Cambridge

Cambridge is one ___ the two main universities ___ England located ___ the Cam River. It was founded ___ the beginning ___ the 12^th century. Until 1871 Cambridge University was exclusively ___ men. Nowadays University consists ___ 24 different colleges, including 4 colleges ___ women. The oldest college was founded ___ 1284, and the most recent is Robinson College which was opened ___ 1977.

The head ___ the University is the chancellor who is elected for life. The teachers are commonly called «dons» and «tutors». The University developed its own system, which is called “a system ___ individual tuition”. Each student has a tutor who practically guides him through the whole course ___ studies. The tutor plans the student's work and once a week the student goes ___ his tutor to discuss his work ___ him. Besides, the student attends lectures. The course ___ studies lasts 4 years. The academic year is divided ___ 3 terms. The students study natural and Technical Sciences, Law, History, Languages, Geography and a number ___ other subjects. After 3 years ___ study a student may proceed (получить учёную степень) to a Bachelor's degree and later to the degrees ___ Master and Doctor.

Students are required to wear gowns (мантия) ___ lectures, ___ the University library, ___ the street ___ the evening and ___ official visits. All the students must pay ___ their education, exams, books, laboratories, hostel, the use ___ libraries, etc. Not many children ___ working class families are able to get higher education, as the cost is high. The cost ___ education depends ___ the college and speciality.

A number ___ great men, well-known scientists and writers studied ___ Cambridge. Among them are Erasmus (the great Dutch scholar); Bacon (the philosopher); Milton and Byron (the poets); Cromwell (the soldier); Newton and Darwin (the scientists).

TEXT С

Read the text find answers to the given questions.

Students' life

1) What are students “sconced” [штрафовать] for?

In the old days when Colleges were religious institutions the students were clergymen [священник], and their life was much more strict and disciplined than now. Friendship with young ladies was not allowed and the only women inside the college were washerwomen. The legend is that these had to be “old and ugly”.

The students eat their meals in the College dining-hall. At some Colleges there is an interesting tradition. It is known as “sconcing” [наложение штрафа на студентов за нарушение правил]. If a student comes late to dinner or he is not correctly dressed, or if he breaks one of the laws of behavior, then the senior student orders him to be “sconced”. A large silver cup, known as «sconce cup», filled with beer is brought and placed in front of him and he must drink it in one attempt without taking the cup from his lips (it holds two and a half pints, or 1,5 liters). If he can do it, then the senior student pays for it, if not, the cup is passed round and the student who has been “sconced” must pay for it.