Theatre by W.S. Maugham

Chapters 7-10

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

Placidity - спокойный

to make frantic scenes - закатывать безумные сцены

to give sb. a look of scorn - бросить презрительный взгляд на кого-либо

lavishness - щедрость

to know how to pull strings adroitly - знать, как пустить в ход связи

to fall out of love - разлюбить

close-cropped hair - коротко стриженный

to resist an inclination - удержаться от чего-то

weather-beaten skin - обветренная кожа

coltish grace - щенячья грация

to be on active service - быть в действующей армии

confinement - роды

to run a theatre - открыть театр

effusive - несдержанный

virile air – зрелый вид

to set one's mind to smth - стремиться к чему-либо

disconcerting - смущающий

it's a knock out - сногсшибательно

amiability - добродушие

affable manner - дружеское обращение

to exercise great ingenuity in (doing) smth - проявить великую изобретательность в чем-то

to be unperturbed - быть невозмутимым

shrewdness - проницательность

to grizzle - возмущаться, раздражать

it's a mere commonplace - это банально

exorbitant - непомерный

to be conciliatory - дружелюбный

to foster one's career - способствовать чьей-то карьере

prosiness - прозаичность

acumen - проницательность

to have one's face lifted - подтянуть кожу лица

it's no good crying over spilt milk - потерянного не воротишь

to have little flirtations - заводить небольшие интриги

masseuse - массажистка

gossip column - колонка светской хроники

the world of make-believe - мир притворства

II. Answer the following questions:

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

They were both acting when war broke out.

2. Why do you think Michael enjoyed the war?

“Michael thoroughly enjoyed the war. He was popular in the regimental mess, and the officers of the old army accepted him almost at once, even though he was an actor, as one of themselves.”

3. Do you think love is important for a successful family life? Would you share your point of view on this problem with your fellow students?

I think, love is very important for a successful family life. Of course, every person has its own opinion on this problem.

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

It was just before the end of the war that she fell out of love with him. She was pregnant at the time. She realized that he no longer smelt like a young, 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?

At first, they wanted to find a rich man, who fell in love with Julia or a rich old woman, who loved Michael and set them up in management. Finally the money was found by a rich woman, and not an old one either, but who was interested not in him but in Julia. She was Mrs. de Vries. She was a widow and she was in the partnership with Michael and Julia. They decided to call the theatre “The Siddons theatre”.

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

Julia was doubtful. “He had no fantasy and his ideas were commonplace. She was not sure that he would have authority over the cast”.

7. What kind of director was Michael?

He made a much better job of it than Julia expected. “He was thorough; he worked hard. Julia, strangely enough, felt that he was getting more out of her than any other director had done”.

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

“His thrift, which in the early days had seemed an amusing, rather touching trait, now revolted her. When people were in trouble, and on the stage they too often are, they got sympathy and kind friendly words from Michael, but very little cash. He looked upon himself as devilish generous when he parted with a guinea, and a five‑pound note was to him the extreme of lavishness. He had soon discovered that Julia ran the house extravagantly, and insisting that he wanted to save her trouble took the matter in his own hands. After that nothing was wasted. Every penny was accounted for. Julia wondered why servants stayed with them”.

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

Julia realized that she fell out of love with Michael. His behavior, manners, thought and even his appearance began to irritate her. She had never thought that such thing could happen with her.

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

Julia was much easier to get on with, she never made scenes any more, so he was happier than he had ever been before.

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

“Evie was Julia's dresser and maid. She had come to her first at Middlepool and had accompanied her to London. She was a cockney, a thin, raddled, angular woman, with red hair which was always untidy and looked as if it much needed washing, two of her front teeth were missing but, notwithstanding Julia's offer, repeated for years, to provide her with new ones she would not have them replaced”.

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

“Lord Charles Tamerley was the oldest and the most constant of Julia's admirers, and when he passed a florist's he was very apt to drop in and order some roses for her”. “She was naturally polite and it was a principle with her to answer all fan letters”.

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

- a good‑humoured smile on his handsome face

- the handsomest man in England

- a tailor's dummy

- the ordinary normal Englishman

- with his gentlemanly push, with his breezy good‑nature

- his thriftiness

- He had tact and a pleasant manner

- He showed himself possessed of considerable organizing capacity

- He came, looking wonderfully handsome in his well‑cut uniform, with the red tabs and the crown on his shoulder‑straps. He had filled out a good deal as the result of the hardships of G.H.Q. and his skin was tanned. With his close‑cropped hair, breezy manner and military carriage he looked every inch a soldier.

