TASKS for Chapters 7-10

I. Find the following words and phrases in the text and translate them into Russian:

Placidity – спокойствие

to make frantic scenes – создавать безумные сцены

to give sb. a look of scorn – бросить взгляд полный презрения на кого-либо

lavishness- щедрость

 to know how to pull strings adroitly – искусно пускать в ход связи

 to fall out of love - разлюбить

close-cropped hair – коротко стриженные волосы

to resist an inclination – еле удержаться

weather-beaten skin – обветренная кожа

coltish grace -  щенячья грация

to be on active service – быть в действующей армии

confinement -  лишение свободы

to run a theatre – руководить театром

effusive - несдержанный

virile air – неуверенный в себе

to set one's mind to smth. – сосредоточиться на чем-либо

disconcerting - замешательство

it's a knock out – выдающийся человек

amiability -  дружелюбие

affable manner- мягкая дружелюбная манера

to exercise great ingenuity in (doing) smth.- проявлять большую избирательность делая что -  либо

to be unperturbed – быть невозмутимым

shrewdness - проницательность

to grizzle – возмущаться, ворчать

it's a mere commonplace – это просто банально

exorbitant - безмерный

to be conciliatory – быть примирительным

to foster one's career – способствовать продвижению чьей-либо карьеры

acumen - сообразительность

to have one's face lifted – подтянуть кожу лица

it's no good crying over spilt milk – уже нет смысла горевать

to have little flirtations – легко флиртовать

masseuse -  массажистка

gossip column – колонка светской хроники

the world of make-believe – мир фантазий

II. Answer the following questions:

1. What did Michael and Julia do when the war broke out?

Michael went to war with the help of his father, one of whose old brother officers was an important personage at the War Office, he very soon got a commission. Julia wanted to be near him in France and to become a nurse but Michael made her stay and she went on acting.  

2. Why do you think Michael enjoyed the war?

Michael enjoyed the war because everyone likes him despite the was an actor and he was popular among soldiers.

3. Do you think love is important for a successful family life?

Undoubtedly, love is very important but it is not the most important part of family life.

4. How did it happen that Julia fell out of love with Michael?

She realized that he no longer smelt like a youth, he smelt like a man

5. How did Michael manage to find the money to rent a theatre? What was the theatre called? Who was in the partnership with him?

Finally the money was found by a rich woman who was interested in Julia. It was called the Siddons Theatre. His partner was Dolly.

6. Why was Julia against Michael's taking up directing?

Julia was against her husband’s taking up directing because she doubted in his success: Michael had no fantasy and his ideas were commonplace. 

7. What kind of director was Michael?

Michael ran the the-atre with the method and thrift with which he ran his home and made every possible penny out of their successes.

 8. What irritated Julia in Michael more and more? How did he change in Julia's eyes?

6. Why was Julia against Michael's taking up directing?

Julia was against her husband’s taking up directing because she doubted in his success: Michael had no fantasy and his ideas were commonplace. 

 9. Why was Julia sad when she thought of her married life?

It made Julia a little sad to think how much she had loved him. Because her love had died she felt that life had cheated her.

10. Why was Michael happier than he had been before?

When Julia fell out of love with Michael, she no longer made any demands on him. Moreover, the man thought with satisfaction that the birth of the baby had calmed his wife down; she was much easier to get on with, she never made scenes any more. At the same time, Michael was happier when he founded his own theatre, where plays were crowned with success.

11. Julia's dresser and maid was a Cockney, wasn't she? Please prove it using the examples from the text.

“It'd only fidget me to 'ave a lot of elephant's tusks in me mouth."

“I'm young enough to dress 'er. And maid 'er”.

 12. Who was the unknown man who sent flowers to Julia? Why did she write him a thank you note?

It was Mr. Thomas Fennell. She was naturally polite and it was, besides, a principle with her to answer all fan letters. That was how she kept in touch with her public.

III. Make up a list of words and phrases describing Michael's appearance and character. Say what you think of him.

·        He had a very good figure

·        He was the best- looking actor on the English stage

·        the thinness of his mouth

·        he had a gallant bearing

·        He had an easy manner and he talked like a gentleman

·        He was good-looking and kindly

·        His voice was a trifle thin

·        He was easy enough in ordinary dialogue

·        Very simple-minded in some ways

·        He had no fantasy and his ideas were commonplace

·        He devoted anxious care to his figure

·        He was prudent and all he wanted was admiration

IV. Comment on the phrase from chapter 9: "Roger had been entered for Eton within a week of his birth." Comment on it. Give a short presentation on public schools in Britain.

