TEXT A:  Farewell to physics

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French schoolgirl Marie Signac hated physics so much that she ritually burned her exercise book after taking her final exam in the subject. Unfortunately, she also destroyed her bedroom in the process. Marie, 19, of Lyons, lost her clothes, furniture, television, stereo and computer, as well as the books she will need for English, the last of her five exams. Marie's mother said: "Physics certainly wasn't her favourite subject and, after struggling with it for so long, she obviously thought the ritual burning was the right thing to do. She wanted to celebrate the fact that she would never have to open a physics book again. Marie's very impulsive - I wish she would think before she acts." Says Marie: "I don't regret burning the book, but if only I'd had my bonfire in the garden!"

TEXT B:  A-Team of Golden Oldies

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Great Britain's over-70s are pitting their wits against the younger generation in GCSE examinations (General Certificate of Secondary Education) and coming top of the class. A survey released today by the Examining Board shows that the intake of candidates for last summer's examinations included 130 aged over 70.

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Their results were on a par with their younger counterparts. Several candidates were over 80. For some of the studious senior citizens, the exams were the first of their lives. Mr Harold Franklin, aged 74, of Leeds, chalked up his fourth GCSE - art, grade A - last June. He has been taking a GCSE each year since he was 70 and has an A and two Bs in English language, sociology and social and economic history.
He left school in 1927 without any formal qualifications because his family needed his wages. "I attended a council school during and immediately after the First World War. I lived among people who knew poverty, hardship and hunger at first hand. Jobs were scarce. There were not the educational opportunities there are now. Senior citizens shouldn't be nervous of going back to school. I wish there were more people like me in my class."

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TEXT C:  Local Studies Summer School - Lancaster

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OP THE ROMANTICS - EXPLORING THE LAKE DISTRICT
The school will assemble in time for tea on Sunday 19 July and will disperse after breakfast on Friday 24 July. It will be possible for participants to arrive on Saturday 18 July and to leave on Saturday 25 July, for an extra charge. The fee of £350.00 covers tuition, accommodation and food, but not transport. The following seminars are offered:
DEPENDING ENGLAND: Some Lake District Castles
LIFE AND LITERATURE IN THE LAKE DISTRICT
THE TERRIBLE MOUNTAINS: The Evolution of Lake District Tourism from the Eighteenth Century
MONASTERIES AND MANORS: Late Medieval and Tudor Houses
Applicants should select one of these and indicate their choice on the application form. A second choice, if any, may also be indicated. Applicants will be directed to their second choice in the event of their first choice not recruiting sufficient students.

ACTIVITY 318: Finally, after reading the article again, choose the best answer (A, B, C, or D) for questions 1-to-7. Then check your answers.

1.

What do the three texts have in common?

A.    accommodation
B.    exams
C.    qualifications
D.    students

2.

What do Texts B and C have in common?

A.    Both are about positive attitudes to education.
B.    Both concern people who had no proper education at school.
C.    Both are concerned with voluntary education.
D.    Both mention the cost of education.

3.

What do we learn about how Marie's mother felt?

A.    She was angry with Marie for destroying her bedroom.
B.    She was sorry that Marie had had to study a subject she disliked.
C.    She understood why Marie had acted in this way.
D.    She thought Marie was right to burn her book.

4.

What does 'it' (Text A, line 7) refer to?

A.    the last of her five exams
B.    physics
C.    her favourite subject
D.    the ritual burning

5.

What do you think 'pitting their wits against' (Text B, line 1) means?

A.    competing with
B.    cooperating with
C.    making fun of
D.    teaching

6.

What do you think 'chalked up' (Text B, line 9) means?

A.    achieved
B.    chose
C.    entered
D.    studied for

7.

What do you think 'disperse' (Text C, line 2) means?

A.    break up
B.    carry on
C.    check out
D.    set off