- he was only thirty‑six, but he was not a boy any more; with his close‑cropped hair and weather‑beaten skin, little lines beginning to mark the smoothness of his forehead and to show under his eyes, he was definitely a man. He had lost his coltish grace and his movements were set. He was a middle‑aged man.

- He was a well set‑up, normal, high‑spirited fellow, with a ready smile and a hearty laugh. He was well suited to drawing‑room comedy. His light voice gave a peculiar effect to a flippant line, and though he never managed to make love convincingly he could carry off a chaffing love scene, making a proposal as if it were rather a joke, or a declaration as though he were laughing at himself.

To my mind, Michael was the perfect man to run a theatre. He was pedant and stern. Michael didn’t spend much money, neither had he ever given on credit. Such kind of men could be successful in this business. Also I think, he was an ideal husband because this man was so devoted to his wife.

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.

Eton is a very prestigious school for boys. Every celebrity and famous people who want their child has quality education have to apply within a week of his birth. It’s a tradition of Eton.

Public Schools
A public school is an independent secondary school. Public schools in England are not run by the government. The entrance exams used by most public schools are known as Common Entrance exams and are taken at the age of 11 (girls) or 13 (boys).

The most famous public schools are Eton, Harrow and Winchester.

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 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.

Julia was happy the first year of her marriage. But soon the war broke out. Michael became a soldier and he improved Julia to stay in the theatre. It was just before the end of the war that she fell out of love with him. Julia was pregnant at the time. When Michael came back they tried to find money to open their own theatre. Mrs. de Vries became their partnership and Michael was a director of this theatre. Julia was a famous actress and some fans appeared in her life. One of them was Lord Charles Tamerley.

Theatre by W.S. Maugham

Chapters 3-6

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

Asset – a major benefit (a useful quality)

a sumptuous supper – splendor suggesting great expense (lavish)

extravagance - the practice of spending a lot of money, especially more than you should (wastefulness)

thrift – wise economy in the management of money (frugality)

to remonstrate – criticize someone about something (affirm)

equanimity – a calm mental state when you deal with a difficult situation (imperturbability)

at a loose end – in an uncertain or unsettled situation or position (on the mooch)

to jeopardize – to expose to loss or injury (to run chances)

alacrity – cheerful readiness (eagerness)

susceptible to – easily influenced or affected (pliable)

obsequious – too keen to please someone, in a way that does not seem sincere (menial)

a retainer - a servant, especially one who has worked for someone from a high social class for a long time (man)

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

“I could not love thee, dear, so much, loved I not honour more”

“Lord, what fools these mortals be”. Jimmie Langton couldn’t understand why Julia being the greatest actress in England loved untalented Michael.

The main function of these phrases is to show that actors learn a lot by heart and very often they use these phrases in their everyday life.

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

"She is a millstone round his neck" refers to Julia and Michael. He became a star and she insisted on playing with him. If he was in management he had to give her leading parts and if he engaged someone else there were most frightful scenes.

IV. Comment on the context of the following phrases:

- "He was too modest to resent an unfavourable criticism." (Ch.3) – Michael understood that he had very poor talent and only his handsome appearance made him successful. “He was pleased by their approval, but not cast down by their censure”.

- "... after all he was born a gentleman." (Ch.4) – Michael’s parents wanted him to be a military. They thought that all actors were immoral, but when Julia told about Michael’s talent his mother said “Of course we hope he’ll do well”. “I know it doesn’t mean so much as when I was a girl, but after all he was born a gentleman”.

- "He is going to be a flop." (Ch.5) – These words were said by Jimmie Langton. He was sure that Michael was going to be a flop because he knew that Michael didn’t have any talent.

- "'I suppose it's beastly of me,' she thought, 'but thank God, thank God.'" (Ch.6) – This phrase was said by Julia. She was happy to hear that Michael didn’t have a success in New York.

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

The author used a lot of dialogs, descriptions, quotations and allusions to make the reader to see the events through Julia’s eyes.

VII. Answer the questions:

1. Who was Jimmie Langton and what role did he play in Julia's and Michael's lives?

Jimmie was the director of the theatre. He looked for the actors for his theatre by himself. He invited Julia to his theatre and made her a great actress. A year later he gave a job to Michael. Julia saw Michael and she fell in love with him.

