背誦為王第三冊第09課

Oxford
What is so special about Oxford and Cambridge, the two oldest universities in England? Why do so many students want to study there? Both of these university towns are very beautiful. They have some of the finest architecture in Britain. Some of their colleges, chapels and libraries are three, four or even up to seven hundred years old and are full of valuable books and precious paintings. Both towns have many lovely gardens where the students can read and relax in the summer months.
Oxford is the older university of the two. The first of its colleges was founded in 1249. The university now has 34 colleges and about 12000 students. Many of them are from other countries. There are no women students at Oxford until 1878 when the first women's college Lady Magaret Hall opened. Now women study at all colleges but one for monks in training. Oxford is of course famous for its first class education as well as its beautiful buildings. It boasts a quiet atmosphere, friendly collgues, and the four hundred year old Boadlin library which has over five million books. It is not easy to get a place at Oxford University to study for a degree. But outside the university there are many smaller private colleges which offer less difficult courses and where it is easy to enroll. Most students in these private schools take business, secretarial or English language courses.