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OXFORD: More Than an Education 牛津大学：古色古香的魔法学园

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Steeped in history, cloaked in prestige, and not rarely subject to allegations of elitism, the University of Oxford is famous around the world. Whether a student desperately desires to win admission to this esteemed institution, or whether he dismisses it as outdated and pretentious, the university is the “crème de la crème” of higher education.

牛津大学闻名于世，它浸淫在历史的氛围中，披著名校的外衣，并经常被指控为精英主义。不论学生是亟欲在这间备受尊崇的机构中占得一席，还是鄙视它过时、自负、牛津大学无疑是高等学府中的佼佼者。

Oxford is the oldest surviving university in the English-speaking world, dating back at least as far as the 11th century. It consists of 38 colleges, which were gradually united under the umbrella of Oxford University. These colleges are run independently, but they all function on the basis of tutorials, supported by lectures and individual faculty facilities such as libraries, lodgings, and common rooms. Oxford’s long and successful history has, of course, produced numerous notable graduates, from Nobel prize winners and economists to world leaders and actors. But the university is known for more than just its distinguished alumni. The mystique of Oxford is recurrent in popular culture, too.

牛津大学是英语系国家中最古老的大学，其历史可追溯至11世纪。它的体系之下共有38所学院，在历史上逐渐统合后成为牛津大学。这些学院皆独立运作，但都以个别或小组授课为教学基础，配合着讲座与各独立系所的设施，例如图书馆，宿舍以及师生交谊厅。牛津大学辉煌长久的历史当然也培育出许多知名毕业生，从诺贝尔奖得主、经济学家，到世界领袖与演员皆囊括在内。但牛津大学的名声可不只在于其杰出校友。它的神秘面纱在大众文化中亦不断出现。

It’s a combination of Oxford’s rich past, excellent reputation, and beautiful architecture that inspires its prominent position in our hearts and minds. We recognize the university’s Bodleian Library – the second-largest in Britain – from the Harry Potter films: it becomes Hogwarts’ hospital wing. A James Bond film, the recent movie An Education, and the hit TV series Lost have also featured the campus. Perhaps Oxford’s most famous association with popular culture stems from Lewis Carroll – who spent most of his life as a student and teacher there – and his novels, Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass. Alice Liddell, daughter of an Oxford dean at the time, was the girl on whom Carroll based the world-famous character, and some scenes from his stories are set in and around the Oxford campus.

牛津大学丰富悠久的历史、远播的名声和古朴雅致的建筑，这三者的结合使它在大众心中举足轻重。我们可以在哈利波特电影中发现到牛津的「博德里图书馆」成了霍格华兹的医院厢房──这间图书馆是英国第二大的图书馆。007系列的其中一部电影、最近的《名媛教育》和热门电视影集《Lost档案》都在牛津校园取景过。但在牛津与大众文化的关系里，最为人所知的大概是刘易斯．卡罗的小说《艾丽斯梦游仙境》和《艾丽斯镜中奇遇》──卡罗几乎一生都待在牛津当学生和讲师。艾丽斯．莉朵是牛津当时一名系主任的女儿，卡罗笔下世界闻名的女主角便是以她为雏型。故事里许多场景也以牛津的校园为背景。

The University of Oxford is much more than academia and bookishness. It is also a place where magic happens.

牛津大学可不只是学术研究与不停读书；它是充满魔法的奇妙学园。

－by Alice Davis

Vocabulary

单词发音

steep [ˋstip] v. 使埋頭，使沉湎；使充滿[H][（+in）]

admission [ədˋmɪʃən] n.（学校，会场，俱乐部等的）进入许可，加入许可

esteemed [əˋstimd] adj.【书】受人尊敬的

institution [͵ɪnstəˋtjuʃən] n. 公共团体，机构

pretentious [prɪˋtɛnʃəs] adj. 自负的；自命不凡的

lecture [ˋlɛktʃɚ] n. 授课；演讲

lodging [ˋlɑdʒɪŋ] n. 寄宿，借宿

notable [ˋnotəb!] adj. 值得注意的，显著的

recurrent [rɪˋkɝənt] adj. 反复出现的

combination [͵kɑmbəˋneʃən] n. 结合，合并

reputation [͵rɛpjəˋteʃən] n. 名誉，名声

stem from 源于…﹐来自…

More Information

单词发音

cloak [klok] v. 用斗篷覆盖; 掩盖; 掩饰[（+with/in）]

not rarely 不罕见 almost

allegation [͵æləˋgeʃən] n. 断言; 指控; 宣称

elitism [ɪˋlitɪzəm] n. 精英主义

crème de la crème 【法】精华，最优秀分子  something superlative

tutorial [tjuˋtorɪəl] n. 导师的个别指导

alumni [ə`lʌmnaɪ] n. [plural]【美】校友

alumnus [əˋlʌmnəs] n.【主美】男校友；男女合校之男女校友

mystique [mɪsˋtik] n. 神秘性; 神秘色彩

prominent [ˋprɑmənənt] adj. 卓越的；重要的

wing [wɪŋ] n.【建】侧厅，厢房  a structure attached to and connected internally with the side of a main building

dean [din] n.（大学的）学院院长; 系主任

academia [͵ækəˋdimɪə] n. 学术界; 学术环境; 学术生涯

bookishness [ˋbʊkɪʃnɪs] n. 书呆子气

Reading Questions

1.  According to the article, why is the University of Oxford “famous around the world”?

A.  Because Lewis Carroll’s Alice attended the institution.

B.  Because it’s every student’s dream to go there.     

C.  Because it has a long, admirable history.

D.  Because students can study magic there.

2.   Which of the following is NOT true about the university?

A.  It has existed for more than 11 centuries.

B.  Many important people studied there.

C.  Its library is one of the largest in the UK.

D.  It is made up of nearly 40 colleges.

3.   What is the main point of the article?

A.  To discuss the advantages of going to Oxford.

B.  To present two different sides to Oxford.

C.  To describe Oxford’s structure and buildings.

D.  To warn against Oxford’s old-fashioned ways.

Studying at Oxford University

Harry Potter Dining Hall @ Christ Church, Oxford

(Original 1951) Alice In Wonderland Trailer

Answer