32 Study

A

B Going through college

Sam and Ben are twin brothers. They have a very rich grandfather who offered to put them through1 university. Sam sailed through2 his exams at school and easily got into3 a good university. Ben wanted to go to the same university, but it was harder for him to get in. However, in his last few months at school, he managed to get through4 all the necessary exams. Both brothers wanted to major in5 law. Sam had worked in a law firm in several summer holidays and this experience was able to count towards6 his degree. Ben spent his holidays playing sport. Sam continued to study hard and soon left most of the other students in his group behind7. At the end of six months, the professor creamed off8 the best students and moved them up to the next class. Sam was in this group but Ben was not. The professor felt he was more interested in rugby than law and this counted against9 him. He was marked down10 for careless mistakes in a number of his essays and by the end of the year he had fallen behind11 the rest of his year. His tutor says he’ll be lucky if he even scrapes through12 his exams. His grandfather has arranged to come and visit him and Ben is feeling a little nervous.

1 pay for them to study at university 2 easily passed 3 succeeded in getting a place (at a school, college or organisation) 4 succeed (in an examination or competition) 5 (US, Aus) study something as their main subject at university 6 be part of what was needed in order to complete something

7 made much faster progress than others 8 separated the cleverest or most skilful people from a group and treated them differently 9 contributed to his bad marks 10 given a lower mark 11 failed to remain level with a group of people that was moving forwards 12 (informal) passes but only just

In the library

Let me try to describe this scene in a university library. A girl with long hair is poring over1 a map. Next to her a boy is skimming through2 some books, looking for some information on wind energy for his thesis. At the same table is a girl with short hair, who has buried herself in3 a journal. Next to her a boy is ticking/checking off4 names on a list – he’s crossed off5 one of them. There is a busy and studious atmosphere in this library and I hope this has come across6 in my description.

1 studying carefully 2 reading quickly without studying the details

5 removed a word (e.g. name) from a list by drawing a line through it 3 given all her attention to 6 been expressed clearly enough for the reader 4 writing something next to each item on a list to understand it in order to make sure that everything or everyone on it is correct, present, or has been dealt with

32.1

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32.4

dictionary.cambridge.org

32.5

Match each sentence on the left with a sentence which follows logically on the right.

1 He took three weeks off in the middle of term. a) He got through all the exams. 2 He didn’t read the book thoroughly. b) He was marked down. 3 He searched the manuscript carefully. c) He just skimmed through it. 4 He was very successful at college. d) He fell behind with his work. 5 He didn’t keep to the set topic for his essay. e) He pored over it for hours.

Complete these sentences using the correct particles.

1 It cost Oscar and Nina a huge amount of money to put three children college. 2 Artem sailed all his exams at school but found things much harder at university and only scraped his final accountancy exams. 3 I’m afraid you’ll have to cross my name the list for the trip next Saturday. 4 The college basketball team always seems to cream sports suff er as a result. 5 She was so brilliant, she left all the other students the best athletes and other

. 6 The end-of-semester marks in each year all count your final degree. 7 I like Professor Watson’s lectures; they’re so clear. His ideas don’t come nearly as

well in his books. 8 He was on the borderline between pass and fail, but his poor attendance on the course counted him and they failed him in the end.

Rewrite each sentence using a phrasal verb based on the word in brackets.

1 As each person arrived she asked their name and put a tick on her list. (check) 2 She picked up her favourite novel and became completely absorbed in it. (bury) 3 He decided to take economics as the main subject for his degree. (major) 4 His tutor transferred him to a higher class. (move) 5 What sort of grades do you need to be given a university place in your country? (get) 6 I applied to Oxford University but I wasn’t accepted. (get)

Make suitable questions which could come before these answers. Use a dictionary if necessary.

1 I’d like to go on to university. 2 I just wanted to take up a new subject; that’s why I gave it up. 3 No, she dropped out at the end of the first year. 4 I can’t – I’m snowed under. I’ve got two essays to do for tomorrow.

Answer these questions about your own experience of study.

1 At school did you usually sail through or scrape through your exams? 2 Have you ever fallen behind with your work? 3 Do you think a teacher has ever marked down your work unfairly? 4 What other things apart from exam results can count towards getting into a good university in your country?