Julia and Michael were successful and rich enough to give his son the best education.

Eton College, often informally referred to as Eton, is a British independent boarding school located in Eton, near Windsor in England. It educates over 1,300 pupils, aged between 13 and 18 years and was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI. Eton is one of nine English independent schools, commonly referred to as "public schools", included in the original Public Schools Act 1868. Following the public school tradition, Eton is a full boarding school, which means all pupils live at the school, and is one of four such remaining single-sex boys' public schools in the United Kingdom (the others being Winchester College, Harrow School and Radley College) to continue this practice. It has educated nineteen British Prime Ministers and generations of aristocracy, and has been referred to as the chief nurse of England's statesmen.

VI. Give a summary of chapters 7-10. (in written form)

Julia and Michael got married and everything was quite and calmly. Once the war broke out and the man enlisted with the help of his father while Julia stayed in America and went on acting. She wanted to be near him in France and to become a nurse but Michael made her not to go. Julia waited for him but then suddenly realized that she did not love him anymore. Julia gave birth to a baby-boy and left the stage for a few months. Michael decided to open his own theatre and made it with the help of Dolly de Frieze who was very rich and was interested in Julia. Michael was a good manager and director and so the couple earned a lot of money and sent his child to Eaton.

TASKS for Chapters 3-6

I. Explain in English or give definitions of and find contextual synonyms for the following words and phrases:

Asset - a useful and desirable thing or quality

a sumptuous supper - splendor suggesting great expense – lavish

extravagance - excessive or unnecessary expenditure or outlay of money

thrift - economical management; economy – frugality

to remonstrate - to say or plead in protest, objection, or disapproval - affirm equanimity - mental or emotional stabilityimperturbability

at a loose end - in an uncertain or unsettled situation or positionon the mooch

to jeopardize - to put in risk - to run chances

alacrity - cheerful readiness, promptness, or willingnesseagerness

susceptible to - admitting or capable of some specified treatment

obsequious - servilely compliant or deferential

a retainer - a servant or attendant who has served a family for many years

II. Find quotations in the text. State their meaning and their function.

"Neither a borrower nor a lender be," Polonius - We hear the quotation from Michael and that’s why we can suppose that it’s his life motto. Unlike Julia, he doesn’t like spending money and prefer saving it. Because of this attitude to money he doesn’t let himself to take or give it to anybody.

"I could not love thee, dear, so much, loved I not honour more," Richard Lovelace (Tell Me Not, Sweet) – This quotation shows Michael’s attitude to love, wedding and Julia.

 "Lord, what fools these mortals be," Shakespeare (A Midsummer Night's Dream) – This quotation Jimmie said to Julia because of his misunderstanding how she could love Michael because, in Jimmie’s opinion, she’s much too good for Michael.

III. Explain the metaphor "she is a millstone round his neck." Who does it refer to?

This metaphor refers to any actor who decides to marry a young actress who is not successful yet. It’s difficult to become famous and successful being married. That’s why it’s necessary to reach something and only then get marry.

IV. Comment on the context of the following phrases:

- "He was too modest to resent an unfavourable criticism." (Ch.3)

Michael was too modest to resent it though he realized that he is still an actor only because of his appearance.

- "... after all he was born a gentleman." (Ch.4)

This phrase refers to Michael because his parents thought that a career of an actor is not good for his son. They preferred him to become a military man.

- "He is going to be a flop." (Ch.5)

The phrase refers to Michael who was going to America as an actor. Jimmie supposed him to be an ordinary actor without a great talent that’s why he thought Michael to get a failure.

- "'I suppose it's beastly of me,' she thought, 'but thank God, thank God.'" (Ch.6)

Julia said this phrase after she’d found out about Michael’s return from America. She was afraid that he forgot her and stopped loving and she was really glad that he was going to come back.

VI. What techniques are employed by the author to make the reader see the events through Julia's eyes?

To help us understand Julia’s emotions the author uses such emotional words as filthy pig, beast, devil, brute, rotten old eunuch.

