Grammar in Speech

13. Supply the correct form of the verbs given in brackets and perform the role play given below.

Top-up Fees ‘Will Alter Choice of University’

British ministers prepare to announce a plan to allow universities to charge higher fees. At present, Charles Clarke, education secretary, (1) _______________ (to finalise) the document with the backing of Downing Street.

However, according to a poll soon (2) _______________ (to publish), one in three students say they (3) _______________ (not to opt) for their first choice university if they (4) _______________ (to charge) top-up fees. The students’ response suggests that the plan (5) _______________ (can/transform) the pattern of university choice, in addition to hitting students harder in the pocket.

The survey (6) ________________ (to carry out) by polling company Mori for an accommodation firm, Unite. Margaret Hodge, higher education minister, is due to attend the launch of the report.

Mori asked 1,086 students to say what they (7) _______________ (to do) if their first choice university (8) _______________ (to demand) a top-up fee. Some 24% agreed it (9) _______________ (not to matter), while 35% (10) _______________ (to consider) other universities but probably still (11) _______________ (to choose) the same university.

Some 16% said they definitely (12) _______________ (to choose) a university that did not charge a top-up fee, and 21% (13) _______________ (to consider) other universities and probably (14) _______________ (to choose) one that did not charge top-up fees. In all, 72% (15) _______________ (to rethink) their decision to some degree.

Mandy Telford, president of the National Union of Students, said: “The NUS is very concerned, but not surprised, that many students (16) _______________ (to choose) another university if they (17) _______________ (to force) to pay a top-up fee. The government needs to realize that, by putting further costs on the student, it will continue to exclude the very students it (18) _______________ (to try) to attract into higher education.

“Quite clearly, any extra fees (19) _______________ (to lead) to students picking their university as they (20) _______________ (to pick) any other product. Wealthy students (21) _______________ (can) afford whichever course they want, while poorer students (22) _______________ (to force) to accept whatever is within their budget.”

However, the survey offers some support for the government. A majority of students agreed with Labour’s target of half of all young people experiencing higher education. But they were (equally) split on whether the higher intake lowered standards, and narrowly agreed that resources were stretched as a result of the increased numbers. Two-fifth said resources (23) _______________ (to stretch), and a third believed standards (24) _______________ (to lower).

According to the survey, many students recognized that they should bear the brunt of any extra funding for universities, although most of those thought it should be rich students who (25) _______________ (to pay) more.

Nicholas Porter, chief executive of Unite, said: “Today’s students focus on gaining good qualifications, and whilst most view their course as good value for money, the Unite survey shows that if top-up fees (26) _______________ (to introduce), many students (27) _______________ (to shop) around when choosing a university.”

(From ‘The Guardian’, abridged)

Role play. You are attending the launch of the report on top-up fees presented by the firm ‘Unite’.

Role 1. You are Nicolas Porte, chief executive of ‘Unite’. Report the results of the survey carried out by polling company Mori at your request and give your own opinion on the problem.

Role 2. You are Mandy Telford, president of the National Union of Students. Explain why the NUS is concerned about the forthcoming rise in university fees.

Role 3. You are Beatrice Milford, an Oxford student coming from a rich family. You are worried about the quality of education. You believe that if universities are underfinanced they are forced to stretch the resources, which leads to lower standards.

Role 4. You are Margaret Hodge, higher education minister. Outline the government stance on the problem and counter the arguments of the previous speakers.

NB. While playing your roles consider different options. If universities had ..., students would have ... . If the governement should ..., universities ... . Students demand (insist/request) that ... .