The school system in the USA

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ADDITIONAL READING

ADDITIONAL READING

Luka Petrović has an assignment to talk about the school system in America and he asked his American friend Steve to help him. This is part of Steve’s letter.

In the USA there is not a single unified national system of education. Each of the 50 states has its own laws regulating education. Children begin school at the age of 5 or 6 and continue until the age of 18. In most US schools, marks are A, B, C, D, and F with an A being excellent and an F being a fail. In most public and private schools, education is divided into three levels: elementary school, middle school (sometimes called junior high school), and high school (sometimes referred to as secondary education). High school or senior high school usually runs from the 9th through to the 12th grade. The students in these grades are commonly referred to as freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Generally, at high school level, students are required to take a minimum number of compulsory subjects, but may also choose additional subjects (‘electives’) to fill out their required hours of learning. Compulsory subjects are: English (literature, humanities, composition, oral languages, etc.), Science (biology, chemistry and physics), Mathematics (algebra, geometry, statistics),Social sciences (including various history, government/economics courses) andPhysical education. Common types of electives include: Computers, Athletics, Career and Technical Education, Journalism, Performing Arts, Visual Arts or Foreign languages (Spanish and French are common). Many states require a ‘health’ course where students learn about nutrition, first aid, drug problems and birth control.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACIVITIES In American schools, high priority is given to sports, especially American football and basketball. Outstanding athletes easily get scholarships for universities even if they are not excellent students. You can’t imagine how popular they are in their community. Sports events cannot be imagined without cheerleading, of course. Most high schools have teams that cheer at athletic events. Cheerleaders have to work hard and they are also very popular in their schools. In addition to sports, there are other activities which include musical groups, marching bands, student parliaments, school newspapers, science fairs, debate teams, and clubs. I hope this letter has given you some basic information on secondary education in the States. I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon. Steve

VOCABULARY

a cb

1 Use the correct word/words from the list to complete the sentences.

1. They were very poor and depended on the ________ of other people. 2. There was no one nearby who had seen him trying to ________ _____ the house. 3. When we moved house, we promised to _____ _____ ____with our neighbours. 4. He doesn’t have the courage to ____ ____ ____ her. 5. A fire ________ ______ in the local theatre late last night. 6. It is a country of great ____________; a lot of different nations live there. 7. My car _______ _______ and I had to take a taxi. 8. You get tired easily. You don’t ______ _____.

WORD FORMATION

2 Make nouns from the verbs in the list and complete the sentences.

1. The first British ______________ lived on the east coast of America. 2. I’ll ask them for a _____________ of my jewellery. 3. This town has changed a lot since the __________ of the university. 4. The ____________ to the west started very early.

GRAMMAR

3 Put the verbs in brackets into either the past simple or past perfect tense.

1. They ________________ (drive) through the Tunnel to England after they ____________________ (visit) France. 2. I suddenly _______________(remember) where I ________________ (meet) her before. 3. As soon as my guests _______________ (leave), I _______________(begin) washing up. 4. He _______________(be) a teacher for five years when he ____________ (decide) to become a singer. 5. She _________________(realize) that she _________________ (forget) to pay the bills. 6. By the time she ____________(reach) the house, the ice cream ______________. (melt)

KEY WORD LIST

Nouns

feast friendliness treaty harvest crop diversity charity

Adjectives

generous inquisitive good-tempered good-humoured reserved hard-working

Verbs

settle gain found migrate value revolt

Phrasal verbs

break out break down break in/into break up with

Expressions

keep in mind keep up with keep in touch keep promises keep fit

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