B1 Reading Comprehension - Studying abroad

B1 Reading Comprehension - Studying abroad

by Waine Evans

If you’ve always dreamed of traveling the world but would rather not give up on your education, then why not combine the two? Record numbers of people are now studying abroad, gaining once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences in far-flung places and improving their job prospects in the process. You can choose to spend a week away, or a summer, or even a year. You can go to China. Or Spain. Or you can keep things simple by studying in an English-speaking country like Canada or Australia. Quite literally, there is a whole world of options to choose from.

Just a couple of decades ago, the options for studying abroad were few and far between. Today the marketplace is positively crowded; so much so that it’s difficult to know where to start. On the upside, this means you’re very much the master of your own destiny. So, if you’re serious about studying abroad (as opposed to just traveling for fun), it’s time to get planning. Where would you like to go? Is there a specific country, course or university that appeals to you? How does your “study abroad” plan fit with your long-term goals? Could you be happy in a foreign country, far from your friends and the usual home comforts? More importantly, if you’re already studying, will your home university or college credit you for the things that you learn abroad?

Studying abroad can also be expensive. Apart from the cost of the actual education you receive, there are additional expenses to think about – from flights and accommodation to food, sightseeing and insurance. “Eighty percent of American high school teens say they want to travel, but only 1 to 3 percent of them actually do it,” says Samantha Martin, “and we know finances are a huge part of the problem.” Last year Samantha and her colleague Jennifer Thomas launched Project Travel, a specialist website, to help more students “get on the plane or bus”. Students can launch individual fundraising projects on the Internet for study, internships, volunteer work, teaching and other types of educational travel. This type of initiative, known as crowdfunding, isn’t necessarily for everyone, and there are other avenues you can explore if you want to reduce the overall cost of studying abroad.

These are tricky issues to get to grips with, but program advisors, lecturers, fellow students, friends and parents can all give advice and help you find a “study abroad” program that fits with your academic goals, your finances and, just as importantly, your personal interests.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct option.

In the past

• studying abroad implied travelling to distant places around the world.

• only few people took the chance to study abroad.

• studying abroad was too expensive.

• the opportunities to study abroad were very limited.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct option.

“Today the marketplace is positively crowded” (2^nd paragraph) means that

• there is an excessive number of people studying abroad.

• many participants think it is a positive experience.

• the programmes offer participants high quality options.

• there is a huge variety of programmes available.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct option.

Nowadays, the options available for studying abroad

• empower students.

• meet students’ long-term goals.

• widen students’ abilities.

• make students’ lives difficult.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct option.

In order to study abroad, American high school students

• get grants from specific projects.

• may get financial help from online donations.

• can get their plane or bus ticket from Project Travel.

• need to do some volunteer work.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct option.

The author’s attitude towards this type of experience could best be described as

• favourable.

• neutral.

• casual.

• critical.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct option.

The author’s main purpose in this article is to

• explain the long term consequences of studying abroad.

• indicate the available programmes for studying abroad.

• draw attention to things to consider before studying abroad.

• discuss the pros and cons of studying abroad.

Open Ended

Answer the following question according to the first paragraph of the text.

How can studying abroad contribute to students’ personal and professional enrichment?

Open Ended

Identify the sentence which suggests the following.

There have never been more people studying in a foreign country.

Fill in the Blank

Complete the following with words or ideas from the text.

You can spend up to …....... studying abroad.

Fill in the Blank

Complete the following with words or ideas from the text.

It is possible that …........... your friends and family while you are abroad.

Fill in the Blank

Complete the following with words or ideas from the text.

The high costs of foreign study prevent more American students …....

Fill in the Blank

Complete the following with words or ideas from the text.

. If you have any difficulties in planning your studies abroad, ….......

Fill in the Blank

Find words or expressions in the text that have a similar meaning to the words or expressions below.

distant in space and time, remote (1^st paragraph)

Fill in the Blank

Find words or expressions in the text that have a similar meaning to the words or expressions below.

the advantage/benefit of a situation (2^nd paragraph)

Fill in the Blank

Find words or expressions in the text that have a similar meaning to the words or expressions below.

ways of doing something (3^rd paragraph)

Fill in the Blank

Find words or expressions in the text that have a similar meaning to the words or expressions below.

to understand, deal with something (4^th paragraph)

Multiple Choice

Complete the following text about studying abroad with words from below.

Studying abroad is (a) to be an exciting, enriching and fulfilling experience. (b) all this, it may also feel daunting and at times overwhelming. Many universities, (c), have well-developed support systems which cover topics such as accommodation options, part-time work and (d) on what to bring with you

• likely

• advice

• whereas

• however

• in spite of

Multiple Choice

Complete the following text about studying abroad with words from below.

Studying abroad is (a) to be an exciting, enriching and fulfilling experience. (b) all this, it may also feel daunting and at times overwhelming. Many universities, (c), have well-developed support systems which cover topics such as accommodation options, part-time work and (d) on what to bring with you

• likely

• advice

• whereas

• however

• in spite of

Multiple Choice

Complete the following text about studying abroad with words from below.

