大学体验英语第一册Unit3-Passage A

Passage A
Clubs and Societies
Parties, drinking, eating - oh, and working - all help pass the time, but deep down there's something you're really eager to find, but you can't quite put your finger on. What you have been looking for, my friend, is the chance to throw yourself into the world of University Societies, and discover the huge range of activities which thrive in a city like Oxford¹.

OUSU is the Oxford University Student Union, a completely separate organisation² from the Oxford Union. It is there to support students from all the affiliated³ Oxford Colleges in a number of ways by, for example, offering various student support services such as the Student Advice Service and The Oxford Legal Student Advice Scheme. OUSU also produces its own publications like The OUSU Living Out Guide, The Oxford Directory, The Welfare Directory and Freshers' Guide.
Freshers' Fair is one of the most important events in the student calendar, and the focal point of freshers' week. It offers Oxford's 6 500 new students a unique opportunity to sample some of the activities going on in the city and University. It also gives the 350+ student societies that exist the chance to recruit eager new members. There are rooms and a large marquee set aside for companies offering student services to display their products and attract potential customers. Stalls are set out by category, such as sporting clubs, international societies, and religious organisations. It is entirely⁴ organised and run by OUSU, and takes place in the major rooms of Examination Schools on the High Street, on Thursday and Friday the first week in October each year.
The Oxford Directory is the definitive⁵ guide to the 300+ clubs and societies that exist at Oxford. Whether you're into Aikido or want to be an OU Young Farmer, there's a club in here for you. In addition, there's information about OUSU, your student union, and the services it offers. There are sections on University departments and agencies such as the Careers, Computing⁶ and Counselling Services.
The Oxford Union is the world's foremost debating society, with a deserved reputation for bringing international guests and speakers to Oxford. Since its foundation in 1823, the Oxford Union has been the only central student venue⁷ in the City and remains⁸ the social focus in this fragmented college system. The Union's aim is to serve its members by providing numerous facilities. It has a restaurant, two bars, two full-size snooker tables, the largest lending library for students in Oxford, and the only late-night student bar. In short, with over 10 000 resident members and roughly 85% of new students joining every year, the Union is the centre of University life in Oxford.
The Guild⁹ is the largest student society in Oxford, with over 2000 members drawn¹⁰ from all around the University. It aims to give its members the best view of the working world available without actually experiencing it first hand. It attracts all the top graduate recruiters, from all areas. And what makes this all the more remarkable¹¹ is that the Society and all its subsidiary organisations are entirely run by students, the members of the society. No other student society, anywhere, can offer as much exposure to the real working world, and graduate recruiters are increasingly aware of this fact. The Guild can give you the edge when it comes to interviews.

　　 Whether you want to pursue an existing interest or develop new ones, your first move should be to check out the bewilderingly large array of clubs at the OUSU　Freshers' Fair. With your Freshers' Fair ticket, you can get your hands on a brand-new edition of the comprehensive guide to all things at Oxford. If you miss the Fair, don't despair: you can see what societies are offered in the Oxford Directory , a handbook issued to you in Freshers' Week. Take a while to browse¹² through --- it's your one major chance to find out about what goes on in the University.

　　 The degree to which people get involved in societies varies a great deal. Some totally immerse themselves in a club, hardly speaking to anyone who isn't a member of that group for the next three years and rising to become a leader of the organization. Others prefer to take a more eclectic approach, being members of several societies and taking part in whichever of their events seem interesting. Many people, perhaps foolishly, completely ignore University societies and just hang out with mates in college.

　　 Societies offer a great chance to meet people from outside college, which, especially for arts students, is something it is sometimes difficult to do. But don't forget that most colleges2 have their own flourishing societies, which you may be able to join in your college during Freshers' Week. Music and drama are often popular and it is very easy to get some mates together and start something up. If you have ambitions to open up your new Shakespearian Rap Society3 to the whole University, you can register it with the University Proctors, who give out start-up grants and loans, among other benefits.

