Passage 2

Oxford and Cambridge – two universities so similar that they are often spoken of together as “Oxbridge”. They're both in the UK, fairly near London, and both regularly come top in any ranking(排名) of the world's best universities.

The two universities began within a century of each other. Oxford University, now 900 years old, was founded towards the end of the 11th century. In 1209 there was a dispute (争端，纠纷，争论) between the university and the townspeople of Oxford. As a result, some of the Oxford teachers left and founded a university in the town of Cambridge, some 84 miles away. Ever since then, the two institutions （organizations） have been very competitive.

Unlike most modern universities, both Oxford and Cambridge consist of(be composed of, be made up of ;由……组成，构成) a large number of colleges. Oxford has 38 and Cambridge 31. Many of these colleges have old and very beautiful architecture, and large numbers of tourists visit them.

In all UK universities, you need good grades in the national exams taken at 18. But to get into Oxford and Cambridge, it's not enough to get A grades in your exams. You have to go for a long interview. In these interviews, students need to show that they are creative and capable of original （原创的；origin:起源；originate：v.起源于）thinking.

Through the centuries, both universities have made huge contributions to British cultural life. They have produced great writers, world leaders and politicians. Cambridge, in particular, has produced scientists whose discoveries and inventions have changed our lives.

Among the great university institutions is the world's most famous debating society（辩论社）, the Oxford Union, where undergraduates（本科生） get a chance to practise speaking in public. Cambridge's comedy (喜剧；tragedy : 悲剧)club Footlights has produced many first-class (一流的) comedians, while some of the UK's most famous actors and actresses began their careers at The Oxford University Dramatic Society, known as OUDS. Then there's the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, which takes place every year in March or April, and is watched on television all over the UK.

So with all this excellence in so many fields, it's not surprising that the ambition of clever students all over the world is to attend either one of these great universities.

Answers: 

9.
1. b; 2. d; 3. d; 4. b ; 5, a