Unit 5: Higher Education - Reading

Exercise 1: Choose the word or phrase (A, B, C, or D) that best fits each space in the following passage.  The relationship between students and teachers is (1)_________formal in the USA than in many other countries, especially at the college level. American college students do not stand up when their teacher enters the room. Students are generally encouraged to ask questions in class, to stop in the professor's of lice for extra help, and to phone if they are absent and need a(n) (2)_________. Most teachers allow students to enter class late or leave early, if necessary. Despite the lack of formality, students are still expected to be polite to their teacher and fellow classmates. When students want to ask questions, they usually (3)__________a hand and wait to be called on. When the teacher or a student is speaking to the class, it is rude to begin whispering (4)_________another classmate. When a test is being given, talking to' a classmate is not only rude but also risky. Most American teachers consider that students who are talking to each other (5) _________a test are cheating. 

Exercise 2: Read the passage carefully, then choose the correct answer. Normally a student must attend a certain number of courses in order to graduate, and each course which he attends gives him a credit which he may count towards a degree. In many American universities the total work for a degree consists of three classes per week for fifteen weeks; while attending university a student will probably attend two terms each year. It is possible to spread to period of work for the degree over a longer period. It is also possible for a student to move between one university and another during his degree course, though this is not in fact done as a regular practice. For every course that he follows a student is given a grade, which is recorded, and the record is useful for the student to show to coming employers. Most of the students feel the pressure of work, but in spite of this some students still find time for great activity in student affairs. The students are interested in elections to positions in student organization. The effective work of keeping orders is usually performed by students who advise the university authorities. Any student who is thought to have broken the rules, for example, by cheating has to appear before a student court. With the large numbers of students, the operation of the system includes a certain amount of activity. A student who has held one of these positions is much respected and it will be of importance to him later in his career.