There are allusions in the text to show that for Julia her stage was her home and life.

The author uses the inner speech to show Julia’s emotions and attitudes to things: ("He doesn't love me. He doesn't care a damn about me. I hate him. I'd like to kill him. Blast that American manager."), ("By God, it was a put-up job."), ("I'd better get up. He wouldn't know how to sit down. God, that scene that Jimmie made him do over and over again!"), ("The blasted fool, why does he talk all that rot? Doesn't he know I'm crazy to marry him? Why doesn't he kiss me, kiss me, kiss me? I wonder if I dare tell him I'm absolutely sick with love for him.").

VII. Answer the questions:

1. Who was Jimmie Langton and what role did he play in Julia's and Michael's lives? – Jimmie Langton was the head of the troupe in the theatre at Middlepool. He was a fat, bald-headed, rubicund man of forty-five; an eccentric, arrogant, exuberant, vain and charming fellow. Michael and Julia met each other in his theatre.

 2. When did Julia and Michael join the Middlepool Theatre Company? 3. How did Julia and Michael get to know each other? - Michael played the boy and Julia played Regina. They heard one another their parts and after rehearsals lunched together to talk of them. Soon they were inseparable.

4. What did Julia like about Michael? - His most engaging trait was his good humour. He bore Jimmie Langton's abuse with equanimity. When tempers grew frayed during a long rehearsal he remained serene. It was impossible to quarrel with him.

4. What did Michael think of good looks and decent families? – He thinks that decent families are more important than good looks because everyone can have a good appearance but not everyone can belong to a decent family.

5. How did Julia feel about her family? – She feels good with it and she wasn’t embarrassed wither father’s profession.

6. What were Michael's views on marriage? – “I think an actor's a perfect fool to marry young. There are so many cases in which it absolutely ruins a chap's career. Especially if he marries an actress. He becomes a star and then she's a millstone round his neck”.

8. What did Michael read newspaper reviews for? Did Julia share his views? – In newspapers reviews he would like to find information and opinions about himself and articles about Julia he reads briefly without special attention.

9. Who invited Julia to Michael's house for the Holy Week? – It’s Michael’s mother, Mrs. Gosselyn

10. Did Michael's father meet Julia's expectations? - Julia found the Colonel a much less alarming person than she had expected. He was thin and rather small, with a lined face and close-cropped white hair. His features had a worn distinction. He reminded you of a head on an old coin that had been in circulation too long. He was civil, but reserved. He was neither peppery nor tyrannical as Julia, from her knowledge of the stage, expected a colonel to be. She could not imagine him shouting out words of command in that courteous, rather cold voice.

11. What impression did Julia produce on Michael's parents? Michael: "You've made a tremendous success with my people. They've taken an enormous fancy to you. Father told me you were very ladylike, and not a bit like an actress, and mother says you're so sensible."

12. Was the proposal expected by Michael's parents? – Yes, it was. They bore a look of happy expectancy.

14. What steps did Julia take upon finding Michael was leaving for America? – She came to Jimmie and began blaming him and asked not to let Michael go.

15. Was Michael a success in America? – No, he had a great failure there.

16. Did Julia keep in touch with him while he was away? – “Julia wrote to Michael constantly, pages and pages of love and gossip, while he answered once a week, four pages exactly in a neat, precise hand. He always ended up by sending her his best love and signing himself hers very affectionately, but the rest of his letter was more informative than passionate. Yet she awaited its coming in an agony of impatience and read it over and over again”.

17. Was Julia eager to meet Michael straight at the station? - She decided to meet him and booked two rooms in a hotel.

18. What were Michael's impressions after staying and working in America? –“ After a fortnight of rehearsals, Michael was thrown out of the part for which he had been engaged, and for three or four weeks was left to kick his heels about till something else could be found for him. He opened in due course in a play that ran less than a month in New York. It was sent on the road; but languished and was withdrawn. After another wait he was given a part in a costume play where his good looks shone to such advantage that his indifferent acting was little noticed, and in this he finished the season. There was no talk of renewing his contract”.  

20. What was Michael going to do in England and what were his prospects? – He had a desire to open his own theatre where Julia will be able to play.

