Unit 1Outside ViewActivity 2Activity 3ScriptEugene: The tradition that er, was most important to me was probably Summer Eights. I was a rower. And Summer Eights is a rowing competition, held in May in the summer term. And in this competition, each college is trying to improve its place which it won the previous year and gradually work its way up the river.Julie: When the students take exams, they must go to a special building and it’s called Examination Schools. And also they must wear a special uniform, so they wear a gown like mine, a black gown, and they wear a white shirt, and the men wear a white tie and black trousers. Um, the women wear a white shirt and a black skirt or black trousers. And they must wear this uniform, which has a Latin name –subfusc–and they must wear this uniform in order to take their examinations.Eugene: I think the Oxford traditions lend character to the place, and it’s such an old institution, it should have traditions, but they can be very inconvenient, for example, subfusc. This is the er, uniform that we are required according to the university rules to wear.Julie: They also wear flowers in their buttonholes, and those flowers are carnations. And they wear different colours, the students wear different coloured flowers for different examinations. So when you take your first exam you wear a white flower, and when youtake your second exam you wear a pink flower, and when you take your final examination you wear a red carnation.Eugene: So we have to dress up in a full black suit, starched collar, white bow tie and carry a mortarboard. And to write an exam in the summer heat whilst wearing all that which you’re not allowed to take off, is um, uncomfortable.Julie: I really like the Oxford traditions, I think it’s part of our history, and part of um, being a student or a teacher here at Oxford University.News ReportActivity 1ScriptOxford University has seen a rise in the number of applications from state school students thanks to Harry Potter. The university says that teenagers who have followed Harry’s adventures at Hogwarts are no longer discouraged by Oxford’s traditions because they remind them of scenes in J. K. Rowling’s best-selling books. Teenagers see similarities between the traditional university and Hogwarts.The “Hogwarts Generation”is embracing the idea of a more formal educational setting. In fact, Oxford’s head of admissions says that the latest generation of students is excited about the idea of attending a school that requires students to wear long flowing robes and has a grand dining hall.Though more state school students want to attend Oxford, spots are very limited. With over 17,000 applications for only 3,200 spots, Oxford candidates still must work hard to win their place at the historic university.1. What is the news report mainly about?2. Why are students excited about attending Oxford University?Activity 2ScriptIvy League universities have stopped using the title of “master”for leaders of residential colleges as many people consider it a controversial term that is linked to slavery.The “masters”are picked from the senior university faculty. They manage social and academic programmes and serve as advisers to students. Harvard University and Princeton University have stopped using the title for their professors, and Yale University is still deciding whether to change it. For a long time, there have been reservations about using the “master”title. Some professors holding the positions prefer to be called by their first names.The decision to stop using the title follows increasing protests that the term is offensive, particularly for African-American students. Many have argued that the title is an embarrassing reminder of the dark chapter of slavery in America, and students should not be asked to call anyone “master”.1. What change are the Ivy League universities making?2. Why are they making this change?Passage 1 Activity 2Passage 2 Activity 1 ScriptAndy: Did you see the film on television last night?Jane: No, I was out. What was it?Andy: A Beautiful Mind. It’s about John Forbes Nash, the mathematician who won the Nobel Prize.Jane: I’ve heard about that film, yes. He’s played by Russell Crowe, isn’t he?I like Russell Crowe, he’s great.Andy: That’s the one, yes.Jane: What’s it about?Andy: Well, the story begins in the early years of Nash’s life at Princeton University as a graduate student.Jane: That’s one of the Ivy League schools, isn’t it?Andy: Yes, it’s all set in New England, lovely old buildings, beautiful autumn colours. It’s lovely to look at. Anyway, Nash meets his roommate Charles, a literature student, who soon becomes his best friend. Nash admits to Charles that he is better with numbers than people, and the main thing he’s looking for is a truly original idea for his thesis paper.Jane: So he’s not interested in having fun?Andy:Well, yes, but he’s not very good with people or successful with women, that’s all. But, you know, it’s one of these bad experiences with people which ultimately inspires his brilliant work in mathematics.Jane: No good at relationships, so he becomes a genius at maths?Andy: That’s about right, yes. So when he finishes his studies at Princeton, he accepts a job at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Five years later, he meets Alicia, a student who he falls in love with and eventually marries. Jane: Ah! At last, the love interest!Andy: Yes, but wait a moment. Nash believes that he’s been asked to work by William Parcher for the US Department of Defense on breaking Soviet codes. At one point he’s chased by the Russians, and it’s after this that he becomes mentally ill.Jane: I think I’ve seen this in the trailer to the film.Andy: So when he’s put in a psychiatric hospital, he thinks the Soviets have captured him. He’s given this painful treatment which affects his relationship with his wife, and his intellectual skills. So he stops taking the medicine. Jane: It sounds quite hard to watch.Andy: Well, it is, but it’s well acted and directed, and so, you know, there’s a bit of distance between the audience and what’s happening on film. Jane: