Cultural Notes:
1. HertfordCollege was founded in 1740. It is one of the 38 colleges of Oxford University. It is made up of three quads which are joined by a pedestrian bridge called the Bridge of Sighs, after a similar bridge in Venice. Former students include the poet John Donne, the philosopher Thomas Hobbes, the satirist and writer Jonathan Swift, and the novelist Evelyn Waugh. It was also one of the first Oxford colleges to admit women.
2. Sharing a room refers to two or more people living in one bedroom. In Britain, students may share university accommodation but they more often have their own bedrooms and share the bathroom and the kitchen.
3. First name and family name: in English-speaking countries and many Western countries, people have a first name and a family name. The first name is often called the Christian name, or given name. It goes before the family name. The family name is also surname. It always used to be the father's name, and a woman always used to change hers to her husband's family name upon marriage.This is still common, but these days many women keep their own family name. Some fathers and mothers give their children two family names.
4. PPE is short for Politics, Philosophy and Economics. It combines study from the three disciplines, and was originally only offered at the University of Oxford, but is increasingly being offered at universities elsewhere.
Cultural Notes:
1. Studying modern languages normally means that students study two languages, probably chosen among French, German, Spanish, Italian, sometimes among Portuguese, Dutch, Swedish or Eastern European languages."Modern" is distinct from "classic", like Latin and Greek and, usually, from "Oriental" languages, like Chinese, Japanese, Korean and so on.
2. The Oxford Union Society usually referred to as the Oxford Union, is a university debating society similar to the Cambridge Union Society at Cambridge University. Dating from 1823, it provides a forum for sophisticated debating of ideas among students. The Oxford Union has featured many world-class speakers, including many prime ministers and presidents of different countries, and has been a place where many of Britain's famous speakers have developed their eloquence. Before each formal debate there is a 45-minute optional informal debate for students on a current issue (the topic is chosen a few days ahead by members). This gives first-time speakers a chance to practice their debating skills. The formal debate features a motion,or proposal, with two main speakers who support it and two who oppose it. After their contributions, other students speak or ask questions beforevotes are taken for and against the motion. Topics for the debate may be political or ethical issues or controversial topics, or simply light-hearted topics, for example, This House accepts that aliens exist.
3. Summer Eights is an annual series of rowing events over four days in which teams from different Colleges compete in races on the River Thames. An “eight” is rowing boat with eight oarsmen/women and a cox (who steers the boat). The best-known race is the Oxford versus Cambridge Boat Race on the River Thames. Members of the first teams for rowing and other sporting events between Oxford and Cambridge receive the sports honor of a blue（蓝色荣誉，因牛津和剑桥赛队的队服都为蓝色，牛津为深蓝，剑桥为浅蓝）. Dark blue represents Oxford and light blue represents Cambridge.
4. Subfusc refers to the formal academic dress worn during exams and degree ceremonies. The term comes from the Latin subfuscus, meaning "dark clothes". The gowns date from the Middle Ages, when scholars were members of the Church and wore ecclesiastical clothes to classes.
Work in pairs. See how much do you know about the Ivy League.
1. Number of institutions
2. Sporting importance
3. Academic importance
4. Social importance
5. Location
6. Origion of name
7. Oldest institution
8. Largest number of undergraduates
9. Acceptance rate
10. Famous alumni