VIII. Summarize the events of chapters 3-6.

During the time Julia belongs to Jimmie’s troupe she meets Michael and falls in love with him. They spend a lot of time together and shortly after Michael introduces Julia to his parents and makes her a proposal. Julia accepts it with pleasure. One day she gets to know that Michael is going to leave for America to work there as an actor. She was disappointed and afraid that he can forget her and stop loving. However after a year Michael returns to England because he failed in America. Julia is happy about it and meets him at a station. 

TASKS for Chapters 1-2

I. Explain in English or give definitions of and find contextual synonyms for the following words and phrases:

Complacency - self-satisfaction orsmug satisfaction with an existing situation, condition - smugness

three times running – smth happen three times - functioning

filthy - disgustingly or completely dirty- grubby

supercilious - displaying arrogant pride, scorn, or indifference - contemptuous

military bearing – level of professionalism when dealing with others and his approach to military situations - carriage

stupendous –  of amazing size or greatness - tremendous

staggered- overwhelm with emotion or astonishment – bewilder

natural homage - special honor or respect shown or expressed publicly and accepted as one's due – respect

entanglement -  involvemen – intricacy

concubinage - a man and woman without legal or formal marriage – cohabitation

languorous - lacking spirit or liveliness – impassive

lippant rejoinder - frivolous answer – frivolous answer

to risk smth - to expose to a chance of loss – run the venture

a quick study - a person who is able to learn or adapt to something - receptivity.

II. Search for the allusions in the text. Define their type (literary, artistic, historical and others) and functions; explain their meaning.

Literary allusions:

William Shakespeare (literary allusion) was an English poet, playwright and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon". So no wonder that time his plays are performed more often than those of any other playwright.

Artistic allusions:

Sarah Siddons was a Welsh actress, the best-known tragedienne of the 18th century. She was most famous for her portrayal of the Shakespearean character, Lady Macbeth, a character she made her own, and for famously fainting at the sight of the Elgin Marbles in London. She is considered to be the best Lady Macbeth in the history of the world theatre.  In the 18^thcentury she was the star of the English theatre, that’s why acquaintance with her was a great honor.

Jean-Marc Nattier was a French painter. He is noted for his portraits of the ladies of King Louis XV's court in classical mythological attire. He subsequently revived the genre of the allegorical portrait, in which a living person is depicted as a Greco-Roman goddess or other mythological figure. I think, the author mentioned the painter’s name not without a reason, because Nattier’s female portraits, painted in light colors, always decorated a model.

John Philip Kemble was an English actor. He was rather popular due to his tall and imposing person, noble countenance, and solemn and grave demeanor that were uniquely adapted for the Roman characters in Shakespeare's plays

Sir Thomas Lawrence was a leading English portrait painter and president of the Royal Academy. One of his works was Satan summoning his legions, a giant canvas to illustrate lines from John Milton's Paradise Lost. The boxer John Jackson posed for the naked body of Satan; the face is that of Sarah Siddons' brother, John Philip Kemble. The portraitist was mentioned to emphasize the lightness, tenderness, and feminity of the main character.

Benoît-Constant Coquelin known as “Coquelin the Eldest", was a French actor. He was one of the greatest theatrical figures of the age, so therefore, the main character possessed all the qualities necessary for a successful actress.

Sarah Bernhardt was a French stage and early film actress, and was referred to as "the most famous actress the world has ever known." She developed a reputation as a serious dramatic actress, earning the nickname "The Divine Sarah”.

Mounet-Sully was a French actor, was born at Bergerac. His birth name was Jean-Sully Mounet: "Mounet-Sully" was a stage name. His striking presence and voice and the passionate vigor of his acting made an immediate impression, which resulted in his election as sociétaire in 1874. He became one of the mainstays of the Comédie Française, and distinguished himself in a great variety of tragic and romantic parts.

Historical Allusions:

Sir Francis Robert Benson was a British actor-manager. He founded his own company in 1883 and produced all but two of Shakespeare's plays. From the first he devoted himself largely to the production of Shakespeare's plays.

