Give Russian equivalents of the following.
Tuition free; Ph. D. (Doctor of Philosophy); Master’s Degree (M.A. or M.S.); Bachelor of Science (B.S.); Bachelor of Arts (B.A.); “Transfer” program; major.
Give English equivalents of the following.
Заем, процент (с суммы, взятой взаймы), возмещать (возвращать), нуждающийся, субсидия, дотация, стипендия, студенческое общежитие, степень бакалавра, аспирантура, гуманитарные науки, естественные науки, специализации,
Arrange the following questions according to the order of the text and answer them.
1. How many colleges and universities, both private and public are there in the US.
2. What do advanced or graduate university degrees include?
3. Are there any final examinations at colleges and universities?
4. What famous American universities do you know?
5. What is the role of the guidance counselor?
6. What skills are acquired at elementary school?
7. Are there any national exams at school?
8. What are State schools called?
9. What is the activity perfomed after classes called?
10. How many basic types of high school are there in the US?
11. What is vocational education?
12. Who has the right to attend American school?
13. What is necessary in most States to get into college?
14. Are there any private schools in the US
Unit III.
Scan the text and compare: American and British preschool education; primary/elementary education; secondary education in both countries; pastsecondary education in the US and UK. Point out similarities and differences.
In Britain all children have to go to school between the ages of 5 and 16. In the US children must go to school from the age of 6 to between the ages of 14 and 16, depending on the state they live in.
Subjects.
In England and Wales the subjects taught in schools are laid down by the NATIONAL CURRICULUM, which was introduced in 1988 and sets out in detail the subjects that children should study and the levels of achievement they should reach by the ages of 7, 11 and 16, when they are tested.
The National Curriculum does not apply in Scotland, where each school decides what subjects it will teach.
In the US the subjects taught are decided by state and local governments.
Whereas British schools usually have prayers and religious instruction. American schools are not allowed to include prayers or to teach particular religious beliefs.
Examinations.
At 16 students in England and Wales take GCSE examinations. These examinations are taken by students of all levels of ability in any of a range of subjects, and may involve a final examination, an ASSESSMENT of work done during the two year course, or both of these things. At 18 some students take A-level examinations, usually in not more than 3 subjects. It is necessary to have A-levels in order to go to a university or POLYTECHNIC.
In Scotland students take the SCE examinations. A year later, they can take examinations called HIGHERS, after which they can either go straight to a university or spend a further year at school and take the Certificate of Sixth Year Studies. In Scotland the university system is different to that in England and Wales. Courses usually last four years rather that three and students study a large number of subjects as part of their degree.
In the USA school examinations are not as important as they are in Britain. Students in HIGH SCHOOLS do have exams at the end of their two years but these final exams are considered along with the work that the students have done during the school years.
As well as exams at school, American high school students who wish to go to college also take SATS, national examinations. A student’s SAT results are presented to colleges when students apply for entry, along with a record of the student’s achievements at high school.