Read about the oldest and most famous universities in Great Britain.
Oxford and Cambridge
The universities of Oxford and Cambridge are sometimes referred to collectively as Oxbridge. The two universities have a long history of competition with each other. Today this is expressed primarily through the annual boat race, and rugby match (The Varsity Match).
Oxford is the first Saxon settlement developed around a place where ox-drovers had a major crossing point over the River Thames. The first name given to the crossing was Oxnaforde (the ford of the oxen).
The first colleges of Oxford were built in the 13th century, but it wasn't until 1878 that women were admitted to the university, 1920 when they were awarded degrees, and 1974 when the last of the all-male colleges opened their doors to women.
Oxford was hit hard by the Black Plague (1348-1350). The population of the city dropped heavily, and the colleges took full advantage by buying up vacant property and greatly expanding their holdings within Oxford.
Hitler was intending to use Oxford as his capital if he conquered England which is one of the reasons it was not bombed.
Cambridge was founded in 43AD by the Roman emperor Cantabrigensis, but remained an insignificant market town until the foundation of the university. The Cambridge University started during the 13th century and grew until today. Now there are more than thirty colleges. The University was only for men until 1871, when the first women's college was opened. In the 1970s, most colleges opened their doors to both men and women. Almost all colleges are now mixed.
Oxford and Cambridge universities consist of a number of colleges. Each college is different, but in many ways they are alike. Each college has its name, its coat of arms. Each college is governed by a Master, The larger ones have more than 400 members, the smallest colleges have less than 30. Each college offers teaching in a wide range of subjects. Within the college one will normally find a chapel, a dining hall, a library, rooms for undergraduates, fellows and the Master, and also rooms for teaching purposes.
The organization system of Oxford and Cambridge differs from that of all other universities and colleges. The teachers are usually called Dons. Part of the teaching is by means of lectures organized by the university. Teaching is also carried out by tutorial system. This is the system of individual tuition organized by the colleges. Each student goes to his tutor's room once a week to read and discuss an essay which the student has prepared.
The universities have over a hundred societies and clubs, enough for every interest one could imagine. Sport is part of students' life at Oxbridge. The most popular sports are rowing and punting.
Say which of the colleges
| Oxford | Cambridge | Both | |
| expanded its holdings after the Plague? | ü | ||
| was founded in the 13th century? | |||
| consists of a number of colleges? | |||
| didnt admit women till 1871? | |||
| wasnt bombed during World War II? | |||
| has tutorial system of teaching? |
12. Find in the text the English equivalents to the following:
SPEAKING TASK