So what happens next?Andy: Well, then his illness returns, so he and his wife decide to try and live with it. It all gets a bit complicated, because we’re no longer sure if Charles, you know, his old friend, or even Parcher were real, or if they were just people that existed only in Nash’s mind.Jane: That sounds awful. He must have been so ill.Andy: Actually, I’m kind of giving away the twist in the story. Anyway, later in his life, while he’s using the library at Princeton again, he asks his rival Martin Hansen if he can start teaching again. And so the story ends when he goes on to win the Nobel Prize in Economics.Jane: Well, it sounds like a great film. Andy: Yes, you should see it sometime.Activity 2Unit TestSection AScript1.M: During my gap year, I traveled to South America to volunteer with a local orphanage, it was so rewarding.W: That’s fantastic! I wish I could have done something like that. I worked at the local bookstore all summer to make money.Q: What is the man describing?2.W: Did you finish the economics homework for Dr O’Connor?M: Yeah. But do you know when it’s due, I can’t understand a word he says.W:I know what you mean, his brogue is so thick. I think the homework is due on Thursday.Q: What are the man and woman complaining about?3.M: Do you like Melville? In my opinion, Moby Dick is a cultural masterpiece.W: Well, I certainly admire Melville’s work but it is not my favorite. I’m much more partial to Mark Twain.Q: What are the two people talking about?4.W: Have you given much thought to what you do this summer?M: Absolutely! I’m working at a bank in my hometown.W: Good idea! Then you have money to spend next school year.M: I guess so. I’m really doing it for the experience though. I want to work at a big bank someday.Q: Which of the following is probably the most important objective for the man?5.M: What do you think about the new music class you are taking?W: Oh Hank, all we do is listen to Mozart and Beethoven. I’m in heaven.Q: How does the woman feel about the music class?Answer CBAAASection BScriptM: So ... Teresa, tell me about your first week at university. How’s it treating you so far?W: Oh dad, it’s incredible! I don’t even know where to begin, my classes, my roommate, my teachers ...M:Wow ... slow down! Slow down! Catch your breath and start at the beginning. Do you get along with your roommate –Diane?W: Yeah. Diane is great! We have so much in common. Both of us come from small towns, have never lived away from home before, and are studying history.M: Oh Teresa, that’s great news! I was worried you wouldn’t get along with your roommate. How are classes?W: Most of them are good. Of course, my history classes are interesting! I’m taking World History and Post-Civil War US History.M: Most of them are good? Does that mean you don’t like some of your classes?W: Well ... There is a foreign language requirement for graduation. I chose Spanish and …so far, it’s really hard. I don’t understand most of what the teacher is saying.M: Hang in there Teresa. Do your homework and try to pay attention in class. Studying foreign languages gets easier when you practice.W: I will, dad. I promise! So far, I’m having a great time, but sometimes I really miss home.M: We miss you too. Study hard, have fun and call home often.Q6: What is the relationship between Teresa and Diane?Q7: Which of the following classes might Teresa find interesting?Q8: How would you describe Teresa’s father?Answer CDASection CScriptStudents must face many tough decisions during their first year in university. Determining which classes to take is only one decision among many. As students sift through the offerings under debate between Biology versus Chemistry, Creative Writing versus Literature and European History versus American History, they are beginning to determine the academic pair they will follow.Included among these decisions will likely be one about a foreign language. How to decide? Will it be a commonly studied language, such as Spanish, French, German or Italian? Will it be something more challenging, such as Japanese, Chinese or Korean? There are many schools have thought about which languages are the best to learn. And they generally deal with their usefulness in the real world.However, as a prospective student in a foreign language classroom, you should choose based on your personal goals and interests. Ask yourself what do I intend to do with knowledge of this language; am I attracted to the history and culture of the countries where this language is spoken; am I interested enough in this language to complete at least several years of study. Asking and answering these questions should help make this decision easier.Q9: What is the main idea of this passage?Q10: What is a school of thought?Q11: With which of the following statements would the speaker agree? Answer BDCSection DScriptThe number of applicants the University of California has received this year has reached another record high –for the 12th consecutive year.In all, over 206,000 students have applied to one of the nine campuses for admission next fall, 6.4% more than last year. Applications rose at all nine of its campuses, with UC Irvine increasing by 10% to reach close to 98,000 applications for 8,700 student and transfer spots. At the same time, UC Berkeley saw an increase of 5.8% and UC Merced, the newest campus within the system, saw the highest increase of all nine campuses at 13.5%.According to UC officials, this is the first time that the total number of applications of all nine campuses has stretched over 200,000. The school also experienced an increase in diversity among its applicants. The campus had an increase of 9.6% for underrepresented students on the freshman level for fall 2016. Meanwhile, the largest gain was seen among Latino and Mexican-American applicants at 10.1%, closely followed by a 9.2% gain in African-American student applications.Q12: What does this news report mainly talk about?Q13: Which campus had the biggest increase of applications?Q14:By what percentage did underrepresented students increase on the freshman level for fall 2016?Answer CCA。
