Student life ENGLISH COLLOCATIONS IN USE (ADVANCED)

ENGLISH COLLOCATIONS IN USE (ADVANCED)

UNIT 17

Student life

A	Courses and qualifications When she was a small child, Amelia’s teachers identified her as having unusual intelligence and remarkable mental agility1, and they put her on a special programme for gifted children. Amelia won a scholarship to attend a local grammar school. By the age of eighteen, she was a straight-A student2. She applied to3 several universities and was fortunate enough to secure a place at Cambridge University to read4 English Literature. In the first academic year of the English Literature programme, the core subjects5 were The development of the novel and Contemporary poetry. Amelia had a large number of set texts6 to read. It was hard work but she loved it. Her professors were all distinguished scholars and her courses were taught by some of the world’s leading authorities in the field. She completed her studies with considerable success and graduated from university last year. In the meantime, her parents have decided that it is time they made up for their lack of formal education and they have signed up for a number of evening courses7. Eventually they hope to meet the entry requirements for university entrance and to be able to complete a degree as mature students8. 1 ability to think quickly and clearly 2 a student who always gets very good marks 3 formally requested a place at 4 (formal and increasingly old-fashioned)  do or study 5 subjects which all the students on the course have to do 6 specific books which students must study 7 or enrolled on … courses 8 students who are older than average
B	Harry’s school report MATHEMATICS Harry’s work has shown a marked improvement this term. However, his attention occasionally wanders in class. ENGLISH Harry has a natural talent for English. He achieved full marks1 in the last class test. FRENCH There is room for improvement in Harry’s work in French. He seems to find it difficult to learn vocabulary by heart. GEOGRAPHY Harry has a thirst for knowledge and is a quick learner. It is a pity that sometimes his concentration in class wavers2. SCIENCE Harry has demonstrated an ability to apply what he learns to the wider world. He showed considerable initiative in the way he approached his project on energy. PHYSICAL EDUCATION Although Harry has a proven ability3 for tennis, he will not make any progress until he stops playing truant4. This must not continue. 1 100% 2 concentration is not steady 3 ability shown by his achievements 4 being absent without permission Common mistakes You attend school to acquire knowledge, NOT get knowledge.

EXERCISES

17.1	Answer the questions using collocations from A. 1 What happens when you successfully complete a degree course? 2 What do you call students who are in their thirties or older? 3 What are, for example, Harvard, the Sorbonne and Cambridge University? 4 What kind of people teach at Harvard, the Sorbonne and Cambridge University? 5 What do you call children who are particularly intelligent or have special talents? 6 What do you call students whose marks are always excellent?
17.2	Match the beginning of each sentence with its ending. 1 We were all very impressed by the student’s mental heart. 2 My grandmother is very intelligent but she’s had little formal place. 3 I’ve never found it easy to learn scientific formulae by education. 4 I’d love to study medicine there but it’s very hard to get a ability. 5 For the first-year Shakespeare exam we had to read six set requirements. 6 I am so proud of you for managing to get full agility. 7 Your work is not too bad but there is certainly still room for learner. 8 Your little girl has shown herself to be a very quick marks. 9 The test has been designed to enable pupils to demonstrate their texts. 10 I hope to study there but I may not be able to meet the entry improvement.
17.3	Complete this teacher’s letter to the parents of a problem pupil. Dear Mr and Mrs Greaves, We are very concerned about Peter’s behaviour. He has played (1) ______________ from school three times this month and has been seen in town in school hours. When he does come to class, his attention (2) ______________  and he does not seem able to concentrate on his lessons. He does not seem to understand the work and yet he never asks any questions or requests any help. The only time he (3) ______________ any initiative is in devising excuses for not having done his homework. Although he has a (4) ______________ talent for art, he is not even taking any interest in art lessons. This is disappointing, as last year there was a (5) ______________ improvement in Peter’s work and we hoped he might (6) ______________ a scholarship. However, unless he starts to (7) ______________ school regularly and to put more effort into his studies, he will certainly not even meet the (8) ______________ for the university course he has plans to (9) ______________ on next year. I would be grateful if you could come into school to discuss this situation further. Yours sincerely, Thomas Brooker (Headteacher
17.4	Answer these questions. 1 What are the core subjects for pupils at primary school in your country? 2 Have you ever signed up for a course that you didn’t complete? 3 If you could take a degree course now, what subject would you like to read? 4 Which university would you apply to? 5 When does the academic year begin and end in your country? 6 What do you need to do to secure a place at university in your country?
17.5	Use a dictionary to find different words to complete each collocation. 1 a thirst for ____________ 2 join a ____________ 3 his wavers ____________ 4 proven ____________

ANSWER KEY

17.1 1 You graduate from university. 2 mature students 3 (prestigious) seats of learning 4 distinguished scholars or leading authorities (in their fields) 5 gifted children 6 straight-A students 17.2 1 We were all very impressed by the student’s mental agility. 2 My grandmother is very intelligent but she’s had little formal education. 3 I’ve never found it easy to learn scientific formulae by heart. 4 I’d love to study medicine there but it’s very hard to get a place. 5 For the first-year Shakespeare exam we had to read six set texts. 6 I am so proud of you for managing to get full marks. 7 Your work is not too bad but there is certainly still room for improvement. 8 Your little girl has shown herself to be a very quick learner. 9 The test has been designed to enable pupils to demonstrate their ability. 10 I hope to study there but may not be able to meet the entry requirements. 17.3 1 truant 2 wanders 3 shows 4 natural 5 marked 6 win 7 attend 8 requirements 9 enrol 17.4 Author’s answers: 1 English, maths and science. 2 Yes. I once signed up for a Spanish evening class but only went to two lessons. 3 I’d love to read History of Art. 4 The universities of Oxford and Cambridge. 5 The academic year begins in September and ends in July. 6 Different universities and departments have different entry requirements and you have to fulfil whatever their specific requirements are. 17.5 Possible answers: 1 power 2 club 3 voice 4 work record