2. When did Julia and Michael join the Middlepool Theatre Company?

At first Julia joined the Middlepool theatre. Michael had been playing in another theatre for three years, when he was noticed by Langton to join Middlepool Theatre.

3. How did Julia and Michael get to know each other?

At first Julia joined the Middlepool theatre. “When Michael joined company, Julia had been playing Middlepool for a year”. They acted in the same performance. “She fell in love with Michael at first sight. She had never seen a more beautiful young man, and she pursued him relentlessly”. “Soon they were inseparable”.

4. What did Julia like about Michael? He was handsome and his appearance attracted her.

4. What did Michael think of good looks and decent families?

“ Anyone can be good-looking”, he answered, with his sweet smile, “but not everyone  can belong to a decent family. To tell you the truth I’m glad my governor’s gentleman”.

5. How did Julia feel about her family?

She was proud of her family, in spite of the fact her father was a vet.

6. What were Michael's views on marriage?

He said that 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”.

7. Why did Michael find Julia extravagant?

“It cost a good deal more than she could afford and he smilingly reproached her for her extravagance. He never dreamt what ecstatic pleasure it gave her to spend her money on him”.

8. What did Michael read newspaper reviews for? Did Julia share his views?

“He read the reviews, and their praise of Julia, but he read summarily, without paying much attention till he came to the remarks the critics made about him. He was pleased by their approval, but not cast down by their censure. He was too modest to resent an unfavorable criticism”. As for Julia, she wasn’t interested in reviews.

9. Who invited Julia to Michael's house for the Holy Week?

Julia received a letter from Mrs.Gosselyn, Michael’s mother.

10. Did Michael's father meet Julia's expectations?

Julia found the Colonel not so alarming person than she had expected: he was civil, but reserved, generous. He read The Times, went to church on Sunday and accompanied his wife to tea-parties.

11. What impression did Julia produce on Michael's parents?

They liked her.

12. Was the proposal expected by Michael's parents?

Michael’s parents expected the proposal as they invited Julia to their house.

13. What professional offer did Michael receive and who facilitated this?

Michael received a professional offer from an American producer. Jimmie Langton facilitated this.

14. What steps did Julia take upon finding Michael was leaving for America?

She went to Jimmie’s house and she cried loudly at him, she said that he was a devil. At that moment she was violent and strong.

15. Was Michael a success in America?

Michael failed in America.

16. Did Julia keep in touch with him while he was away?

She wrote him very often.

17. Was Julia eager to meet Michael straight at the station?

Julia was eager to meet Michael straight at the station. “When he announced the date of his sailing, she could not contain her joy. She got Jimmie so to arrange his program that she might go and meet him at Liverpool”.

18. What were Michael's impressions after staying and working in America?

He was sure, he was too English. They didn’t want him another year. He didn’t like America. Even if they had wanted him to stay, he should have refused.

19. What was Michael going to do in England and what were his prospects?

He wanted to open his own theatre and made Julia the main actress.

VIII. Summarize the events of chapters 3-6.

Julia became famous and successful actress. A year later she met Michael and fell in love with him. She made a lot to be with him. At Easter holiday Michael introduced Julia to his parents. At the same time he offered his hand to Julia and she agreed. Coming back home, Michael signed contract with an American interpreter. Michael got a flop and returned home. He had some money to open a theatre.

Theatre by W.S. Maugham

Chapters 1-2

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

Complacency - a feeling of satisfaction, especially extreme self-satisfaction (smugness)

three times running - taking place three times

filthy - very dirty (muddy)

supercilious – displaying arrogant pride, scorn, or indifference (contemptuous)

military bearing - the high level of military professionalism (carriage)

natural flamboyance - natural brightness

stupendous – amazingly large or great (immense)

staggered - to astound or overwhelm, as with shock (embarrass)

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

entanglement – state of confusion (involvement)

concubinage - cohabitation of a man and woman without legal or formal marriage (cohabitation)

languorous – lacking spirit or liveliness (impassive)

flippant rejoinder – frivolous answer (frivolous answer)

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

a quick study - to learn smth by heart very quickly

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 (26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) 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". His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.

Artistic allusions:

Sir Thomas Lawrence (13 April 1769 – 7 January 1830) was a leading English portrait painter and president of the Royal Academy. The most outstanding work: Satan summoning his legions. Here he illustrated lines from John Milton's Paradise Lost. The portraitist was mentioned to emphasize the lightness, tenderness, and feminity of the main character.

