What do you do if you don’t get into your first choice of university? That’s the dilemma that faces thousands of British students every year.
Many candidates turn to Clearing, the service that helps find university places for students at the last moment. If they don’t have the marks to get into their first choice of institution, Clearing tells them about places available at other universities, though they might have to read another subject.  
But this year has seen a record number of people applying to university. This, combined with the weak economy, an uncertain job market and budget cuts at universities, means that there's been even more of a scramble for places than usual. Some sources say six students have applied for each remaining undergraduate university place.
The British university admissions service, UCAS, says up to a quarter of this year’s university applicants --- almost 190,000 people --- still don’t have a place on a degree course. That’s a rise of over 46,000 students from last year.
Faced with these figures, some British students might be thinking of an interesting alternative: studying abroad. The University of Nottingham, for example，is offering places at its campuses in Ningbo, near Shanghai, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Students here can gain University of Nottingham degrees in business, accounting, engineering and English. Similarly, the University of Bolton says it has ‘unlimited’ places at its campus in the United Arab Emirates.
Given the problems getting into university, the UK’s Higher Education Minister, David Willetts, encourages students who haven't made the grade to consider alternatives to university, such as apprenticeships and studying at home.
"There are a range of options available," he says. "People are able to reapply. They should think how they can spend their year adding that bit to their CV, which would help their application --- getting practical work experience or extra skills --- anything that strengthens their chances next year."
But some experts say that rising university costs, poor long-term job prospects, and a drop in graduate recruitment mean it’s the worst time to be a university student in the UK.
【小题1】When the author says this year “there’s been more of a scramble for places” (Para. 3), he means_________________.

What do you do if you don’t get into your first choice of university? That’s the dilemma that faces thousands of British students every year.

Many candidates turn to Clearing, the service that helps find university places for students at the last moment. If they don’t have the marks to get into their first choice of institution, Clearing tells them about places available at other universities, though they might have to read another subject.  

But this year has seen a record number of people applying to university. This, combined with the weak economy, an uncertain job market and budget cuts at universities, means that there's been even more of a scramble for places than usual. Some sources say six students have applied for each remaining undergraduate university place.

The British university admissions service, UCAS, says up to a quarter of this year’s university applicants --- almost 190,000 people --- still don’t have a place on a degree course. That’s a rise of over 46,000 students from last year.

Faced with these figures, some British students might be thinking of an interesting alternative: studying abroad. The University of Nottingham, for example，is offering places at its campuses in Ningbo, near Shanghai, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Students here can gain University of Nottingham degrees in business, accounting, engineering and English. Similarly, the University of Bolton says it has ‘unlimited’ places at its campus in the United Arab Emirates.

Given the problems getting into university, the UK’s Higher Education Minister, David Willetts, encourages students who haven't made the grade to consider alternatives to university, such as apprenticeships and studying at home.

"There are a range of options available," he says. "People are able to reapply. They should think how they can spend their year adding that bit to their CV, which would help their application --- getting practical work experience or extra skills --- anything that strengthens their chances next year."

But some experts say that rising university costs, poor long-term job prospects, and a drop in graduate recruitment mean it’s the worst time to be a university student in the UK.

1.When the author says this year “there’s been more of a scramble for places” (Para. 3), he means_________________.

A．more people have applied to university

B．there is more competition between the candidates

C．there are more services that help find university places

D．more places are available

2.According to UCAS, there are about ____university applicants this year.

A．190,000          B．46, 000           C．236, 000          D．760, 000

3.David Willetts encourages students faced with the lack of places on a degree course _____.

A．to consider apprenticeships and studying at home

B．to study at campus outside the UK

C．to reapply next year

D．not to go to university in the UK

4.Which of the following is NOT the reason that may make this year the worst time to enter university?

A．It costs more to study at university.

B．Long-term job prospects are worse.

C．Universities offer places in other countries.

D．There are fewer chances to do graduate study.

5.According to the passage, what can students do if they don’t get into their first choice of university?

A．They can go to work in Clearing.

B．They can get practical work experience or skills and reapply next year.

C．They can spend the year writing a better CV.

D．They do graduate study at home.

Just as you imagine, studying in new environment is difficult. Though I had___36___ a preparation for my study in the United Kingdom, I___37____met many difficulties when I arrived in Britain. These difficulties ___38____ almost every side of your life, including language, daily ___39___, feelings and study.

____40___ the fact that I have studied English for quite a long time, I was well ____41___ to learn that the British people speak seemingly ___42____ English from what I have learned at home. When I picked up my luggage in the airport, I ___43____a long crack on my suitcase. Anxious and a little bit angry, I rushed to a man in uniform and told him my suitcase was ____44____. With a smile on his face, he seemed to be explaining something to me. But I was totally puzzled by what he was saying. ____45____, the suitcase was still OK to use. I managed to pull it to the train station.

   To my surprise, after more than two hours, there was still not a ___46____train coming into the station. Finally, I was told that all trains had been cancelled that day due to the ____47____of the railway workers who were demanding a pay rise.

   After a good deal of bother, I finally reached Liverpool. ____48____, I found it even harder to understand the local English. I even ___49____whether the local people were really speaking English. ____50____, they could hardly understand what I was saying though I had tried my best to pronounce right. I could never really ___51____ how to be the place I supposed to go____52____ they told me the way. However, the good thing is that most British people are friendly and eager to help. They usually____53____me to the bus stop where I could take the bus to the places I wanted to go.

   It takes time to be used to the local accent. What I want to emphasized here is that you should hold on to talk with the local people even if there are difficulties in ____54____. Before you go anywhere, write down the ____55____. Remember a dictionary around you could also be helpful.