III. Using direct and indirect evidence from the text give character sketches of Julia Lambert and Michael Gosselyn. Follow the plan:

Julia Lambert - was a forty-six year old beautiful woman with an indiarubber face, large, very dark brown and starry eyes, warm, delightful and ready smile. Her nose was slightly thick, but it was just a small point, because she was sweetheart. And not a wrinkle marred the smoothness of her skin, and there was a melting look in her fine eyes. She was a woman with a lovely figure, she was fairly tall for, and had long legs. Julia was always beautifully dressed, she had her clothes made in Paris, both for the stage and for private life. Being a born actress, she made a reputation of the best actress of England. Partly it was due to her nature (she was a woman of character), as Julia had a warmth, a force of character, and a bubbling vitality, very sweet and womanly (she lowered her eyelids for a second and then raising them gazed at him for a little with that soft expression that people described as her velvet look). Moreover, she could play not only on stage, but in life: she talked very differently to herself and to other people: she could be very vulgar and very polite; when she talked to herself her language was racy; with her brilliance, her roguishness, her sense of comedy she was perfect. Besides, it was no effort to her, it was as instinctive as brushing away a fly that was buzzing round her, to suggest now a faintly amused, friendly tenderness. However, the woman never took risks, as she took care never to do anything but what she could do.

Michael Gosselyn - He still had at fifty-two a very good figure. As a young man, with a great mass of curling chestnut hair, with a wonderful skin and large deep blue eyes, a straight nose and small ears, he had been the best-looking actor on the English stage. The only thing that slightly spoiled him was the thinness of his mouth. He was just six foot tall and he had a gallant bearing. It was his obvious beauty that had engaged him to go on the stage rather than to become a soldier like his father. Now his chestnut hair was very grey, and he wore it much shorter; his face had broadened and was a good deal lined; his skin no longer had the soft bloom of a peach and his colour was high. But with his splendid eyes and his fine figure he was still a very handsome man. Since his five years at the war he had adopted a military bearing, so that if you had not known who he was (which was scarcely possible, for in one way and another his photograph was always appearing in the illustrated papers) you might have taken him for an officer of high rank. He boasted that his weight had not changed since he was twenty, and for years, wet or fine, he had got up every morning at eight to put on shorts and a sweater and have a run round Regent's Park.

 IV. Give a summary of the first two chapters.

The famous and beautiful actress Julia Lambert and her husband Michael Gosselyn invited his young accountant to dinner because the man’s greatest desire was to talk to Julia. He loved her performance in the play which he had seen three times. The young man not only come to their house but received a photo of Julia from her. While she was looking at the different photos she remembered her life and the beginning of her career. At sixteen she entered the Royal academy because she was well-prepared by her aunt. Once she met Jimmie Langton who offered her to work with him. 

Review №4

A Farewell to Arms 

A Farewell to Arms is a 1957 American drama film directed by Charles Vidor. It was the second feature film adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's 1929 semi-autobiographical novel of the same name starred Gary Cooper and Helen Hayes. The setting of the story is Italy.

Let me pass on to the plot of the film. Frederick Henry was sent to Italy as a soldier. His friend Rinaldi introduced him to Catherine Barkley. They fell in love with each other and decided to get marry. The war is going on and they could not be together but the priest made them a husband and a wife. Cat became pregnant. Henry was wounded and sent to a military hospital. There he was nursed by Cat. Later they came to Switzerland where their child was stillborn, and Catherine died shortly afterward. Frederick leaved, shocked, and wandered the empty streets.   

I would like to mention the screenplay because I think it conveyed the atmosphere worse than the book. The relationship between Henry and Catherine developed quickly enough in the book but the screen writer made them lovers even faster. It seems strange for that period of time. The episodes from the book were cut and I do not see the reasonable reason. All in all, I did not enjoy the film because of the subdued events.

As for the acting I can say that I imagined the characters to be other people. I do not associate the actors with Frederick and Cat about whom I read the book. Their performance was not bad but it was not perfect at the same time. In my opinion, they played roles but were not the heroes of “A Farewell to Arms”. I think that the actors from “In Love and War” are more acceptable for the roles of the main characters.

In conclusion I would like to say that I do not like the film because my expectations were not realized. Of course the film is rather old but it is not an excuse. However, costumes and decoration were a big advantage to create the atmosphere.

Review №3

In Love and War

I would like to speak on “In Love and War” which is a 1996 romance drama film based on the book, Hemingway in Love and War, starring Chris O'Donnell, Sandra Bullock and others. The director is Richard Attenborough and its genre is Biography, drama, romance. The setting of the story is Italy and the USA.

