Passage B
Warm-up Activity
1.How much do you know about your major?
2.Does your major have any specific requirement to enroll students,such as a good performance on English or maths?
Develop Your Understanding
Computer Science BA 3 Years
or Master of Computer Science 4 Years
Computer Science is about...
Understanding computer systems and networks at a deep level.Designing and using them effectively presents immense challenges.Meeting these challenges is the aim of Computer Science as a practical discipline,and this leads to some fundamental questions:
■ How can we capture in a precise way what we want a computer system to do?
■ Can we mathematically prove that a computer system does what we want it to?
■ How can computers help us to model and investigate complex systems like the Earth’s climate, financial systems or our own bodies?
■ What are the limits to computing? Will quantum computers extend those limits?
present / prɪ'zent / v.提出；呈现
immense / ɪ'mens /a.巨大的，广大的
discipline / 'dɪsɪpIɪn /n.学科；训练；纪律
lead to 导致;把……带到
fundamental / ,fʌndə'mentI /a.基本的；根本的
capture / 'kæptʃə / v.俘获；捕获；夺得
precise / prɪ'saɪs / a.清晰的；准确的
mathematically / ,mæθɪ'mætɪkəIɪ/ad.算术地；数学上地
model / 'mɒdI / v.建模；模仿
investigate / ɪn'vestɪgeɪt / v.调查；研究
Computer Science can be studied for three（Bachelor degree）, or four years（Master of Computer Science）.The fourth year allows the study of advanced topics and an in-depth research project.Everyone applies for the four-year course and chooses their exit point at the beginning of the third year.
The course concentrates on creating links between theory and practice.It covers a wide variety of software and hardware technologies and their applications.We are looking for students with a real f lair for mathematics, which you will develop into skills that can be used both for applications and computer systems.You will also gain practical problem-solving and program-designing skills; the majority of subjects within the course are linked with practical work in our well-equipped laboratory.
Common roles for graduates include computer programmer, software designer and engineer,financial analyst and scientific researcher.
A 2014 Sunday Times report revealed Oxford Computer Science graduates to be the country’s top earners, six months after graduation.
quantum computer 量子计算机
Bachelor degree 学士学位
Master of Computer Science计算机硕士
apply for 申请；应用
exit point 退出点(文中指“学生毕业之时的去向”)
flair / fIεə / n.资质；才能
majority of 大多数；大部分
analyst / 'ænəIɪst/ n.分析师
graduate / 'grædjʊeɪt/ n.毕业生
Check Your Study
Activity 1
Read the passage quickly and f ill in the blanks.
Computer Science
The objectives:
Understanding computer 1）__________ at a deep level.Designing and using them effectively.
Length of study:
Three years for 2）__________; Four years for Master Degree.
Courses:
A）Create links between 3）__________.
B）Cover software and hardware technologies and their applications.
C）Develop practical 4）__________ and program-designing skills.
Future jobs:
Include computer programmer, software designer and engineer, 5）__________ and scientific researcher.
Activity 2
Read the passage carefully and complete the following sentences.
1.What are the challenges for computer science students?
____________ computer effectively presents immense challenges.
2.What will the students learn in their fourth year?
The fourth year allows the study of ____________ and an in-depth research project.
3.When can the student choose their exit point?
They chooses their exit point ____________ of the third year.
4.What are the requirements for computer science students?
We are looking for students with ____________ for mathematics.
5.How much could Computer Science graduates earn?
They are the country’s ____________.
Further Your Skills
Exercise 1
Fill in each blank with the proper form of the word given in brackets.
1.I was able to（gain）____________ invaluable experience over that year.
2.A survey of the British diet has（reveal）____________ that a growing number of people are overweight.
3.The images were（capture）____________ by Aaron Von, a famous French photographer.
4.The crime is presently being（investigate）____________ by the police.
5.This film（concentrate）____________ on the European market.
Exercise 2
Complete the sentences by translating the given Chinese into English.
1.Peter （申请）British citizenship last year.
2.Our hotel is a （设备齐全）hotel with excellent service standards.
3.（绝大多数）people seem to prefer TV to radio.
4.Lack of exercise can （导致）feelings of depression.
5.I seem to remember giving you very （明确的指令）.
Exercise 3
Let’s sort out the vocabularies in this unit and then build your dictionary.