Sarah Siddons (5 July 1755 – 8 June 1831) 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. The Sarah Siddons Society continues to present the Sarah Siddons Award in Chicago every year to a prominent actress.

John Philip Kemble (1 February 1757 – 26 February 1823) was an English actor. He was born into a theatrical family as the eldest son of Roger Kemble, actor-manager of a touring troupe. His elder sister Sarah Siddons achieved fame with him on the stage of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. His other siblings Charles Kemble, Stephen Kemble, Ann Hatton and Elizabeth Whitlock also enjoyed success on the stage.

Benoît-Constant Coquelin (23 January 1841 – 27 January 1909), known as Coquelin aîné ("Coquelin the Eldest"), was a French actor, "one of the greatest theatrical figures of the age."

Sarah Bernhardt (23 October 1844 – 26 March 1923) was a French stage and early film actress, and was referred to as "the most famous actress the world has ever known."Bernhardt made her fame on the stages of France in the 1870s, at the beginning of the Belle Epoque period, and was soon in demand in Europe and the Americas. She developed a reputation as a serious dramatic actress, earning the nickname "The Divine Sarah."

Mounet-Sully (February 28, 1841 – 1916), a French actor, was born at Bergerac. His birth name was Jean-Sully Mounet: "Mounet-Sully" (without the "Jean") was a stage name.

Jean-Marc Nattier (March 17, 1685 – November 7, 1766), French painter, was born in Paris, He is noted for his portraits of the ladies of King Louis XV's court in classical mythological attire.

Charles John Kean (18 January 1811 - 22 January 1868), was born at Waterford, Ireland, the son of the actor Edmund Kean. Charles Kean had early opportunities to play Shakespearian leads in London: Romeo (1829), Richard III (1830), Iago (1833) to his father's Othello, Othello and Hamlet (both 1838).

Historical allusions:

Sir Francis Robert Benson (4 November 1858 – 31 December 1939), commonly known as Frank Benson or F. R. Benson, was a British actor-manager. He founded his own company in 1883 and produced all but two of Shakespeare's plays.

To my mind their main function is to make the reader to be closer to the theatre and art.

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

Julia Lambert was the best actress of her time in England. She was 46 years old. Julia had big brown eyes, her smile was warm and ready. She was a woman with a lovely figure. She was tall, she had long legs. “Her nose was slightly thick, but he had managed by his lighting to make it look very delicate, not a wrinkle marred the smoothness of her skin, and there was a melting look in her fine eyes.” “Her voice, her rather low rich voice, with that effective hoarseness, which wrung your heart in an emotional passage or gave so much humour to a comedy line, seemed to sound all wrong when she spoke it. And then her articulation; it was so distinct that, without raising her voice, she could make you hear her every word in the last row of the gallery; they said it made verse sound like prose.” Julia loved beautiful dresses and she had a lot of them. She had her clothes made in Paris. Julia earned enough to be an independent woman. This woman was hard-working. She wanted to be a good actress very much.  

Michael Gosselyn 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.” “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.

One day young handsome man came to famous couple. Michael invited him to work as an accountant. Julia paid attention on him. He was very shy and it only amused Julia. This woman gave him a photo of her own. Looking through the photos she remembered her springtime. When Julia was 16 she entered the Royal academy of the dramatics, but only met Jimmie Langton she became a real actress.

Film Review (A Farewell to Arms)

The film I’ve recently watched is “A Farewell to Arms”. It is a 1957 American drama film, based in part on a 1930 play by Laurence Stallings, the second feature film adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's 1929 semi-autobiographical novel of the same name. The director of this film is Charles Vidor. The film stars are Rock Hudson, Jennifer Jones, Elaine Stritch. 

This film is based on the World War I experiences of the writer Ernest Hemingway. Let me pass on to the plot of the film. A young American Frederic Henry joins the Italian army as an ambulance driver. On the front, he is seriously wounded and sent to a hospital in Milan. Coming back, Henry falls in love with the nurse Catherine Barkley. Some time later Catherine reveals that she is pregnant but refuses to marry Frederic, fearing that she will be sent back to England. So Henry deserts from the army and they flee to Switzerland in a boat. They lead a quiet life in the mountains waiting the birth of their child. Finally both Catherine and the child die. 

