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Article 445.
Welcome to the virtual university and budget learning
Introduction
Read Pilar's comment which was written after reading the article "Welcome to the virtual university and budget learning" and answer the question below. Mouse over the underlined words to find out what they mean.
Universities are here to stay
By Pilar Lopez
Published: 2013-03-01

One thing that really makes humans unique is the ability to pass on our knowledge. Without this, each generation would have to start from scratch.

Universities are society's primary way of distributing advanced knowledge. As technology makes this distribution more efficient, such as offering information online for free, some worry that the current university business model will break.

Although their business models will need to change, I believe that universities are an important component of a developed society. They will change, but they will always be necessary, no matter how they share knowledge.

Is the following statement True or False?
Pilar thinks there will be no universities in the future.
Reading
Now read the original article Pilar read and answer the questions below.
Welcome to the virtual university and budget learning
By Gillian Tett
Published: 2 February 2013

When I was a student I had to physically go to lectures, meet tutors and borrow books. Today's students can download ebooks, skype with a tutor and watch lectures on an iPad. It seems the internet is becoming a huge threat to universities.

L. Rafael Reif, the president of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, says they started putting their courses online ten years ago. "Instead of coming to class, many of our students now just look at material on (the internet)," he says.

In some ways, this is very liberating. Sebastian Thrun, a professor at Stanford, for example, put his course on artificial intelligence online two years ago. Since then hundreds of thousands of people around the world have completed it, including Khadijah Niazi, a 12-year-old Pakistani girl.

But the popularity of online education could destroy universities' economic models. If students can download a course on their iPad, they might question why they need to go to a university at all, especially in a country such as the US where there is now almost $1tn of student debt.

"Since 1980 the cost of higher education has gone up 400 per cent…the system is incredibly broken and needs to be reinvented," says Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal.

Personally, I am hoping this revolution will reduce costs, and before my kids go to college.

From the Financial Times © 2013. All Rights Reserved.

Reallyenglish is solely responsible for providing this abstract of the original article and the Financial Times Limited does not accept any liability for the accuracy or quality of the abstract.

Question 1

The writer of the article thinks that her university experiences were

Question 2

According to L. Rafael Reif, many students at his university don't

Question 3

How many people have learnt about artificial intelligence from Professor Sebastian Thrun?

Question 4

According to the article, free online education may cause students to

Question 5

Which statement best describes Peter Thiel's view on education in the US?

Comment
Now you have read the article, what do you think of Pilar's comment? Do you agree or disagree? Leave a comment to let us know what you think about the topic.
Pilar's View:
Universities should receive more financial support from governments.
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Skills Training
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Highlight the word, phrase or sentence in the text that best answers the question.
Question 1 of 5
In this paragraph, which word is similar in meaning to "a warning, risk, or danger"?
When I was a student I had to physically go to lectures, meet tutors and borrow books. Today's students can download ebooks, skype with a tutor and watch lectures on an iPad. It seems the internet is becoming a huge threat to universities.
Sorry! Check the highlighted part of the text for the correct answer.
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Question 2 of 5
In this paragraph, which word means "available on the internet"?
L. Rafael Reif, the president of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, says they started putting their courses online ten years ago. "Instead of coming to class, many of our students now just look at material on (the internet)," he says.
Sorry! Check the highlighted part of the text for the correct answer.
Well done! You got it!
Question 3 of 5
In this paragraph, which word is opposite in meaning to "real, or actual"?
In some ways, this is very liberating. Sebastian Thrun, a professor at Stanford, for example, put his course on artificial intelligence online two years ago. Since then hundreds of thousands of people around the world have completed it, including Khadijah Niazi, a 12-year-old Pakistani girl.
Sorry! Check the highlighted part of the text for the correct answer.
Well done! You got it!
Question 4 of 5
In this paragraph, which word means "break, or ruin completely"?
But the popularity of online education could destroy universities' economic models. If students can download a course on their iPad, they might question why they need to go to a university at all, especially in a country such as the US where there is now almost $1tn of student debt.
Sorry! Check the highlighted part of the text for the correct answer.
Well done! You got it!
Question 5 of 5
In this paragraph, which word means "very, or to a great degree"?
"Since 1980 the cost of higher education has gone up 400 per cent … the system is incredibly broken and needs to be reinvented," says Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal.
Sorry! Check the highlighted part of the text for the correct answer.
Well done! You got it!
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Word Match
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student
a person officially learning something, usually in a school
freshman
a first-year member of an organisation, especially a high school, college, or university
diploma
a certificate given to someone who has completed a course of extended study
seminar
a class at college or university consisting of a discussion between advanced students and their teacher
exam
a set of questions designed to measure a student's knowledge or ability in a certain area of study
tutorial
a form of instruction at college or university where an individual or small group of students study with a tutor
lecture
a long talk, usually to teach someone something educational
professor
a senior teacher in a university
Choose the word that best fits the meaning above.
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Blockbuster
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When I was astudent I hadto physically goto lectures,meet tutors andborrow books.Today's students candownload ebooks,skype with atutor and watchlectures on an iPad.It seems theinternet is becominga huge threatto universities.
L. Rafael Reif,the president ofMassachusetts Institute of Technology,says they startedputting their coursesonline ten years ago."Instead of comingto class,many of ourstudents now justlook at materialon (the internet),"he says.
In some ways,this is very liberating.Sebastian Thrun,a professor at Stanford,for example,put his courseon artificial intelligenceonline two years ago.Since then hundredsof thousands ofpeople around theworld have completed it,including Khadijah Niazi,a 12-year-old Pakistani girl.
But the popularityof online educationcould destroy universities'economic models.If students candownload a courseon their iPad,they might questionwhy they needto go toa university at all,especially in acountry such asthe US wherethere is nowalmost $1tn ofstudent debt.
"Since 1980 thecost of highereducation has goneup 400 per cent…the system isincredibly broken andneeds to be reinvented,"says Peter Thiel,co-founder of PayPal.
Personally, I amhoping this revolutionwill reduce costs,and before mykids go to college.
Words Per Minute: 80
Total Words: 198
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