INTRODUCTION
TO THE STUDENT
This book is to help you to improve your skills in reading and speaking English, the English grammar and vocabulary.
All students need practice. There are a lot of different certain basic things in English. They cannot be mastered without a great deal of practice. In order to improve your English, you should try to make the most of your classroom time.
REMEMBER:
Ø Good learners know that a teacher cannot do everything.
Ø To make progress, you must take responsibility for your own learning. Learning English or other languages is like learning to ski or skate. Your teacher can show you what to do, but you must do it.
Ø People often remember things better when we work them out for ourselves, rather when we are simply told. Asking questions does not mean you are stupid. It is a vital part of the learning process.
Ø Speaking tasks, group work are not a waste of time. If you are asked to do this, it gives you a chance to use your English.
Ø Do more than give a minimum response. This will help you to be more confident with your English.
Ø No one can learn languages without making mistakes. Dont worry about every little mistake, identify important mistakes and work on those.
Ø Your first languages can help you learn English, if some words or grammar structures are similar. But the less you rely on translation, the better you will communicate in English.
Ø It is never enough simply to know something. You must be able to do things with what you know.
Each unit here gives you the vocabulary of transport, words and expressions that will be useful to you and help you understand written and spoken English.
You can find interesting facts about different vehicles, their history and development.
TO THE TEACHER
This course is for the students studying English for scientific and technical purposes (ESP). The course is designed to familiarize the students of non-language higher educational institutions with the information on motor vehicles and electrical transport in particular.
The material has been specifically designed for a variety of class environments and as the basis for individual and group work as well for self-study (marked ***).
This course consists of the nine units and is expected to be covered during at least 70 classroom hours and about 100 hours for self-study. These are:
Unit One. Education Unit Six. Trolleybuses
Unit Two. Transport Unit Seven. Trains
Unit Three. Cars Unit Eight. Underground
Unit Four. Buses Unit Nine. Heathrow
Unit Five. Trams.
Most of the units provide the learner of English with original texts from different sources.
Each unit contains:
Ø Pre-reading Activity which involves students own experiences when possible and motivates them to read.
Ø Text which focuses on one type of transport.
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Ø Reading Comprehension which confirms the content of the text either in general or in detail.
Ø Vocabulary Focus which encourages students to work out the meanings from the context and reinforces the vocabulary further.
Ø Vocabulary Development with word-formation exercises which helps students improve the range of words and phrases for active or passive use.
Ø Vocabulary Exercises which are means of presenting and improving vocabulary.
Ø Grammar Focus which includes different aspects of the English grammar with rules and relevant exercises. These are:
Unit One. Direct and Indirect Speech
Unit Two. Uses of one, ones
Unit Three. Conjunctions
Unit Four. Participle
Unit Five. The Passive
Unit Six. Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
Unit Seven. Prefixes and Suffixes
Unit Eight. Used to
Unit Nine. Have something done.
Ø Speaking Practices serve as models to demonstrate how to use words and expressions in everyday conversations. The practical exercises give students additional practice in using words and conversational structures found in the unit.
UNIT ONE. EDUCATION
Pre reading Activity
ü What is education?
ü How can you explain H. Spencers phrase Education has for its objects the formation of character?
ü Ph. Chesterfield said Wear your learning like your watch, in a private pocket; and do not pull it out and strike it, merely to show that you have one. Do you agree? Say your reasons.
Make sure you know these words:
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) ,
community ,
Bachelor of Arts (BA) ,
Bachelor of Science (BS) ,
Master of Arts (MA) ,
Master of Science (MS) ,
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) ,
tuition
tuition fee
1. Read the Text ***
Education in the USA
Out of more than three million students who graduate from high school each year, about one million go on for higher education. It is not easy to enter a college at a leading university in the United States. Such a college may accept only one out of every ten who apply. At present there are over 3,300 different institutions of higher education in the USA with more than 12 million students.
Successful applicants at colleges of higher education are usually chosen on the basis of (a) their high school records which include their class rank, the list of all the courses taken and all the grades received in high school, test results; (b) recommendations from their high school teachers; (c) the impression they make during interviews at the university, which is in fact a serious examination; and (d) their scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SATs). The SAT is a test on mathematics and the English language, which was introduced in 1947. The SAT is taken in the 11th grade of high school (over 1,5 million high school students take it yearly). If a student gets 1600 scores it is considered as a good result, if he or she gets 400 scores such a result is considered to be poor. A SAT can be taken two or three times, so that the student can improve the results if he or she wishes to do so.