Speaking about the actors, I should say that the cast of this film is perfect. The actors who were invited to take part in this film did their best to make this film successful. As for the main characters, Rock Hudson and Jennifer Jones were excellent in their roles. They could create the atmosphere of real love. I believed their feelings. Especially Jennifer Jones was excellent at portraying a devoted nurse.

In my topic I can’t but mention that success of the film depends on the director. I think, Charles Vidor made a good job. He could transferred the feelings and emotions which the author wanted to show. 

As for me, I liked this film. It impressed me greatly. In spite of the fact this film have much in common with the book 'A Farewell to Arms' I hoped the end of the film would be different from the novel. To my mind this film is worth watching.

Film Review (In Love and War)

The film I’ve recently watched is "In Love and War". It  is a 1996 romance drama film based on the book, Hemingway in Love and War by Henry S. Villard and James Nagel. The director of this film is Richard Attenborough. The film stars are Mackenzie Astin, Chris O'Donnell, Sandra Bullock and others.

This film is based on the World War I experiences of the writer Ernest Hemingway. Let me pass on to the plot of the film. The main character was a young soldier who was wounded and sent to military hospital. There he was nursed by Agnes von Kurowsky. They fell in love with each other but very soon they separated. 

Speaking about the actors, I should say that the cast of this film is perfect. The actors who were invited to take part in this film did their best to make this film successful. As for the main characters, Chris O'Donnell and Sandra Bullock were excellent in their roles. They could create the atmosphere of real love. I believed their feelings.

In my topic I can’t but mention that success of the film depends on the director. I think, Richard Attenborough made a good job. He touched upon very serious problem - the problem of war and how the war destroyed love of the main characters. As we know, Ernest Hemingway wrote a lot of stories based on this theme. To my mind Richard Attenborough could transferred the feelings and emotions which the author wanted to show. He demonstrated a lot of grey, dirty colors to make the viewer feel sorrow. In general Richard Attenborough could create the atmosphere of war.

As for me, I liked this film. It impressed me greatly. In spite of the fact this film doesn’t have much in common with the book 'A Farewell to Arms' I think it is worth watching. "In Love and War" is closely connected with the personal life of one of the most successful American writers.  

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

(Higher Education in Britain and the USA)

1. American students who want to study at a college or university have to take a standardized test ( SAT or ACT). Each college has its own application form and every student has to send an official list of all the subjects which he had studied and the  letters of reference.

2. Three types of schools in higher education are universities, teacher-training colleges and polytechnics.

3. In Britain:

A first degree, which is usually an honours degree, generally takes three years. Most courses end with exams called finals. Results are given as classes (= grades): a first is the highest class, seconds are often split between upper second and lower second, and below that is a third. Graduates may add the letters BA (Bachelor of Arts) or BSc (Bachelor of Science) after their name. Some graduates go on to study for a further degree, often a master’s degree or a doctorate.
In the USA: Students are given grades at the end of each course. The highest grade is A; the lowest is F, which means that the student has failed the course and will not get credit for taking it. To check a student’s overall progress, the university calculates a grade point average (GPA). Students who finish their degree with a high GPA may be awarded Latin honours, of which the highest is summa cum laude.

4. The student’s work is given a mark. “A” is the highest mark and “F” is the lowest one. A bachelor's degree in most areas can require between 124 to 128 college credits particular to a specific program of study. Every student can earn it in four years.

5. SAT can be taken two or three times (in the 11th and 12th grades), generally proceeded by PSAT (preliminary), a test to give students a warm-up exercise for the SAT and indicate their probable SAT scoring range.  ACT (the American College Testing program) is similar to SAT but scores social studies and natural studies. The ACT is taken when required by certain colleges or universities.

Both tests are widely used in the admission process of US colleges and universities. Their results are sent to the colleges or universities to which the students have applied. ACT is meant to be taken only once.

6.  Students in Britain formerly had their tuition fees paid by the state and received a government grant to help pay their living expenses. Now, they receive only a loan towards their expenses, and from 1999 most will also have to pay £1 000 a year towards tuition fees.

7. Grade Point Average (GPA) is  an average academic score for a student in a US high school, college or university. The highest grade A receives 4 points, В is 3, С is 2, D is 1 and F is 0.

8. School counselors help students in the areas of academic achievement, personal and social development, career development.

10. A public university is a university that is predominantly funded by public means through a national or subnational government. Private universities are universities not operated by governments, although many receive tax breaks, public student loans, and grants.

