II. Read the text with an eye for the vocabulary units in bold; come up with their explanations and translations. Higher education in the usa: starting point

higher education

extra-curricular activities

standardized tests

college-bound students

college credit

vocational training

academic

snap

demanding

graduation

AP courses

ACT

SAT

PSAT

admission

American high schools have a commitment to offer both a general college preparatory program for those interested in higher education and vocational training for students who plan to enter the work force immediately after high school graduation. In American high schools, college-bound students might be following pre-university programs, with an emphasis on those academic subjects required for college work, in addition, there is an opportunity to take Advanced Placement (AP) courses, for which they can earn college credit. Other students may take coursework which prepares them for vocational and technical positions. The third program, general or comprehensive, combines elements of the academic and vocational types. It is designed for those, not planning to go to college or enter a trade immediately.

Those who believe that American schools are more play than work overlook an important fact: a high school diploma is not a ticket that allows someone to automatically enter a university. Moreover, college admission is very competitive. Students who only took high school courses that were “snap” or who spent too much time on extra-curricular activities, will have to compete with those who worked hard and took demanding courses. Though financial state of the family is of importance, academic abilities play a decisive role when seeking admission. During their last two years of high school college–bound students generally take standardized tests, administered by the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) and American College testing Program (ACT). CEEB manages the SAT’s (Scholastic Aptitude Test): SAT1 measures verbal and mathematical aptitude while SAT2 measures knowledge in specific subject area. Some students may choose to take a PSAT (Preliminary SAT) in their next-to-last year. Every year more than two million high school students take SAT, and another million take ACT as college admission tests. Colleges east of the Mississippi River usually require the SAT, while colleges west of the Mississippi River usually require the ACT.

III. After you read.

1. Do the true-or-false test according to the information from the text.

1. All high schools in America offer academic programs only.

2. On completing a general program, a student can either go to college or enter workforce.

3. Spending much time on extra-curriculum activities is your ticket to a University.

4. Every student must take standardized tests in high school.

2. Complete collocations with the words from the text.

Higher ______________

______________activities

______________ tests

______________students

______________credit

School_____________

______________admission

______________training

______________courses

Academic_____________

3. What do these abbreviations stand for? Provide your own explanations for the concepts behind them.

AP courses

ACT

SAT

PSAT

4. Build all the possible connections between the nouns and the surrounding verbs.

Complete Earn

A ttend Gain

Provide Audit

Deny Require

Develop Take

Seek Apply

Receive Teach

Offer