　　 One of the downsides, especially with larger societies, is the hacking¹⁴ which takes place. 'Hack¹³' is the negative term applied¹⁵ to those seeking advancement¹⁶ (usually to President) in whatever Club or Society, and some clubs such as the Oxford Union or the Guild Society tend to attract those with the spark of ambition more than others. When students suddenly remember their blank CVs5 which are supposed to secure them a highly paid job once they graduate, hackery¹⁷ is almost inevitable¹⁸. Do not be afraid, though: the vast majority of students tend to avoid such self-seeking behaviour and get on with life.

　　 With over 300 registered societies there really is something for everyone. Apart from the obvious political parties and sports clubs there are groups for all the main religions; societies interested in the society and culture of countries from China to Bulgaria, and UK regions from Scotland to Essex; charities for those interested in voluntary work, literature, music, drama and sci-fi; and a fair number of strange groups such as the LMH Pudding Society,the Oxford Stunt¹⁹ Factory and the Pooh Sticks Society. You won't get bored.

1 Oxford   

n.牛津（英国城市）

参考例句：

• At present he has become a Professor of Chemistry at Oxford.他现在已是牛津大学的化学教授了。
• This is where the road to Oxford joins the road to London.这是去牛津的路与去伦敦的路的汇合处。

2 organisation   

n.组织，安排，团体，有机休

参考例句：

• The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
• His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。

3 affiliated   

adj. 附属的, 有关连的

参考例句：

• The hospital is affiliated with the local university. 这家医院附属于当地大学。
• All affiliated members can vote. 所有隶属成员都有投票权。

4 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

5 definitive   

adj.确切的，权威性的；最后的，决定性的

参考例句：

• This book is the definitive guide to world cuisine.这本书是世界美食的权威指南。
• No one has come up with a definitive answer as to why this should be so.至于为什么该这样，还没有人给出明确的答复。

6 computing   

n.计算

参考例句：

• to work in computing 从事信息处理
• Back in the dark ages of computing, in about 1980, they started a software company. 早在计算机尚未普及的时代（约1980年），他们就创办了软件公司。

7 venue   

n.犯罪地点，审判地，管辖地，发生地点，集合地点

参考例句：

• The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
• The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。

8 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

9 guild   

n.行会，同业公会，协会

参考例句：

• He used to be a member of the Writers' Guild of America.他曾是美国作家协会的一员。
• You had better incorporate the firm into your guild.你最好把这个公司并入你的行业协会。

10 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

11 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

12 browse   

vi.随意翻阅，浏览；(牛、羊等)吃草

参考例句：

• I had a browse through the books on her shelf.我浏览了一下她书架上的书。
• It is a good idea to browse through it first.最好先通篇浏览一遍。

13 hack   

n.劈，砍，出租马车；v.劈，砍，干咳

参考例句：

• He made a hack at the log.他朝圆木上砍了一下。
• Early settlers had to hack out a clearing in the forest where they could grow crops.早期移民不得不在森林里劈出空地种庄稼。

14 hacking   

n.非法访问计算机系统和数据库的活动

参考例句：

• The patient with emphysema is hacking all day. 这个肺气肿病人整天不断地干咳。
• We undertook the task of hacking our way through the jungle. 我们负责在丛林中开路。

15 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

16 advancement   

n.前进，促进，提升

参考例句：

• His new contribution to the advancement of physiology was well appreciated.他对生理学发展的新贡献获得高度赞赏。
• The aim of a university should be the advancement of learning.大学的目标应是促进学术。

17 hackery   

n.两轮牛车

参考例句：

18 inevitable   

adj.不可避免的，必然发生的

参考例句：

• Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。
• The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。

19 stunt   

n.惊人表演，绝技，特技；vt.阻碍...发育，妨碍...生长

参考例句：

• Lack of the right food may stunt growth.缺乏适当的食物会阻碍发育。
• Right up there is where the big stunt is taking place.那边将会有惊人的表演。