11. Undergraduate is a student who is doing a university course for a Bachelor's degree.

Graduate is a person who has completed a university degree course.

12. Speaking about the best way to examine a student, in my opinion, it’s rather difficult to say what is better. I think oral examinations are not always the best way to check the knowledge, because sometimes students may simply forget everything they know due to their anxiety. To my mind written exams are more objective.

13. As for our university, the oral exams are more popular. In spite of the fact that this procedure is more nervous for students, it’s a good way to check his knowledge.

14. I think it would be unreasonable to give up such an opportunity to study abroad. As for students who have graduated from a high school in a country where English is not the official language they must take a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).  

15. I think it will be great to allow students to choose a list of major subjects, which are more interesting for them.

 

Laboratory Works

Laboratory Work 5.1

1.

Speaker	Problem	Signs of the Problem	Your Solution to the Problem
1	examination	to assess the ability to learn: this type of exam or learning license would be more useful for students, employers and society in general. It shows which candidates are good at, engineering, but it also shows actually which can think as an engineer.	To my mind the traditional ways of assessment will be more effective. It includes theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
2	preparation for exam	tired face, sleepless nights etc.	Parents should support their children, help them with the choice.
3	exhaustion during the preparation for entrance exams	He lost his weight; he has big black rings under his eyes. He sleeps for 3 or 4 hours a day. He didn’t sleep at all during the last 3 or 4 days.	This period is the hardest and most nervous and children should remember about their health. So they need to sleep 7-8 hours, to eat fresh food and to spend some time outdoors.
4	the lack of confidence while writing the exam	He never thought of himself like a highflyer, he never excepted such high results.	Many students are not sure in their knowledge. It’s very important to be ready for any results.
5	modern technology as a test checker	The results would be able to get much faster, 40% of all exams will be conducting electronically in a couple of years, online tests and registration will follow.	I think, modern technology is very useful. It helps people to save a lot of time, while checking test.

2. Of course, I have some problems while studying. The main problem is my nervousness. It’s very difficult for me to cope with it, but step by step I try not to take everything to heart.

3. The contemporary university students face a lot of difficulties. One of the most serious problems is the lack of time for preparing exams. Usually they have only 3 or 4 day to understand and to learn by heart all information. To my mind these problems occur not only on the first year of studying, they appear from time to time during the whole students' high education. So students are always nervous and they are on the edge of their abilities. Sometimes their psyche can’t stand this strain and it affects their health. It’s very important for parents to notice it and support their children. 

Laboratory Work 5.2

1. The standard grading system in the USA is a standard letter system of A, B, C, D and F.

2. The special grades are 'satisfactory' - (S) and 'unsatisfactory' (U).

3.  In Russia we have a 5-grade system: 5 - excellent, 4 - good, 3 - satisfactory, 2 – unsatisfactory.

4.  In the British and in the USA colleges have credits, when during the semester students have to collect scores.

5. 

Ukraine

There is a 12-step grading system: 12-10 – excellent, 10-7 – good, 7-2 – satisfactory and 1 - bad.

Japan

There are grades on a scale from 0–100:  90-100 - Excellent (AA, or T); 80-89 – A; 70-79 – B; 60-69 – C; 0-59 - Fail (E or F).

Laboratory Work 5.3

1.  They can drop the course within the first three week of the semester. First, they need to get the signature of the professor whose course they want to drop on the official drop card. Then they need to go to a student advisor on campus to get the signature of the adviser.

2. A student can’t drop the course within the first three week of the semester, but if a student stops attending a course without going through the official drop procedures, the course will remain on his schedule and he will receive a failing grade.

3. According to the recording, you will not have any problems if you follow the procedure.

4. Elective courses are obligatory. All students have to attend these courses and they can't drop them.

Laboratory Work 5.4

1. The speaker mentioned library, students' centre (bookstore, post office, a bank, a theatre, a coffee shop, a travel agency) and administration complex (offices of the university administrators, the students’ records office).

2. I can find some similar campus places in our institute. As for the places, which are worth mentioning, they are cafeteria (a place, where students eat), a concert hall (a hall for important performances and events), a hall of residence (a place, where students from other cities live) and parking (a place where people park their cars).

3. In our Institute, we have a big concert hall for important performances and events. A large library, equipped with computers plays a great role in the students’ life. There they can prepare their homework and to take interesting books. Also there are two halls of residence on the territory of campus for the students from other cities. In our institute we have a cafeteria which is very popular among all students.