TOEFL Topic: Education Go Back

Exercise 1: Complete definitions 1 – 14 with words and phrases from the box. You will not need all of them.

  1. An _____________ is an educational course that you take at home, using your computer and the Internet. A _____________ is a lesson in the evening for people who work during the day. People who have a job might be given _____________ by their employer, which means that they can take a day off work about once a week to attend a course of study.
  2. The _____________ is an examination that students in the United States must take before they can go to university.
  3. A _____________ is a period of time in which students are taught a subject in school (also called a _____________).
  4. A _____________ is a talk given to a group of students at college or university about a particular _____________ . The person who gives this talk is called a _____________ . A _____________ is a meeting at which a group of students discuss something they are studying. A _____________ is a meeting at which one student, or a small group of students, discusses something that they are studying with their _____________ .
  5. _____________ is the ability to read and write. _____________ refers to basic skills in mathematics.
  6. A _____________ is a small book that provides information about a university. Once a student who has read this book decides he / she would like to study there, he/she must _____________ (in other words, he / she puts his / her name on the official list of students).
  7. A _____________ is a main department at a university. This word can also be used to refer to the teaching staff of a school, college, university, etc.
  8. _____________ refers to sports and exercise that children do at school as a school subject.
  9. A _____________ is a school that is funded by taxes. A _____________ is a school where the parents of the children who attend it must pay _____________ .
  10. A _____________ is school for very young children (aged four or five), which prepares them for the first _____________ at school. An _____________ is a school for the first six or eight years of a child’s education. It is also known as a _____________ .
  11. A _____________ is a list of the main subjects in a course of study (sometimes called a curriculum).
  12. A _____________ is a school for students between the ages of 12 and 14 or 15. It is also known as a _____________ . From the age of 14 or 15, students attend a _____________ .
  13. A _____________ is one of two periods into which the school year is divided. A _____________ is one of four periods into which the school year is divided.
  14. A _____________ is someone who has completed a course at school, college, or university. A _____________ is a college or university where students can study for a _____________ such as a Master’s or PhD.
  1. An on line course is an educational course that you take at home, using your computer and the Internet. A night class is a lesson in the evening for people who work during the day. People who have a job might be given day release by their employer, which means that they can take a day off work about once a week to attend a course of study.
  2. The SAT is an examination that students in the United States must take before they can go to university.
  3. A lesson is a period of time in which students are taught a subject in school (also called a class).
  4. A lecture is a talk given to a group of students at college or university about a particular subject or topic . The person who gives this talk is called a lecturer . A seminar is a meeting at which a group of students discuss something they are studying. A tutorial is a meeting at which one student, or a small group of students, discusses something that they are studying with their tutor .
  5. Literacy is the ability to read and write. Numeracy refers to basic skills in mathematics.
  6. A prospectus is a small book that provides information about a university. Once a student who has read this book decides he / she would like to study there, he/she must enroll (in other words, he / she puts his / her name on the official list of students).
  7. A faculty is a main department at a university. This word can also be used to refer to the teaching staff of a school, college, university, etc.
  8. Physical education refers to sports and exercise that children do at school as a school subject.
  9. A public school is a school that is funded by taxes. A private school is a school where the parents of the children who attend it must pay fees .
  10. A kindergarten is school for very young children (aged four or five), which prepares them for the first grade at school. An elementary school is a school for the first six or eight years of a child’s education. It is also known as a grade school .
  11. A syllabus is a list of the main subjects in a course of study (sometimes called a curriculum).
  12. A junior high school is a school for students between the ages of 12 and 14 or 15. It is also known as a middle school . From the age of 14 or 15, students attend a high school .
  13. A semester is one of two periods into which the school year is divided. A quarter is one of four periods into which the school year is divided.
  14. A graduate is someone who has completed a course at school, college, or university. A graduate school is a college or university where students can study for a higher degree such as a Master’s or PhD.

Exercise 2: Complete this essay with appropriate words and phrases from the box in Exercise 1. You may need to change the form of some of the words.

'You are never too old to learn.' Do you agree with this statement?

Education is a long process that not only provides us with basic (1) _____________ such as (2) _____________ and (3) _____________ but is also essential in shaping our future lives. From the moment we enter (4) _____________ as fi ve-year-olds, and as we progress through (5) _____________ and (6) _____________ education, we are laying the foundations for the life ahead of us. We must (7) _____________ ourselves to work hard so that we can (8) _____________ exams and gain the (9) _____________ we will need to secure a good job. We must also (10) _____________ valuable life skills so that we can fi t in and work with those around us. And of course (11) _____________ helps us to develop our bodies and stay fi t and healthy. For most people, this process ends when they are in their mid-to-late teens and they (12) _____________ from high school. For others, however, it is the beginning of a lifetime of learning. After they fi nish school, many progress to (13) _____________ education where they will work towards a (14) _____________ in a chosen (15) _____________ at university. After that, they may work for a while before opting to study at a (16) _____________ for a Master's degree, or a (17) _____________ . Alternatively, they may choose to attend a (18) _____________ after work or, if they have a sympathetic employer, obtain (19) _____________ so that they can study during the week. And if they live a long way from a college or university, they might follow an (20) _____________ using the Internet. In fact, it is largely due to the proliferation of computers that many people, who have not been near a school for many years, have started to study again and can proudly class themselves as (21) _____________ students. We live in a fascinating and constantly changing world, and we must continually learn and acquire new knowledge if we are to adapt and keep up with changing events. Our schooldays are just the beginning of this process, and we should make the best of every (22) _____________ to develop ourselves, whether we are 18 or 80. You are, indeed, never too old to learn.

Education is a long process that not only provides us with basic (1) skills such as (2) literacy and (3) numeracy but is also essential in shaping our future lives. From the moment we enter (4) kindergarten/elementary school as fi ve-year-olds, and as we progress through (5) elementary and (6) secondary education, we are laying the foundations for the life ahead of us. We must (7) discipline ourselves to work hard so that we can (8) pass exams and gain the (9) qualifications we will need to secure a good job. We must also (10) acquire valuable life skills so that we can fi t in and work with those around us. And of course (11) physical education helps us to develop our bodies and stay fi t and healthy. For most people, this process ends when they are in their mid-to-late teens and they (12) graduate from high school. For others, however, it is the beginning of a lifetime of learning. After they fi nish school, many progress to (13) higher education where they will work towards a (14) degree in a chosen (15) subject at university. After that, they may work for a while before opting to study at a (16) graduate school for a Master's degree, or a (17) doctorate . Alternatively, they may choose to attend a (18) night class after work or, if they have a sympathetic employer, obtain (19) day release so that they can study during the week. And if they live a long way from a college or university, they might follow an (20) on line course using the Internet. In fact, it is largely due to the proliferation of computers that many people, who have not been near a school for many years, have started to study again and can proudly class themselves as (21) mature students. We live in a fascinating and constantly changing world, and we must continually learn and acquire new knowledge if we are to adapt and keep up with changing events. Our schooldays are just the beginning of this process, and we should make the best of every (22) opportunity to develop ourselves, whether we are 18 or 80. You are, indeed, never too old to learn.