Let me pass on to the plot. The young reporter Ernest Hemingway was sent to Italy as a soldier where he was wounded and sent to a military hospital. There he was nursed by Agnes von Kurowsky. They fell in love with each other and the woman promised to marry him after the war ends.  Ernest returned to the United States while Agnes continued working as a nurse in Italy. She decided that her relation with Hemingway was a mistake and wrote him about it. Agnes was going to get married in Venice but changed her mind and was back to the USA. She visited Ernest and told about her love to him but the man rejected her love because she had hurt him earlier. They will never meet again.

I would like to note the acting. I think that Chris O'Donnell and Sandra Bullock were really good in their roles. I believed in their not love but passion. Their feelings, desires were clearly seen in their faces, voices. The last scene is a nice example of conveying of real feelings.

Besides, my favorite episode is the last one when Agnes came to Ernest. She realized her mistake and was ready to share her life with him but Ernest with his pride could not forgive her. I think that it is the most important moment in the whole film where the characters of the heroes become clear for us. I can say that Ernest did not love her because he did not stop Agnes when she went away. His young age and a lack of experience helped him to make his mistake.  

In conclusion I would like to say that the film impressed me and opened Hemingway from a new side which I had not signed out earlier. Costumes and decorations created the atmosphere of the war and the born of love during the time of death was inspiring.

Questions 2

Higher Education in Britain and the USA

1. Entrance to British universities is via a strict selection process based on an interview. After the interview a potential student is offered a place on the basis of exam results. If the student does not get the grades specified in the offer, a place cannot be taken up. Some universities, such as Oxford and Cambridge, have an entrance exam before the interview stage.

American high school students who want to study at a college or university always take a standardized test, e.g. SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) or the ACT (American College Test). Non-native speakers of the English language must take the TOEFL. The student also has to send a transcript (= an official list of all the subjects studied and the grades received) and letters of reference

2. Vocational Schools, Technical Schools, and For-Profit Schools

3. The Associate degree is the first academic or professional degree that can be awarded in U.S. postsecondary education. Programmes of study for this degree are usually designed to take 2 years of full-time study, but some take longer to complete. The Bachelor's degree is the second academic degree that can be awarded in U.S. postsecondary education, and is one of two undergraduate (first) degrees that qualify a student to apply to programmes of advanced (graduate) study (the other such degree is the first-professional degree). Programmes of study for this degree are designed to take between 4 and 5 years, depending on the field of study. The Master's degree represents the second stage of higher education and is the first advanced (graduate) degree. U.S. Master's degrees may be taught (without thesis) or research (with thesis) and may be awarded in academic or professional fields. Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as PhD, Ph.D., D.Phil., or DPhil in English-speaking countries and originally as Dr.Philos. (for the Latin philosophiae doctor or doctor philosophiae), is in many countries a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities. The academic level known as a Doctorate of philosophy varies considerably according to the country, institution, and time period, from entry-level research degrees to higher doctorates. A person who attains a doctorate of philosophy is automatically awarded the academic title of doctor.

4. Traditionally, the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degrees require roughly 124-127 credit hours of coursework, divided among various subject, field and optional requirements. The four-year Bachelor's degree is divided into two years of lower-division studies (background or distribution courses in a wide range of subjects), followed by two years of upper division studies (mainly courses required by one's major subject. Students apply for admission to a major subject at the end of their second year.

Full-time students generally complete the Bachelor's degree in eight semesters (four academic years) of study, and would average a course workload of roughly 16 credit hours per semester, or 5-6 classes simultaneously. A full-time student is usually defined as one who takes (and passes) a minimum of 12 credit hours of courses per semester. The maximumnumber of credit hours students are allowed to attempt per semester is usually 20, unless special permission is granted.

