Английский язык. Higher education

С will be dismissed from their job

D won't be considered for a job

5 In the writer's opinion it would be better if people

A were obliged to educate themselves in their own way

В were free to become educated in their own way

С attended more practical courses

D attended courses intended for experts

ACTIVITY H

SELF-WORK:

TEXT 2

PART I

DIRECTIONS:

Translate the topical vocabulary using a dictionary:

a scholar –

capacity –

illiteracy –

campus –

significant –

to contribute –

foundation –

elimination –

ordeal –

landmark –

to sacrifice –

evidence –

creative –

facility –

to plunder –

to participate –

prominent –

staff –

PART II

DIRECTIONS: Now read.

HISTORY OF THE BELARUSIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

October 30, 1921 is the foundation date of the main educational establishment in our country – the Belarusian State University.

Academician Vladimir Ivanovich Picheta – the outstanding historian and slavist – headed the University. The first Rector united the staff consisting of scholars from Moscow, Kazan, and Kiev universities.

Rapid development of the University played a significant role in the creation of the educational system of the republic. The University’s educational and research capacity gave birth to a number of independent higher educational establishments, such as Minsk Medicine Institute, Minsk Law Institute, Minsk Pedagogical Institute, the Belarusian Institute of National Economy, Minsk Chemical and Technological Institute, which later became a part of the Polytechnic Institute. The Belarusian State University contributed much to the foundation and development of the Academy of Sciences, the Republic’s State Library and a number of large research institutions.

Elimination of illiteracy, assimilation of European and world cultural heritage, formation of the national system of higher education and science — all these impressive achievements of the Belarusian people in 1920-1930s would have been impossible without the University and the work of its staff.

In a two decades’ time the Belarusian State University trained 5240 specialists in History, Law, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, etc. The activities of the People’s Writer of Belarus Yakub Kolas and outstanding Commander-in-Chief, Marshal of the Soviet Union G.K.Zhukov were associated with the name of the University of that period. It was the time when L.A.Artsymovich, P.U.Brovka, K.K.Krapiva studied and worked at the University. These outstanding people made a valuable contribution to the development of both national and world science and culture.

1941 was the year of the most severe ordeal in the history of the University. June 21, 1941 a jubilee exhibition was arranged at the University presenting the achievements of the staff consisting at the time of 17 professors, 41 associate professors, 90 teachers and assistants, 60 post-graduates and 1337 students. The day following the celebration, June 22, 1941 became a tragic landmark in our history. All the post-war generations of teachers, post-graduates and students of the University have always remembered and will remember their colleagues who left the classrooms and scientific laboratories to sacrifice their lives for the glory and independence of their Motherland. The evidence of this is the obelisk erected in 1970s at the University campus in honor of those who perished in the battle against fascism.

The war did great damage to the University. The University campus was destroyed almost completely. University archives, library funds, laboratories and study-rooms were plundered. The pre-war education and material base of the University had been restored by the end of 1950.  A new period in the history of the Belarusian State University began, the period of its rapid development, creative teaching and scientific research.

The 1950-1980s were characterized by an expansion in the scope of University activities. Its material base and teaching facilities were improved by the Government’s decisions. The contents, forms and methods of academic process and scientific research changed radically. New buildings of faculties were erected and new faculties were opened: the Faculty of Law, Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics, Faculty of Physics, Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Faculty of Radio Physics and Electronics, Philosophy and Economics.

The Belarusian State University deservedly occupied an honorable place among the leading universities of the Soviet Union. Its international prestige increased, scientists and professors actively participated in international symposia and conferences, sessions of the UN General Assembly and UNESCO.