What do you do if you don’t get into your first choice of university? That’s the dilemma that faces thousands of British students every year.
Many candidates turn to Clearing, the service that helps find university places for students at the last moment. If they don’t have the marks to get into their first choice of institution, Clearing tells them about places available at other universities, though they might have to read another subject.  
But this year has seen a record number of people applying to university. This, combined with the weak economy, an uncertain job market and budget cuts at universities, means that there's been even more of a scramble for places than usual. Some sources say six students have applied for each remaining undergraduate university place.
The British university admissions service, UCAS, says up to a quarter of this year’s university applicants --- almost 190,000 people --- still don’t have a place on a degree course. That’s a rise of over 46,000 students from last year.
Faced with these figures, some British students might be thinking of an interesting alternative: studying abroad. The University of Nottingham, for example，is offering places at its campuses in Ningbo, near Shanghai, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Students here can gain University of Nottingham degrees in business, accounting, engineering and English. Similarly, the University of Bolton says it has ‘unlimited’ places at its campus in the United Arab Emirates.
Given the problems getting into university, the UK’s Higher Education Minister, David Willetts, encourages students who haven't made the grade to consider alternatives to university, such as apprenticeships and studying at home.
"There are a range of options available," he says. "People are able to reapply. They should think how they can spend their year adding that bit to their CV, which would help their application --- getting practical work experience or extra skills --- anything that strengthens their chances next year."
But some experts say that rising university costs, poor long-term job prospects, and a drop in graduate recruitment mean it’s the worst time to be a university student in the UK

1. 1.

   When the author says this year “there’s been more of a scramble for places” (Para. 3), he means______.

   1. A.
      more people have applied to university
   2. B.
      there is more competition between the candidates
   3. C.
      there are more services that help find university places
   4. D.
      more places are available
2. 2.

   According to UCAS, there are about ______university applicants this year

   1. A.
      190,000
   2. B.
      46, 000
   3. C.
      236, 000
   4. D.
      760, 000
3. 3.

   David Willetts encourages students faced with the lack of places on a degree course ______.

   1. A.
      to consider apprenticeships and studying at home
   2. B.
      to study at campus outside the UK
   3. C.
      to reapply next year
   4. D.
      not to go to university in the UK
4. 4.

   Which of the following is NOT the reason that may make this year the worst time to enter university?

   1. A.
      It costs more to study at university
   2. B.
      Long-term job prospects are worse
   3. C.
      Universities offer places in other countries
   4. D.
      There are fewer chances to do graduate study
5. 5.

   According to the passage, what can students do if they don’t get into their first choice of university?

   1. A.
      They can go to work in Clearing
   2. B.
      They can get practical work experience or skills and reapply next year
   3. C.
      They can spend the year writing a better CV
   4. D.
      They do graduate study at home

 (银川一中2009届高三年级第三次模拟考试)

Just as you imagine, studying in new environment is difficult. Though I had___36___ a preparation for my study in the United Kingdom, I___37____met many difficulties when I arrived in Britain. These difficulties ___38____ almost every side of your life, including language, daily ___39___, feelings and study.

____40___ the fact that I have studied English for quite a long time, I was well ____41___ to learn that the British people speak seemingly ___42____ English from what I have learned at home. When I picked up my luggage in the airport, I ___43____a long crack on my suitcase. Anxious and a little bit angry, I rushed to a man in uniform and told him my suitcase was ____44____. With a smile on his face, he seemed to be explaining something to me. But I was totally puzzled by what he was saying. ____45____, the suitcase was still OK to use. I managed to pull it to the train station.

   To my surprise, after more than two hours, there was still not a ___46____train coming into the station. Finally, I was told that all trains had been cancelled that day due to the ____47____of the railway workers who were demanding a pay rise.

   After a good deal of bother, I finally reached Liverpool. ____48____, I found it even harder to understand the local English. I even ___49____whether the local people were really speaking English. ____50____, they could hardly understand what I was saying though I had tried my best to pronounce right. I could never really ___51____ how to be the place I supposed to go____52____ they told me the way. However, the good thing is that most British people are friendly and eager to help. They usually____53____me to the bus stop where I could take the bus to the places I wanted to go.

   It takes time to be used to the local accent. What I want to emphasized here is that you should hold on to talk with the local people even if there are difficulties in ____54____. Before you go anywhere, write down the ____55____. Remember a dictionary around you could also be helpful.

36. A. made             B. kept           C. got                    D. set

37. A. even                 B. still               C. yet                    D. almost

38. A. contain               B. mean            C. cover                 D. reach

39.   A. matters              B. events            C. business              D. troubles

40. A. Except                   B. Though       C. Despite                D. Besides

41.   A. satisfied              B. shocked         C. glad                   D. worried

42. A. advanced           B. strange         C. same                  D. different

43. A. watched              B. recognized       C. found                 D. knew

44   A. robbed              B. broken          C. destroyed              D. lost

45.   A. All right               B. Not at all        C. Never mind           D. No problem

46.   A. single                 B. only           C. alone                D. just

47.   A. fight                  B. strike            C. break                 D. march

48.   A. Luckily                B. Unfortunately     C. Honestly.              D. Personally

49.   A. guessed               B. puzzled         C. doubted               D. considered

50. A. However             B. Similarly         C. Even so               D. Therefore

51.   A. take out               B. figure out       C. give out               D. bring out

52.   A. even if              B. as if           C. only if                D. when

53.   A. took                 B. pointed         C. sent                 D. showed

54.   A. communication      B. touch         C. understanding         D. greeting

55.   A. direction             B. number          C. address               D. route