5. Released in 1959, the PSAT is a standardized exam that prepares high school underclassmen for the SAT. Like the SAT, it tests math, writing and critical reading aptitude. Unlike the SAT, however, it has no timed essay or experimental section. The College Board states that SAT measures literacy and writing skills that are needed for academic success in college. They state that the SAT assesses how well the test takers analyze and solve problems—skills they learned in school that they will need in college. The SAT is typically taken by high school sophomores, juniors and seniors. The ACT originally an abbreviation of American College Testing) college readiness assessment is a standardized test for high school achievement and college admissions in the United States. The ACT originally consisted of four tests: English, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Natural Sciences. In 1989, the Social Studies test was changed into a Reading section

6. A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further his or her education. Scholarships are awarded based upon various criteria, which usually reflect the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award. Scholarship money is not required to be repaid. Grants are often called “gift aid” because they are free money—financial aid that doesn’t have to be repaid. Grants are often need-based, while scholarships are usually merit-based.    Grants and scholarships can come from the federal government, your state government, your college or career school, or a private or nonprofit organization. A student loan is designed to help students pay for university tuition, books, and living expenses. It may differ from other types of loans in that the interest rate may be substantially lower and the repayment schedule may be deferred while the student is still in education. It also differs in many countries in the strict laws regulating renegotiating and bankruptcy.

7. Your Grade Point Average (GPA) is a measure of how well you are doing in your academic studies.  At TRU, the academic grading scale goes from “A+” to “F”, with corresponding grade points ranging from the highest “4.33” to the lowest “0.00”.  A student’s Grade Point Average, or GPA, is a mathematical calculation that indicates where an average of the grades falls on the scale.

8. A student’s counselor is responsible for:

·         Assisting students to identify their academic values and goals, consistent with their capabilities, interests, and educational backgrounds

·         Clarifying pertinent information and discussing the implications toward students’ academic success

·         Being accessible and available to students to respond to their questions and concerns

·         Clarifying academic policies, college regulations, program requirements, procedures, and other college information

·         Maintaining professional integrity, confidentiality, respect, and sensitivity in advising

·         Helping students define and develop educational plans; assisting in the selection of appropriate course work and opportunities to achieve students’ goals

·         Respecting students’ individual needs and diversity

·         Assisting students to independently monitor their progress toward achieving their educational and career goals

·         Being knowledgeable about, promoting and referring students to appropriate campus and community resources and services

·         Informing students of the roles and responsibilities of the advisor/student relationship

·         Maintaining currency in academic advising trends and techniques through professional development

 10. Government, voluntary sector

 11. An undergraduate student is one who is pursing either an associate's or bachelor's degree. A graduate student (also, grad student or grad in American English, or postgraduate student in British English) is an individual who has completed a bachelor's degree (B.A., B.S./B.Sc., or another flavor) and is pursuing further higher education, with the goal of achieving a master's degree (M.A., M.S./M.Sc., M.Ed., etc.) or doctorate (Ph.D., Ed.D., D.A., D.Sc., D.M.A., Th.D., etc.).

12. I like written exams because you can think more, miss one question and them return to it. It is less stressful for me. I like to have a plan and spontaneous questions in oral exams are not for me. I don’t know which exam is more objective but I think that the written one.

13. After completing the secondary general education, students need to pass the State final attestation (written), after which they will be awarded a Certificate of Secondary General Education.

14. Yes, I would like to try to study in Britain and in the USA as well. It’s a good opportunity to improve language and get a qualified education which would be useful all around the world.

15. I would like to add the US system of two years at college where you are thinking about your future specialization and attend courses you like.

Lab. Work

MP3 AUDIO 5.1

1. You’ll hear five speakers talking about problems they or their relatives face while studying. Fill in the chart with the information given in the recording. Be especially precise with the column “Your solution to the problem”; here, you’re supposed to give your personal advice to avoid or ease the problems mentioned by the speakers.

Speaker	Problem	Signs of the Problem	Your Solution to the Problem
1	examination	ability to learn and understand	to ask more precise questions
2	preparation for the exams	tired face, sleepless nights etc.	combine intellectual, physical, entertaining activity and sleep more
3	exams to enter university	Lost weight, rings under eyes, sleepless nights	make a schedule and follow it in order to be more prepared without problems
4		Stunned, confidence	think about success and try to do one’s best
5	assessments tests checking automatically	technological problems	improve the system or not to use it until it becomes good enough

2. Have you ever experienced problems while studying?  What were these problems like? How did you cope with them?

Certainly, I have. For me it is difficult to start any preparation, make the first step because I realize how much I will learn then. But when I start I just learn and wait for an exam. However, sometimes it is possible for me to be angry, irritable. I cope with it with the help of breaks and do or watch something interesting what can abstract me from preparations.

