ECL TOPIC 1

Reading Comprehension (Part 1)

You are going to read about the Hungarian educational system. Read the text below. Some clauses
are missing from the passage. You can find them below the text. Write the appropriate answer into
the answer box. You need to fill in 10 boxes.
The first (0) has been done as an example. There are three clauses which you will not need.
In Hungary children usually start school at the age of six, but parents can decide ____0____ born in
autumn start when they are five, or a year later. In the first four years of primary school (junior
section) they learn to read, write, count and draw, and in the second four years (senior section) they
study different science subjects like maths, physics, biology, etc., and art subjects, ____1____. They
also start studying a foreign language, usually German or English.
After leaving primary school, they can continue their studies at secondary schools. These usually
last for four years. There are secondary grammar, secondary technical and vocational schools.
Mostly, ____2____ secondary grammar schools plan to go on to higher education.
Students who would like to learn a trade or profession besides passing their school-leaving exam go
to secondary technical schools. Vocational schools train skilled workers such as plumbers, joiners,
bricklayers or hairdressers. The training lasts 2 years.
The secondary grammar school ends with a final exam, ____3____ students go to higher/tertiary
education. Since 2005, there are no entrance exams to universities; ____4____ students do on their
secondary school leaving exam. There are colleges and universities, which are mainly operated by
the state. There are also some institutions ____5____.
Higher education consists of three levels. After the first three years, students get a BA (Bachelor of
Arts) or a BSc (Bachelor of Sciences) degree, and then in the following two years they can acquire
an MA (Master of Arts) or an MSc (Master of Sciences). ____6____, the top students may do a PhD
course over three more years. This system is very similar to the American education system.
Most universities offer upgrading programmes in different fields. There are many degree courses
covering specialist fields of study; and students can also study for a second degree. Most students
study full time, ____7____ correspondence courses, too.
Students can get a grant from the state, ____8____ depends on their grades. They can also apply for
a contribution based on their financial background. The Student Union can provide some money for
those who didnt get a place in a hostel and ____9____.
A lot of students take up some kind of a job or apply for a loan from the state ____10____.

Example: whether those children who were

A. the amount of which
B. after which most
C. at which time they leave school
D. but there are a lot of
E. such as history, literature and grammar
F. have to rent a room or a flat
G. most students have to work
H. admission depends on how
I. to finance their studies
J. those students who choose
K. which leads to the title of Dr.
L. run by different foundations or religious denominations
M. if they want to continue their studies

Reading Comprehension (Part 2)

Below you will find a text about the differences between private and state schools. The second part
of each paragraph is missing from the passage. You can find them after the text. Write the
appropriate answers into the boxes after the text. You need to fill in 10 boxes.
The first (0) has been done as an example. There are three paragraph endings which you will not
need.
Private schools offering lavish extra-curricular activities give their pupils an unfair advantage
____0____
The panel was asked to look at how class barriers could be broken down in Britain and found that
middle-class children whose parents do not move in the right circles, as well as those from poorer
families, ____1_____
It found that fee-paying pupils benefit from an emphasis on soft skills such as teamwork and
communication, which are taught through sport, music and drama extra-curricular activities. With
more pupils now getting the academic grades needed for university, academic grades alone are
insufficient thus ____2____
The report calls on to share extra-curricular activities with state school pupils as a condition of
maintaining their charitable status; and for the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) to inspect
state schools on their provision of extra-curricular activities: ____3____
An extension of university schemes offering students from poor backgrounds places on lower
grades than more privileged children, and to attack poor careers advice in state schools is also being
considered. The argument being that there is a large gap between where we are and where we need
to be to reap the benefits of new professional jobs emerging from the recession, ____4____
The report warns of a growing culture of unpaid, unadvertised internships now increasingly required
to get into competitive fields ____5____
Although these findings will be controversial in some parts of government, there are reawakening
divisions in the Labour Party over how to present a planned election crusade ____6____
It will also be seen as reinforcing the argument that Labour must not become ____7____
It is very difficult to answer the claim that a person needs a university education to be successful in
life ____8____ Success in life can be achieved in different ways.
Many magazines and television programmes tell us that success means having a lot of money,
having a fulfilling career, and being powerful. In contrast, most religious and spiritual organizations
claim that success ____9____
Another idea of success focuses on relationships being surrounded by people who love you and
care about you, spending time with family and friends. A university education can help you achieve
some types of success, ____10____

A. and should be forced to share their facilities with state pupils, says a recent report
commissioned for the government.
B. with research suggesting that they may account for nine out of 10 new vacancies created in
the future.
C. merely a party of the poor.
D. because success in life means different things to different people.
E. now risk being shut out of professions that have become more socially exclusive.
F. which is excluding even relatively well-off children if their parents lack the social
connections to secure them.
G. under privileged children often lack educational opportunities.
H. such as music and drama and to ensure that they become a priority.
I. but do poor children want to learn music and art?
J. that reduces the class divisions that divide our society.
K. private pupils get a head start because of their more rounded CVs, confidence and
presentation skills.
L. but it makes little or no difference to whether or not you are successful in other areas of life.
M. it is not what you know but who you know that counts.
N. means finding spiritual happiness and being at peace with God and with yourself.
Writing (Part 1)
Do you think that children from certain ethnic groups should be given greater access to
education? Write your essay with reference to the following points:
your opinion about a persons right to education
how better education increases a persons job prospects/career opportunities
effects on population and poverty
Write about 200 words.
In my opinion..
Writing (Part 2)
Your child has been given a place in a primary school which is a 15-20 minute drive from your
home. Write a letter to the Local Education Authority to request an appeal against this decision and
that the place given at the primary school for your child is reconsidered.
Write your letter to include the following points:

the school is too far away from your home.

you cannot drive the child to school each day give a reason.
suggest an alternative school.
request a meeting to discuss this situation.

Write about 200 words. (You do not need to write any addresses.)
We have been advised that our son, Milton Jones, has been given a place at Whites Primary School
in Epsom.