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The system of higher education includes four categories of institutions: (1) the two-year, or community college, which is financed by the local authorities and which is intended to satisfy the needs of the local community in different professions. Tuition fees are low in these colleges, that is why about 40 percent of all American students of higher education study at these colleges. On graduation from such colleges American students can start to work or may transfer to four-year colleges or universities; (2) the technical training institution, at which high school graduates may take courses ranging from six months to three four years, and learn different technical skills, which may include design, business, computer programming, accounting, etc., (3) the four-year college which is not part of a university. The graduates receive the degree of bachelor of arts (BA) or bachelor of science (BS), (4) the university, which may contain (a) several colleges for students who want to receive a bachelor's degree after four years of study; and (b) one or more graduate schools for those who want to continue their studies after college for about two years to receive a master's degree (Master of Arts (MA) or of Science (MS) or a doctoral degree (Ph. D. Doctor of Philosophy, in some science). There are 156 universities in the USA.
Any of these institutions of one education may be either public or private. The public institutions are financed by the state. Of the four-year institutions 28 percent are public, and 72 percent are private, but most of students, about 80 percent, study at public institutions of higher education, because tuition fees here are much lower. If at the end of the 1980s tuition fees at private institutions were 12 thousand dollars a year and even higher, at public institutions they weretwo fivethousand dollars a year.
Many students need financial aid to attend college. When a family applies for aid, an analysis is made of the parents income. The aid may be given in the form of a grant, or stipend which the student doesnt need to pay back. It may be given as a loan, which the student must pay back after college. The third type of aid may be given in the form of some kind of work, which the student has to do at the university or college, for which he gets some money. Most students work, especially during the summer vacation.
The academic year is usually nine months, or two semesters of four and a half months each. Studies usually begin in September and end in July. There are summer classes for those who want to improve the grades or take up additional courses. Students who study at a university or four-year college are known as undergraduates. Those who have received a degree after four years of studies are known as graduates. They may continue with their studies and research work for another two years as graduates in order to get a higher degree. The undergraduate students who study for four years are called as follows: (a) the first-year student is called a freshman; (b) the second-year student is called a sophomore; (c) the student of the third year is known as a junior; and (d) the fourth-year student a senior.
During one term or semester a student will study four or five different subjects. The students progress is controlled through oral or written tests, term or course papers and a final examination in each course. Each part of a students work in a course is given a mark which helps to determine his final grade. A student's record consists of his grade in each course. College grades are usually on a five-point scale: A is the highest mark and is usually equal to 5 points, B = 4, C = 3, D = 2, E or F means failure. The points make it possible to calculate the GPA (grade point average). Normally, a minimum GPA of 3,5 points is necessary to continue their studies at the college or university and to graduate.
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Each college or university has its own curriculum. There are courses that every student has to take in order to receive a degree. These courses or subjects are called major subjects or majors. At the same time there are subjects, which the student may choose himself for his future life. These courses are called electives. A student has to earn a certain number of credits (about 120) in order to receive a degree at the end of four years of college. Credits are earned by attending lectures or laboratory classes and completing assignments and examinations. One credit usually equals one hour of class per week in a single course during the semester.
Thus, we see that the American system of higher education gives the student much choice which he may realize according to his will. His achievements in his studies and future work depend upon himself. At the same time many Americans are not satisfied with the condition of higher education in their country. The high tuition fees make it difficult for low-paid American families to send their children to university. This is especially true for young people from minority groups the Blacks, Asians, etc. Though much is spent by the state for education, American universities complain that these funds are becoming smaller with every new year. The equipment which is used at the universities for research is not modern enough, and the universities do not have the money to install new equipment. Under such conditions tuition fees are growing and many talented young people cannot receive higher education. Critics point out that one of every eight highly talented high school graduates does not go on to university or college, and only half the students who enter college for a bachelors degree actually achieve their aim. All these problems are widely discussed today in American society.
Reading Comprehension
A. Understanding the reading. ***
1. What are the four conditions which every applicant must know to enter a
college of higher education?
2. When does a graduate receive the BA or BS?
3. Why do most students study at public institutions of higher education?
4. How can a student receive financial aid from a college?
5. What is the difference between majors and electives?
6. Does a student have to earn a certain number of credits to receive a degree
at the end of four years of college?
7. On what scale are college grades in the USA?
B. Complete the sentence with the best answer (A, B or C) according to the information in the text.
1. Out of more than three million students who graduate from high school each year
A. most of them continue their studies and receive higher education.
B. about one million go on for higher education.
C. about one half join the workforce.
2. The technical training institution is intended for high school graduates
A. to learn different technical skills and trades necessary for industry.
B. to develop their knowledge of foreign languages.
C. to receive the degrees of bachelor of arts, or of science.
3. Of the four-year institutions 28 percent are public and 72 percent are private, but
A. most of the students study at public institutions.
B. most of the students study at private institutions.
C. the tuition fee is the same for both types of higher school.
4. During one term or semester a student will study
A. four or five different subjects.
B. both majors and electives.
C. many subjects that he will need in future life.
