5、Universities in the UK

Universities in Britain are a magnet for overseas students． There are currently over 200,000 from outside Britain studying at British universities． The largest single group is Chinese students． There are currently 50,000 in the UK． The British government expects the total number of overseas students to be around 900,000 by 2020, and also thinks that a quarter of these will be Chinese．

But why is the UK such a popular destination for university students? Well, the quality of your course is guaranteed． All courses are assessed by an independent system, so you can be assured that your course is officially approved and has wide international recognition．

The British education system is very flexible in order to provide for the needs of a modern, complex society． It is also cost-effective． Degree courses are usually shorter and more intensive than in other countries． There are lots of scholarships available． You normally need 3 A-levels, which are the exams taken by people leaving school at 18, in order to enter an undergraduate degree course． You also need an IELTS score of at least 5．5, but many universities offer foundation or access courses to prepare students for their studies．

British universities offer a personalized but independent approach． The emphasis is on creative and independent thought, which helps develop the skills you will need to compete in the global job market． Tutors not only teach but also provide support and guidance． As a result, international students have a very low drop out rate and a very high pass rate．

It is very simple to become an international student in the UK． The British “Council offers a free and impartial service to anyone who is interested in studying in the UK, and an organization called UCAS assists you in finding a course and making an effective application．

The UK is a dynamic(充满活力的) place． The countryside is beautiful, and the theatres, museums, architecture and rich history make it a fascinating place to live and study． __________．

1．By 2020, how many Chinese students are expected to study at British universities?

       A．About 50,000．   B．About 225,000．  C．About 160,000． D．About 300, 000．

2．According to the passage, the followings are the features of the UK’s education system EXCEPT __________．

       A．personalised guidance and support

       B．international recognition and official approval

       C．cheaper, longer but more effective courses

       D．foundation or access courses for the overseas students

3．Which of the following statements is NOT the reason for overseas students choosing the UK as their destination for education?

       A．Tutors not only teach but also provide support and guidance．

       B．A low pass rate guarantees the quality of graduates．

       C．The flexible education system provides various choices for students．

       D．The universities in the UK emphasize the creativity and independence of students．

4．Which of the following sentences do you think is the best closing sentence for the last paragraph?

       A．Have great fun in the UK!                    

       B．What a charming country the UK is!

       C．To pay a visit to the UK is everyone’s dream．

       D．Why not give it a go?