1. Explain or paraphrase the bold-faced words and expressions.

2. Answer the questions:

1.What, in general, did the author’s school fail to do?

2.In what ways could his school have helped him to meet life?

3.What sort of attitude did the teachers have towards education?

4.Why did he want to go to university?

5.Why did he decide not to go after all?

6.What was he really interested in?

7.Why was the author shy about admitting that he wanted to study geology?

Discussion

Is school in this country detached from life?

How would you improve the curriculum to bring school closer to life?

Do the following exercises

Vocabulary self-check

I. Choose the correct answer.

1. We all make mistakes; no one is _____

a) fallible b) infallible c) over-exacting d) unmistakable

2. Since Oscar had no proper reason for missing school, his absence should be treated as _____

a) abstention b) rowdyism c) neglect d) truancy

3. You are late again — please try to be _____ in future.

a) accurate b) efficient c) punctual d) reliable

4. An I. Q. test is supposed to measure the _____ of your intelligence.

a) degree b) extent c) level d) size

5. You are not very _____ today, Hugh. What’s the matter? I’ve never known you so quiet.

a) considerate b) restrained c) amiable d) talkative

6. Those pupils never _____ any notice of what their teacher says.

a) attend b) give c) make d) take

7. After he broke the window, the boy was _____ from school.

a) exiled b) excluded c) expelled d) extracted

8. There is no _____ in going to school if you’re not willing to learn.

a) aim b) point c) purpose d) reason

9. Clare was ___ her homework when her boyfriend called.

a) at the centre b) halfway through c) in between d) in the middle

10. That work is needed by next Thursday, so make sure you keep to the ___.

a) dead end b) deadline c) deadlock d) dead stop

11. What ___ did you get for your French composition?

a) figure b) mark c) number d) score

12. Can you recite the Russian alphabet ___?

a) around b) backwards c) reverse

d) upside down

13. For tomorrow, I’d like you to read pages 25 to 38 ___

a) excluded b) exclusive c) included d) inclusive

14. Judging by the ___ Sean has put into his essay, he should do well.

a) exercise b) effort c) labour d) toil

15. There are a lot of mistakes in your homework. I’ll have to ___ it again with you.

a) come through b) go over c) instruct d) pass

16. The instructor ___ me what my mistake was.

a) clarified b) demonstrated c) explained

d) showed

17. It’s no good ___ me of giving the wrong answer!

a) accusing b) blaming c) criticizing d) scolding

18. It’s vital that the students’ handwriting be ___

a) illiterate b) legible c) legitimate d) literate

19. It’s quite ___ which question you answer first because you must answer them all.

a) arbitrary b) indifferent c) unconditional

d) voluntary

20. Vincent read the article through quickly, so as to get the ___ of it before settling down to a thorough study.

a) core b) detail c) gist d) run

21. I tried to concentrate on my homework but my eyes kept ___ away from the handbook.

a) digressing b) lapsing c) rambling d) straying

22. On Sunday, Vivian studied for seven hours ___

a) at length b) at once c) in full d) on end

23. Miss Nervous handed in the test and awaited the results ___

a) in the same breath b) out of breath c) under her breath d) with bated breath.

24. Wilfred was so ___ in his studies that he did not notice the time passing.

a) imbued b) drowned c) engrossed d) imparted

25. You will need a pen and some paper to ____this problem. It is too difficult to do in your head.

a) discover b) find out c) realize d) work out

26. Students will be ___ for exceeding word-limits in their precis.

a) condemned b) penalized c) punished d) sentenced

27. I’m afraid I’ve only had time to ___ the article you recommended.

a) glance b) look c) peruse d) scan

28. Frank has a good ___ for figures.

a) brain b) head c) mind d) thought

29. The noise from the traffic outside ___ me from my homework.

a) annoyed b) distracted c) prevented d) upset

30. You must not ___ from the point when you write an essay,

a) diverge b) go astray c) ramble d) wander

31. I can’t possibly mark your homework, as your handwriting is ___.

a) illegible b) illicit c) illogical d) illusive

32. Deborah is going to take extra lessons to ___ what she missed while she was away.

a) catch up on b) cut down on c) put up with d) take up with

33. I have English classes ___ day — on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

a) all other b) each other c) every other d) this and the other

34. I haven’t had a very ___ week. I seem to have done nothing at all.

a) economic b) diligent c) conscientious d) productive

35. It is ___ impossible to find a good educational computer program.

a) almost b) barely c) hardly d) merely

36. A small ___ of students was waiting outside the classroom to see the teacher.

a) form b) gang c) group d) team

37. And as she didn’t understand anything, she merely gave the teacher a ___ look.

a) blank b) clear c) unresponsive d) shallow

38. Andy was ___ from school because of his misdemeanor

a) evicted b) expelled c) dropped out d) resigned

39. You can learn as much theory as you like, but you only master a skill by ___ it.

a) doing b) exercising c) practising d) training

40. Most of the students agreed to the plan, but a few ___ it.

a) argued b) notified c) failed d) opposed

41. Please reply ___ as I have no time to lose.

a) hastily b) promptly c) rapid d) swift

42. Miss Pretender’s knowledge of the subject was only ___.

a) external b) proficient c) outward d) superficial

43. Arnold is ___ a bit with his English classes so his parents have arranged for him to have private tuition.

a) dragging b) fighting c) straining

d) struggling

44. At the beginning of the school year, every teacher is ___ a classroom.

a) allocated b) distributed c) registered

d) sorted

45. Could you stand ___ for me and teach my history class tomorrow, Maggie?

a) down b) in c) out d) up

46. The teaching profession offers good career ___ for a well-qualified teacher.

a) ladders b) perspectives c) prospects d) scales

47. My mother had to take private pupils in order to ___ her salary as a teacher.

a) augment b) expand c) complete d) inflate

48. Mr Horrid was a terrible teacher and obviously not ___ for teaching.

a) cut in b) cut on c) cut out d) cut up

49. The ___ exam in March prepared pupils for the real thing in May.

a) false b) imaginary с) mock d) unreal

50. The wrong-doer was sent away from the lesson and his parents were ___ to the school.

a) notified b) summoned c) reprimanded d) sentenced