to be entitled –иметь право
20) handful – небольшое количество
21) to contain –содержать
22) antiquities –древности
23) medieval – средневековый
2. Read and translate the text about Oxford and Cambridge universities:
Oxford and Cambridge are not only among the oldest cities in Great Britain but also home to the oldest and most prominent universities both in the United Kingdom and the world. They are often called Oxbridge. Both universities are independent. Only the education elite go to Oxford or Cambridge. Oxford is technically a city and Cambridge a town, but in fact both are relatively small and compact places to live. Oxford and Cambridge universities consist of number colleges which are different but in many ways are alike. Each college has its name, its coat of arms.
The first written record of Oxford appeared in “the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle” in 912 and by the 11th century it was a well-fortified city. Oxford University is the oldest University in Britain and was founded in the early 12th century, when scholars and their pupils congregated at Oxford to study. It lies along the Upper River Thames, 50 miles (80 km) north-west of London. Oxford was modeled on the University of Paris, with initial faculties of theology, law, medicine and the liberal arts. The university had no buildings in its early years; lectures were given in hired halls or churches. The earliest of these colleges, University College, was founded in 1249. During the early history of Oxford its reputation was based on theology and liberal arts. But it also gave more serious treatment to the physical sciences than did the University of Paris. Roger Bacon, after leaving Paris, conducted his scientific experiments and lectured at Oxford from 1247 to 1257.
There are now 44 colleges. There are more than 100 libraries in Oxford, the most famous of which is the Bodleian, built in 1602. The small town also boasts a number of museums, including the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, which houses the remains of a dodo, and the Museum of the History of Science, which displays a blackboard used by Albert Einstein. More than 30 world leaders, 26 British prime ministers (William Pitt the Elder, George Canning, Sir Robert Peel, Margaret Thatcher etc. ), 26 Nobel Prize winners and more than 120 Olympic medallists were educated at Oxford. Oscar Wild, Stephen Hawking, Hugh Grant and Indira Gandhi are among the most famous alumni.
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In 1209 the townspeople expelled the students because one of them murdered a townswoman. Some of the students secured support with the King and the Pope and remained in Oxford, while others left and went to Cambridge. That is how Cambridge University was founded. Cambridge is situated on the River Cam 50 miles (80 km) north of London, Cambridgeshire, England. Over the next three centuries another 15 colleges were founded, and in 1318 Cambridge received formal recognition from Pope John XXII. In 1546 Henry VIII founded Trinity College (which was and still remains the largest of the Cambridge colleges). In 1570 Elizabeth I gave the university a revised body of statutes, and in 1571 the university was formally incorporated by act of Parliament. Many of the college buildings are rich in history and traditions. King’s College Chapel, begun in 1446, is one of Britain’s most magnificent buildings. Two of the colleges contain chapels designed by Christopher Wren-Pembroke.
Now there are more than thirty colleges. There have been 92 Nobel prizes awarded to academics affiliated to the university and Cambridge-affiliated mathematicians have won a number of Fields Medals. The University library with over 3, 000, 000 volumes is one of a handful in the country that is entitled to a copy of every book published in Great Britain. The Fitzwilliam Museum contains important collections of Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities, medieval and modern manuscripts and paintings of European masters.
The Universities of Oxford and Cambridge have a great deal in common, including their collegiate structure, personalized teaching methods and wealth of resources available to students. Each academic year at the Universities is divided into three terms: Michaelmas term from October to December, Hilary term from January to March and Trinity term from April to June.
The universities have over a hundred societies and clubs. Sport is a part of students’ life at Oxbridge. The most popular sports are rowing and punting.
On the base of http: //www. ox. ac. uk/admissions/undergraduate/
3. Find in the above text the English equivalents to the following Russian word combinations:
самые значимые; элита; большое количество колледжей; первое письменное упоминание; хорошо укрепленный город; верховье реки Темзы; первые факультеты; гуманитарные науки; в течение следующих трех столетий; статус с внесенными в него поправками; снятые в аренду помещения; читать лекции; более серьезное отношение; связан с; официальное признание; получили поддержку от; богаты историей и традициями; уникальное сочетание; крупномасштабная архитектура; методика обучения; иметь много общего; самые популярные виды спорта.
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4. Answer the following questions:
1. What is Oxbridge?
2. When did the first written record of Oxford appear?
3. When was the oldest University in Britain founded?
4. What were initial faculties of Oxford University?
5. Why were lectures given in hired halls or churches?
6. When did Roger Bacon conduct his scientific experiments and lecture at Oxford?
7. What great names in British history has Oxford been associated with?
8. Why was Cambridge University founded?
9. Where is Cambridge situated?
10. When did Cambridge receive formal recognition from Pope John XXII?
11. Which is the largest of the Cambridge colleges?
12. What can you tell is about college buildings?
13. What do you know about University library?
14. What does the Fitzwilliam Museum of the University contain?
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