reading foreign and national universities: a comparison

UNLaM – DPU Inglés Nivel I

READING

Foreign and national universities: A comparison

The University of Bologna is located in Bologna, Italy. It is said to

be the first university in the world: it was founded in 1088. The university is

financed primarily by the national government. It has about 85,500 students in its

13 schools, such as Agriculture, Arts and Philosophy; Economics and Commerce,

Education, Engineering, Medicine, Political Science; and Veterinary Medicine. It is a

multi-campus institution with venues in Ravenna, Forlì, Cesena and Rimini, and a

branch center abroad in Buenos Aires. The university also has a postgraduate

school of administrative sciences, as well as schools of modern and classical

languages, and a school of ancient, medieval, and modern history.

Its library, founded in 1712, contains thousands of volumes and manuscripts. The

2017QS World University Rankings ranked the University of Bologna 182nd in the

world. Tuition and fee charges for the first academic year are about € 3,000.

The National University of Litoral (NUL), once called Santa Fe

Provincial University, was founded in 1889. After the University Reform in 1919,

Santa Fe Provincial University was renamed National University of Litoral, a public

institution open to people of all backgrounds. It has almost 22,000m² distributed in

different campuses. The NUL mainly receives students from the provinces of Santa

Fe, Entre Ríos and Corrientes. At present, there are about 35,000 students. The

University offers an outstanding intellectual and cultural resource to the

community. NUL has an extended infrastructure to develop its teaching and

research activities. One of the most remarkable features of the University is its

facilities. It has modernized classrooms, laboratories and computing areas

distributed in 10 faculties and 3 campuses. The centralized library has thousands of

publications and an open access virtual repository. The 2017QS World University

Rankings ranked the National University of the Litoral 81st in South America.

Harvard University is a private university in Cambridge,

Massachusetts. U.S. Harvard University is probably the best-known university in the world, coming top in the reputation rankings most years. It was founded in

1636 and is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. It is also

the first and oldest corporation in North America. The 380-acre campuses are

located in Cambridge and Boston with the most modern lecture rooms. The Harvard

University Library System comprises nearly 80 individual libraries holding over 18

million volumes. The basic educational approach is to shape the practice of

business by building knowledge, educating leaders, and communicating ideas with

the aim of developing leaders of new and successful enterprises. The Harvard

Business School offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA) as well as a

doctoral program in business administration, business economics, information

technology and management, among other programmes. It has 21,000 students

and 14,500 attend postgraduate courses. Full time students are billed $ 46,819 for

tuition fees for an academic year.


WHILE READING

a) Complete the following chart with information from the text.

Features

Bologna Litoral Harvard

a. Foundation

1088

b. Students

c. Tuition fees

d. Library

e. World ranking

b) Use the following adjectives to compare the above

universities. Write full sentences.

expensive – good – old – big – comprehensive

Foundation

1. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Students

3. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Tuition fees

5. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

6. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Library

7. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

8. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

World ranking

9. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

10. …………………………………………………………………………………………………….


c) Compare the three universities and respond to the

following questions based on the information provided.

1. Which of the three universities is the newest?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

2. Which one has the largest population of students?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

3. Which one is more inclusive? Litoral or Bologna?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

4. Which one offers the most complete programmes of business?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

5. Which one is the best to recommend for people interested in

modern languages?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

6. Is the University of Bologna as large as Harvard?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

GRAMMAR STOP

Comparison of adjectives

To compare differences between two objects, we use adjectives in their comparative forms. They are used in sentences where two nouns are

compared, in this pattern: Noun (subject) + verb + comparative adjective +than+ noun

(object).

The second item of comparison can be omitted if it is clear from the context (1). Examples:

- This term I’m attending English and Computing, but I like English better (1).

- UNLaM campus is larger than Morón University campus.

- Some classrooms are noisier and more crowded than others.

Superlative adjectives are used to describe an object which is at the upper or lower limit of a quality. They are used in sentences where a

subject is compared to a group of objects: Noun (subject) + verb + the + superlative adjective + noun (object).


The group that is being compared with can be omitted if it is clear from the context. Examples:

- We sometimes talk in class when the teachers are explaining. Some

students talk the loudest. - My classroom is the smallest in this sector. In summer it is the hottest.