3. What are other difficulties that contemporary university students face while studying? When do the problems usually occur? Are there special stresses that cause them? Do you agree that the quality learning is “the travel of hardships”? Give account of about 100 words on the questions mentioned.

There are a lot of problems every student can face but it depends on every person’s self-esteem, self-control and fears. Some can face loneliness and misunderstanding, lack of friends, others – problems with subjects or lack of free time. These problems can start in any time period and students should have abilities to cope with them. I agree with the statement  “the travel of hardships” because you cannot achieve anything until you work hard.

MP3 AUDIO 5.2

Listen to a talk given by a university advisor to a group of students and answer the following questions:

1.      What is the standard grading system in the USA?

It’s the grading system of A, B, C, D, E or F

2.      What are the ‘special grades’ that the speaker mentions in the recording?

Satisfactory and non-satisfactory grades

3.      Comment on the standard grading system in your country?

There are 5 (excellent), 4 (good), 3 (satisfactory), 2 (bad)

4.      Do schools and colleges practice non-standard grading systems? What are they?

Give examples of other grading systems throughout the world? Which of them do you think are efficient for the students’ academic assessment?

In Germany, school grades vary from 1 (very good, sehr gut) to 6 (insufficient, ungenügend). In the final classes of German Gymnasium schools that prepare for university studies, a point system is used with 15 points being the best grade and 0 points the worst. The percentage causes the grade can vary from teacher to teacher. The percentages shown in the table are the ones used in the "Oberstufe" (final classes).

In Afghanistan, the highest score receivable at schools and universities is 100. Depending on the school and the grade of study, a good mark varies, but in most occasions 75 or higher is considered to be a good one.

Grade	Scale 1	Scale 2	Description
90-100	A	4	Excelent
75-89.99	B	3	Very good
60-74.99	C	2	Good
55-59.99	D	1	Acceptable
0-54.99	F	0	Fail

In Iraq, most of the Primary, middle and high schools in Iraq grade out of 100 percent with a passing grade of 50 percent, So the grade point average is out of 100. Most of the post-secondary institutions (Universities, Colleges, Technical colleges ... etc.) uses the "word" grading system described below:

Grade	Percentage
Excellent	90–100
Very Good	80–89
Good	70–79
Adequate	60–69
Acceptable	50–59
Weak/Failure	0–49

In Japan, most higher education institutions give grades on a scale from 0–100, but a few universities apply letter grades. While for years an "A" grade range was from 80 to 100 points, some schools (for example, at Kurume University) have started to give the 90 to 100 point range a special grade to indicate excellence. A failing grade is generally called an "E", though some institutions use "F".

Scale	Letter Grade
90-100	Excellent (AA, or T)
80-89	A
70-79	B
60-69	C
0-59	Fail (E or F)

MP3 AUDIO 5.3

Listen to a talk by a student advisor on campus. Answer the following questions.

1.      What are the rules for dropping a course in the talk provided?

You can drop a course within the first three weeks in the semester. Besides, you should get a signature of the professor of the course you want to drop or you just need official drop card

2.      What warnings does the student advisor give?

You can officially drop a course after the first three weeks of the semester. If you are having problems in a course and you decide later on that you want to drop the course it’s impossible to do so.

3.      How can you avoid getting a failing grade, according to the recording?

If you go through official procedure of getting drop, you will not have any problems

4.      What are the official drop procedures for the elective courses in your country?

Classes can be officially dropped during the first 20 percent of their scheduled meeting time.

MP3 AUDIO 5.4

Listen to a talk given on a college campus.

1.      What are the places of a college campus that the speaker mentions in the recording?

Administration complex, library, students’ centre (a post office, a bank, a theatre, a coffee shop, a travel agency)

2.      Can you find the similar campus places in your college/university? What are other places that are worth mentioning? Characterize them briefly.

There is a library, 2 dormitories, 2 halls of residence, a stadium, a canteen.

3.      Pick out the places from the previous task and make a similar tour around your college/university to inform the freshmen about the campus.

We have a library with a reading room where students can take books or read them there. There are also 2 dormitories where students can live if their homes are far from out Institute. There is also a stadium for PE or individual activity. We have a canteen where every student can have a tasty dinner.