Vocabulary Practice

Ex. 1. Practise the pronunciation of the following words:

financial	demand	subject
special	brand	functional
social	author	higher
educational	authority	minority
foundation	majority	various
recognition	astronomy	librarian

Ex.2. Complete the list of derivatives. Use a dictionary if necessary.

verb	noun (agent)	noun (concept)
to teach to listen to read to write	teacher	teaching
to apply to educate to publish to instruct to assist to observe	applicant	application

Ex. 3. Arrange a) and b) in pairs of synonyms.

a) 1) to leave school 2) at present 3) a scholarship 4) to provide 5) correspondent 6) basic 7) to take into consideration 8) to admit 9) ties 10) to include 11) a grade 12) school holidays 13) field 14) to learn 15) reward 16) optional classes

b) 1) to study 2) to give 3) nowadays 4) main 5) a stipend 6) to take into account 7) to enroll 8) links 9) to consist of 10) extramural 11) a mark 12) vocation 13) branch 14) to graduate (from) 15) prize 16) extra-curriculum subject

Ex.4. Arrange a) and b) in pairs of antonyms.

a) 1) to leave 2)senior 3) entrance exam 4) to admit 5) rich 6) public 7) to pass 8) ancient 9) educated 10) attend a class 11) truth 12) clever 13) rapidly 14) free 15) hard-working 16) foreign

b) 1) to expel 2)lazy 3) new 4)busy 5) slowly 6) miss classes 7) a lie 8) to fail 9) to come 10) foolish 11) private 12) poor 13) junior 14) final exam 15) illiterate 16) native

Ex. 5. Match English and Russian equivalents. Use them in the sentences of your own.

the vast majority	факультативные занятия
general recognition	солидное основание
to place great demands on	органы образования
extra-curriculum activities	предъявлять большие требования
to attend classes	посещать занятия
educational bodies	общее признание
asocial foundation	внеклассная работа
financial assistance	финансовая помощь
free of charge	бесплатный
optional classes	огромное большинство

Ex. 6. Answer the following questions:

a)

1. What are the basic principles of public education in Belarus?

2. What do you know about the history of Belarusian school?

3. What is the structure of public education in Belarus?

4. What stages is school education divided into?

5. What subjects hold a leading place in the secondary school?

6. What are the aims of specialized schools?

7. What does secondary education provide the younger generation with?

8. Is the right to education guaranteed by the Belarusian Constitution?

9. In what way is the right to education in our republic made possible?

10. in what languages is teaching conducted in Belarus?

11. Why does the role of highly-qualified specialists working with the younger generation become more and more important?

12. Why do people place great demands on the secondary school?

13. Are secondary school marks taken into consideration when one enters a higher school?

14. What can you say in general about teacher's work?

b)

1. What do you know about the history of the Belarusian State University?

2. I wonder if the BSU gave birth to any independent higher establishments in Belarus.

3. What happened to the University during the Great Patriotic War?

4. How did the University develop in the post-war years?

5. The BSU is a major research center in our republic, isn't it?

6. What are students' activities of the University?

7. For what was the University awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour?

8. What have the recent years of the University been characterized by?

Ex. 7. Ask questions for the following answers:

1. 1921;

2. During the Great Patriotic war;

3. There are 13 departments at the University;

4. Law Department;

5. A scholarship;

6. 100 higher educational establishments;

7. Tempus, INIAS and other projects.

Ex. 8. Discuss the following.

1. The basic principle of organization of national education in Belarus.

2. The main stages of educational system in the republic.

3. The role of universities in the system of higher education.

4. State and non-state educational establishments.

5. The Belarusian State University.

6. International cooperation.

7. Students' life.

8. Education in the 21^st century.

9. Your point of view on the existing system of higher education in the Republic of Belarus.