To compare and show equality you use the following structure:

(not) as + adjective + as

Example:

-Harvard University is not as old as Bologna University.

Forming comparatives and superlatives is easy. The form depends on the number of syllables in the original adjective.

Number of syllables Adjective Comparative Superlative

One syllable new

hot

newer (than)

hotter

the newest (of all)

the hottest Two syllables simple

dirty

simpler

dirtier

the simplest

the dirtiest Three or more

syllables

important

expensive

more important

more expensive

the most important

the most expensive

Examples:

- Bologna University’s library is more complete than NUL’s.

-Harvard University is one of the most expensive universities in the world.

There are common adjectives that have completely irregular comparative

and superlative forms.

Adjective Comparative Superlative good better the best bad worse the worst

little less the least much more the most

far further/farther the furthest/the farthest

LINKING WORDS To connect two ideas in a sentence:

And, but, because.


To show addition: and - UNLaM offers services to the community and promotes civic activities.

To show contrast: but - UNLaM is open to all people but there are admission restrictions.

To show reason: because - I want to move to a Latin American country because I want to learn

Spanish.

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS – (with key)

a) Vocabulary check. Which is wrong?

1. happier easier noisier bigger

2. less good better best

3. most modern comprehensive complete

4. the smallest the most expensive the biggest the

newest

5. campus laboratory canteen auditorium

6. library books distance learning dictionaries

7. research university education bank

8. accountant lawyer nurse master

b) Write sentences comparing the following universities. There is an example below.

Features

UBA Tokyo Moscow

a. Foundation 1821

1877 1755

b. Students 330,000

30,000 47,000

c. Tuition fees None for undergraduates

¥535,800 per academic year

Most faculties are exempt

d. Library

9,500,000 volumes

10,000,000 books

e. World

ranking 75thAmerican and European

ranking

25th in the world

108th in the world


1. UBA is older than Tokyo University but MU is the oldest......

2. …………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. …………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. …………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. …………………………………………………………………………………………………

6. …………………………………………………………………………………………………

7. …………………………………………………………………………………………………

8. …………………………………………………………………………………………………

9. …………………………………………………………………………………………………

10. ……………………………………………………………………………………………

c) Choose one of the previous universities and compare it

with UNLaM. Describe their campuses, facilities and departments. Use linking words: and, but, because.

........................................................................................

........................................................................................

........................................................................................

........................................................................................

........................................................................................

d) Read the text below. Choose the most suitable form of

the adjective.

OXBRIDGE

The University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, collectively known as Oxbridge, are the two ……………………………. (old)

universities in Britain. Both were founded more than 750 years ago, and have produced a large number of Britain's …………………………….

(prominent) scientists, writers and politicians. The competition between Oxford and Cambridge has a long history.

The city of Oxford is slightly ……………………………. (large), ……………………………. (busy) and ……………………………. (industrial) than

Cambridge. Oxford is often featured in the cinema; recent films with

scenes shot in Oxford include the Harry Potter movies. The architecture of the city has made it ……………………………. (popular)

location with film-makers and tourists.


There are more colleges at Oxford than at Cambridge. Choice of college at Oxford is ……………………………. (important) than at

Cambridge, since few Oxford colleges admit students in all the subjects available at the university, whereas most Cambridge

colleges do give their students the option to study any subject offered by the university. Although both universities interview

applicants in early or mid-December, the admission is different, with Oxford generally interviewing applicants at more than one college,

and asking them to stay in the city for ……………………………. (long) periods during interviews; the decision making process is

……………………………. (quick), with applicants generally being notified of their acceptance or rejection before Christmas. Cambridge tends to

have ……………………………. (short) interviews, normally applicants are

notified of their success or failure at the end of December or beginning of January.

All around the world, Cambridge is ……………………………………………. (famous) Oxford.

e) Complete the chart below with new vocabulary from the text above.

English Spanish English Spanish

both ambas

f) Unjumble the following words and underline them in the

text below.

Jumbled English Jumbled English

lacios ascump

vandadec arbiryl

ffast potucrem

sieclafiti tagroputedas


CHECK YOUR PROGRESS TOWARDS MID-TERM TEST 1 – (with

key)

a) Complete the blanks with the verb or adjective in brackets in the right form. Don’t forget to add some

extra words if necessary.

