National pride of Oxbridge

Notes: PhD – высшая ученая степень доктора наук.

fellow – член Совета колледжа (часто профессор)

Civil Service Commissioner – член парламентской комиссии по гражданским делам

vice-versa - наоборот

knight- рыцарский титул, присуждаемый за личные заслуги перед Британской короной

life peer – лорд (пожизненный член палаты лордов)

A great number of men of letters graduated from Oxford university in different years of its long history. Among them there are such world-known writers as: Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) John Golsworthy (1867-1933), James Aldridge (b. 1918), Thomas S. Eliot (1888-1965), Philip Larkin (1922-1985), William Golding (1911-1992), Graham Greene (1904-1991) and some others.

Cambridge University can boast of such world famous graduates as: Isaac Newton (1642-1727), George Gordon Byron (1788-1824), William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863), Charles Darwin (1809-1882), Iris Murdoch (1919 - 1999) and others.

Among the most prominent people of the 20th century in Britain there should be mentioned a well-known English writer of novels, a scientist, a literary critic and a public figure of importance Charles Percy Snow (1905-1980). Born in a lower middle-class family C.P. Snow was educated at Leicester University College where in 1927 he took a First Class Honours degree in chemistry. Then at Christ's College, Cambridge, he took a PhD for research in molecular physics and became a Fellow and a tutor teaching physics at Cambridge University.

During the Second World War C.P. Snow worked as a scientific expert for the British government. When the war was over he was made a Civil Service Commissioner and was thus brought into public affairs (1945-1960).

Alongside with his public activities Snow dedicated himself to literature. His first novel was a detective story “Death Under Sail” (1932).

Literary fame came to Snow when he started publishing a sequence of eleven novels under the general title of “Strangers and Brothers” (1940-1970) where he draws a vast canvas of the British way of life in scientific, academic and government fields. He writes that if people live alone, isolated from their environment, they are “Strangers”. But in grieves and sorrows, happiness and joy they become "Brothers". So today's "Strangers" may become tomorrow's “Brothers", and vice-versa.

Snow also wrote a collection of biographical portraits, “Variety of Men” (1967) and a critical biography “Trollop” (1975). In his book “Corridors of Power” (1964) Snow presented a gallery of people governing Britain and responsible for its fate and policy. He showed their manipulations in the field of atomic energy, the struggle of different parties for power for the manufacture of rockets of a new type. Here he used his own service experience as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Technology.

Snow collected his public lectures and addresses in a volume “Public Affairs” (1971) where he speaks of himself, on the strength of his scientific interests, political career and that of a novelist as of a bridge between the literary traditional culture and the culture of science.

For his service in industry and government Charles Percy Snow was made a knight in 1957 and a life peer in 1964. Snow is a national pride of Britain rather than of Oxbridge.

Exercise 2. Do the test.

1. When speaking about the universities of Oxford and Cambridge together people want … them from other British universities.

A. to differ; B. to compare; C. to distinguish; D. to identify;

2. Oxford and Cambridge universities date back to …

A. the Ancient times; B. the Middle Ages; C. the Golden Age; D. the nuclear age;

3. To become a student of Oxford or Cambridge one has to take an entrance exam in addition to ….

A. the "11+" exam; B. "AS" Level; C. the General Certificate of Secondary Education; D. "A" levels;

4. Every student has a tutor who … his (her) work

A. does; B. plans; C. writes; D. copies out;

5. The student is also required to submit … the results of his (her) work to the tutor

A. regularly; B. every day; C. once a year; D. at end of the year;

6. Most graduates of Oxbridge are former students of famous ….

A. public schools; B. secondary schools; C. comprehensive schools; D. junior schools;

7. At Oxford the students have to wear a gown on top of their academic dress ….

A. in class; B. when taking exams or being at a degree ceremony;

C. when taking final exams; D. at different parties;

8. The students of Oxford and Cambridge always … with each other.

A. cooperate; B. hate; C. envy; D. compete;

9. Rugby and cricket teams competitions as well as … held each year attract public attention.

A. the Yacht Races; B. the Car Races; C. The Motor Bike Races; D. the Boat Races;

10. The leading crew at the end of four days wins the title Head of the

A. River; B. Lake; C. Town; D. University;

11. A great number of men of letters graduated from Oxford University. For example, …

A. Ernest Rutherford (1871-1937); B. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

C. GordonByron (1788-1824); D. Oscar Wilde (1854-1900);

12. Cambridge university can boast of such world famous graduates as …

A. Philip Larkin (1922-1985), B. Abram Ioffe,

C. Charles Darwin (1809-1882), D. Graham Greene (1904-1991)

13. At Leicester University College Charles Percy Snow took a First Class Honours degree in … in 1927.

A. biology; B. chemistry; C. mathematics; D. literature;

14. Charles Percy Snow took a PhD for research in molecular physics and became … and a tutor teaching physics at Cambridge University.

A. a Student; B. a Post-graduate; C. an Engineer; D. a Fellow;

15. His first novel was a detective story … (1932).

A. “Variety of Men”; B. “Corridors of Power”; C. “Death Under Sail”; D. “Trollop”;

16. In a sequence of eleven novels under the general title of “Strangers and Brothers” (1940-1970) he draws … in scientific, academic and government fields

A. a vast canvas of the British way of life; B. a vast canvas of the students’ life;

C. a vast canvas of the Second World War; D. a vast canvas of the British history;

17. Snow has also written a collection of biographical ….

A. portraits; B. facts; C stories; D. details;

18. Snow collected his public lectures and addresses in a volume … (1971)

A. “Corridors of Power”; B. “Trollop”; C. “Variety of Men”; D. “Public Affairs”;

19. For his service in industry and government Charles Percy Snow was made … in 1957 and a life peer in 1964.

A. a prime minister; B. a president; C. a knight; D. a servant;

20. Snow is a national … of Britain rather than of Oxbridge.

A. joy; B. symbol; C. fame; D. pride;

Text 8

Exercise 1. Read the text and get ready to do the tasks.

Notes:

vocational school - училище

intermediate school – средние классы

senior school – старшие классы

applicant - абитуриент

graduate course - аспирантура

specialized council – специализированный совет