英语听力精选进阶版 7235（在线收听）

Background: 对大多数人来说，一生中至少会收到一封拒绝信，可能是申请工作或者是报考大学。牛津大学作为英国的顶级院校每年会寄出无数封拒绝信，不过这一次，牛津大学却被一个申请者给拒绝了，此事现已成为人们茶余饭后的笑料。

Nineteen-year old Elly Nowell from Winchester in the south of England applied to the Oxford college of Magdalen to read law, but when she was invited for interview she decided she didn't like what she saw.

Elly, who is finishing her A-levels, told the BBC that Oxford resembled the British Monarchy in that it was what she called ridiculous and elitist, but unlike the Royal Family, was rarely mocked. Her actions may well change that. Following her interview at Magdalen College, Elly wrote a rejection letter to the University using the kind of language that officials employ when they're trying to let somebody down gently.

Elly admits that her letter of rejection to the University was not entirely serious, but it has raised some important points. Oxford and Cambridge universities are often accused of elitism and of having entrance procedures that favour students from private schools.

Yet Oxford says it's changing and that last year more than half of its academic offers went to pupils from state schools. As for Elly, she now hopes to gain a place at University College London. The admissions staff there may well be watching the mailbox very closely.

Glossary 词汇表

A-levels 英国中学高级水平考试

to resemble (something) 效仿什么

ridiculous 荒谬的

elitist 过于提倡精英主义

to be mocked 被嘲弄

a rejection letter 拒绝信

to employ 采用

to let somebody down 让某人失望，回绝某人

procedure 程序

a state school 公立学校

Questions:

1: What did Elly Nowell compare Oxford University to?

To the British Monarchy.

2: What kind of language did Elly use in her letter to Oxford University?

The same kind of language that staff at Oxford University use when they want to inform a student that he was rejected without causing offence or distress.

3: True or false? Oxford and Cambridge universities are often accused of having rules that favour students from state schools.

False. Both universities are often accused of having entrance procedures that favour students from private schools.

4: What words are used to refer to university officials that receive application forms from students?

Admissions staff.