UNLaM Campus

To contribute to its economic and social development through

the scientific and technical education and formation of its students in

various fields of knowledge, UNLaM ..................... (have) a campus

of 40 hectares in San Justo City, which is in continuous improvement.

The campus ....................... (consist) of classrooms with optimal features, video rooms, videoconference rooms, 18 computer

laboratories, a multi-media laboratory, a language laboratory, 3 electronics laboratories, a physics laboratory, a gymnasium, a sports

field, and an infirmary. Also, the University has a venue in Buenos

Aires city where some postgraduate courses are offered. Leopoldo Marechal Library has become one of .....................

(important) libraries in Buenos Aires Province. Not only the staff and

students, but also the whole community ....................... (have) access to it. The University Library is equipped with the best

facilities: a talking-reading room for 384 students, a silent reading room, a computer room with access to multimedia and the Internet,

and a sound library equipped with a laboratory and two cabins for

disabled people – the first of its kind in Latin America. The library has

the 53 volumes of the complete works by Domingo Faustino

Sarmiento which the University published in 2000. The Audio-Visual Media Laboratory has been set up for

advanced students, instructors and professionals of Social

Communication, and this year it ........................ (produce) audiovisual material of top professional quality. The University Radio

FM 89.1, television documentary productions and film productions are

always ...................... (good) the previous year.

b) Read the following definitions and complete them with

the framed words in the text above. There is an extra one.

1. ........................: The information, understanding and skills

that you gain through education or experience.


2. ........................: People that are physically different from others.

3. ........................: The place where a public event or meeting

happens.

4. ........................: People who teach a subject, especially in a

college or university.

c) True or False? When the statement is true, account for your answer by transcribing the line/s from the text. When it is

false, provide the true version.

1. UNLaM is constantly building new facilities in its large campus of

its main venue. .......

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

2. There are only a dozen laboratories. .......

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

3. The library is not open to the district community. ……..

……………………………………………………………………………………………………..…….

4. The university does not have a culturally inclusive policy. ………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………........

d) Imagine you want to study at UNLaM. This dialogue is

part of an interview before you enroll. Can you complete it?

Interviewer: …………………………………………………………………….……………………?

You: I want to study here because it’s one of the best universities in

Argentina.

I: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………..?

Y: I’m applying for social communication.

……….……………………………………………………….…………………………………….....?

I: Yes. It belongs to the Humanities and Social Sciences Department.

All the programmes at UNLaM are distributed in 6 different

departments.

Y: …………………………………………………………………………………………….…………….?

I: Yes. There is a very complete one called Leopoldo Marechal. All the

community of La Matanza have access to it.


Y: ……………………………………………………………………………………………….………….?

I: UNLaM offers them the Audio-Visual Media Laboratory to produce

material of top professional quality.

Y: I’m really interested in applying for this university. I think this is

an opportunity I can’t miss!

EXTENSIVE READING

Learn with BOOK

By R. J. Heathorn

READING – Part I

After reading the first paragraph, answer the following

questions.

1. What is BOOK?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. Based on this paragraph, what is the author criticizing?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

A new aid to rapid learning has made its appearance. Indications

are that if it becomes popular all the electronic gadgets will be considered

useless. The new device is known as Built-in Orderly Organized

Knowledge. The makers generally call it by its acronym, BOOK.


READING – Part II

It has many advantages over the old-style learning and teaching aids

on which most people are raised nowadays. It has no wires, no electric circuit

to break down, no connection is needed to an electricity power point. It is

made entirely without mechanical parts which can go wrong or need

replacement.

Anyone can use BOOK, even children, and it fits comfortably into the

hands. It can be conveniently used sitting in an armchair. How does this

revolutionary, unbelievably easy invention work?

Basically BOOK consists only of a large number of paper sheets. These

can run to hundreds where BOOK covers a lengthy program of information.

Each sheet has a number in sequence so that the sheets cannot be used in

the wrong order. Each sheet of paper presents the user with an information

sequence in the form of symbols, which he/she absorbs optically for

automatic registration on the brain.