Studying abroad is (a) to be an exciting, enriching and fulfilling experience. (b) all this, it may also feel daunting and at times overwhelming. Many universities, (c), have well-developed support systems which cover topics such as accommodation options, part-time work and (d) on what to bring with you

• likely

• advice

• whereas

• however

• in spite of

Multiple Choice

Complete the following text about studying abroad with words from below.

Studying abroad is (a) to be an exciting, enriching and fulfilling experience. (b) all this, it may also feel daunting and at times overwhelming. Many universities, (c), have well-developed support systems which cover topics such as accommodation options, part-time work and (d) on what to bring with you

• likely

• advice

• whereas

• however

• in spite of

Multiple Choice

Complete the following text about studying abroad with words from below.

(e), growing numbers of universities are introducing student mentoring schemes that start before arrival. This means future students are matched up with current students, who then communicate, (f) via e-mail, in the months leading up to the start of the course. The idea is to ensure that international students feel (g) into the student community before they even arrive, and know that there will be at least one (h) face waiting to greet them.

• welcomed

• usually

• friendly

• prettily

• moreover

Multiple Choice

Complete the following text about studying abroad with words from below.

(e), growing numbers of universities are introducing student mentoring schemes that start before arrival. This means future students are matched up with current students, who then communicate, (f) via e-mail, in the months leading up to the start of the course. The idea is to ensure that international students feel (g) into the student community before they even arrive, and know that there will be at least one (h) face waiting to greet them.

• welcomed

• usually

• friendly

• prettily

• moreover

Multiple Choice

Complete the following text about studying abroad with words from below.

(e), growing numbers of universities are introducing student mentoring schemes that start before arrival. This means future students are matched up with current students, who then communicate, (f) via e-mail, in the months leading up to the start of the course. The idea is to ensure that international students feel (g) into the student community before they even arrive, and know that there will be at least one (h) face waiting to greet them.

• welcomed

• usually

• friendly

• prettily

• moreover

Multiple Choice

Complete the following text about studying abroad with words from below.

(e), growing numbers of universities are introducing student mentoring schemes that start before arrival. This means future students are matched up with current students, who then communicate, (f) via e-mail, in the months leading up to the start of the course. The idea is to ensure that international students feel (g) into the student community before they even arrive, and know that there will be at least one (h) face waiting to greet them.

• welcomed

• usually

• friendly

• prettily

• moreover

Multiple Choice

Choose the right option.

In the beginning my parents were reluctant to let me …....... abroad.

• travel

• to travel

• travelling

Multiple Choice

Choose the right option.

I had some difficulties …...... to a different way of doing things.

• adapt

• to adapt

• adapting

Multiple Choice

Choose the right option.

I couldn’t help ........… homesick when I was away.

• feel

• to feel

• feeling

Multiple Choice

Choose the right option.

Wouldn’t you like …...... abroad some day?

• study

• to study

• studying

Multiple Choice

Choose the right option.

My mother made me …....... to call every day.

• promise

• to promise

• promising

Multiple Choice

Choose the right option.

We expect .......… the best time of our lives in Italy.

• have

• to have

• having

Fill in the Blank

Word formation, complete the text with a word formed from the one given in brackets.

Studying abroad is interesting no matter what level you are at. There are numerous reasons why it could be (benefit) to study in a different country.

Fill in the Blank

Word formation, complete the text with a word formed from the one given in brackets.

Besides the (excite) of travel, you will experience new customs, food, music and politics at first hand.

Fill in the Blank

Word formation, complete the text with a word formed from the one given in brackets.

Your (expose) to a new culture will thus allow you to gain a broad and sophisticated worldview and (diverse) your thoughts and values.

Fill in the Blank

Word formation, complete the text with a word formed from the one given in brackets.

Your (expose) to a new culture will thus allow you to gain a broad and sophisticated worldview and (diverse) your thoughts and values.

Fill in the Blank

Word formation, complete the text with a word formed from the one given in brackets.

Living and studying in another country is also (use) in terms of developing life skills, though it may be difficult to stay motivated while coping with (familiar) customs.

Fill in the Blank

Word formation, complete the text with a word formed from the one given in brackets.

Living and studying in another country is also (use) in terms of developing life skills, though it may be difficult to stay motivated while coping with (familiar) customs.

Fill in the Blank

Rewrite the underlined part of each sentence without changing its meaning.

 “I will take you to the airport”, he said.

He offered ....….... me to the airport.

Fill in the Blank

Rewrite the underlined part of each sentence without changing its meaning.

Despite not knowing anything about India, she decided to spend a semester there.

Although she …........... anything about India, she decided to spend a semester there.

Fill in the Blank

Rewrite the underlined part of each sentence without changing its meaning.

I didn’t call you from abroad because I misplaced your number.

I …................ you from abroad if I hadn’t misplaced your number.

Fill in the Blank

Rewrite the underlined part of each sentence without changing its meaning.

If you practice a language a lot, you will speak it more fluently.

The more you practise a language, ..........................................................

Fill in the Blank

Rewrite the underlined part of each sentence without changing its meaning.

We arrived early at the airport so as not to miss our flight.

We arrived early at the airport so that ….......................... our flight.

Fill in the Blank

Rewrite the underlined part of each sentence without changing its meaning.

It was impossible for him to travel yesterday because he was sick.

He …............................................................. yesterday because he was sick.