When one sheet has been assimilated a movement of the finger turns

it over and more information is found on the other side. By using both sides

of each sheet in this way a great economy is affected, reducing both the size

and cost of BOOK. No buttons need to be pressed to move from one sheet to

another, to open or close BOOK, or to start it working.

BOOK can be used at any time by simply opening it. Instantly, it is

ready for use. Nothing has to be connected or switched on. The user can go

backwards or forwards if he/she pleases. A sheet is provided near the

beginning as a location finder for any required information sequence. A small

accessory is the BOOKmark. This enables the user to pick up his/her program

where he/she left off on the previous learning session. BOOKmark is versatile

and can be used in any BOOK.

A vast range of BOOKs is available, covering every subject and

adjusted to different levels of aptitude. One BOOK, small enough to be held

in the hands, can contain an entire learning schedule. Once the user buys it,

BOOK requires no maintenance cost; no batteries or wires are needed,

because the power, thanks to an ingenious device patented by the makers, is

supplied by the brain of the user. BOOKs can be stored on handy shelves.

Altogether the Built-in Orderly Organized Knowledge seems to have

great advantages with no drawbacks. We predict a big future for it.


AFTER READING

a) Answer the following questions.

1. Were your predictions based on the first paragraph right?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

2. Re-read the last sentence. Do you agree with the author’s

prediction?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

3. What is BOOK compared to?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

4. What advantages does BOOK have over “old-style” learning aids?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

5. What are some of the characteristics of BOOK that make it easy

to use?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

6. How is the author’s description of BOOK similar to the description

of a machine?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

7. What accessory is there for BOOK and how is it used?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

b) Match with the correct paraphrased ideas.

1. It can be conveniently used sitting in an armchair. …..

2. These can run to hundreds where BOOK covers a lengthy program

of information. …..

3. Each sheet of paper presents the user with an information

sequence in the form of symbols, which s/he absorbs optically for

automatic registration on the brain. …..


4. A sheet is provided near the beginning as a location finder for

any required information sequence. …..

5. A vast range of BOOKs is available, covering every subject and

adjusted to different levels of aptitude. …..

6. One BOOK, small enough to be held in the hands, can contain

an entire learning schedule. …..

a) There are lots of books on every topic and adapted for all levels.

b) Each page is written in a language that the reader can decode.

c) Books can have hundreds of pages if they cover a lot of content.

d) At the beginning, there is an index.

e) A small book can have the complete contents of a course.

f) A person can read a book sitting on a sofa.

c) Fill in each blank with the correct word in brackets.

1. BOOK is not really a new ……………………………… for learning.

(gadget – indication)

2. When a gadget is broken, it becomes ……………………………….

(valuable – useless)

3. With books you can ………………………………. a lot of information.

(absorb – move)

4. At a library, there are books on almost any ………………………………

(subject – progress)

5. The only ………………………………. to using a library is that you have

to return the book. (symbol – drawback)

6. A book requires no ………………………………. cost.

(maintenance – device)

d) Compare traditional books with digital versions of reading

material.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………


TALKING POINT

Giving your opinion

Useful expressions:

In my opinion, ...

To my mind, ...

From my point of view, ...

I would say that ...

It seems to me that ...

1. Private education vs. State-run education: recommendable or

good?

2. English vs. Portuguese: difficult or necessary?

3. Final exams vs. Mid-Term tests: easy or difficult?

4. Paper dictionary vs. Digital dictionary: useful or useless?

5. In-class practice vs. Out-of-class practice: helpful or unhelpful?

Choose one talking point. Write down your opinion and account

for it. Then, you will share it with the class.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...


VIDEO TIME

Log in and watch the video I have a master’s degree of an episode from Big Bang Theory. Then, answer the questions

below.

Big Bang Theory – Main characters

Sheldon Cooper

Leonard Hofstadter

Howard Wolowitz

Rajesh Koothrappali

1. Who is the Professor’s exotic young friend, his star?

.........................................................................................

2. Who has a Master’s degree?

.........................................................................................

3. What is the business of the place?

.........................................................................................

4. Who will have lunch in the President’s dining room?

.........................................................................................

5. Is the food good there?

.........................................................................................

reading foreign and national universities: a comparison

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