Choose among the words in parentheses the one that corresponds to the text above to complete the sentences: 1. Russia’s higher education system started with the foundation of the universities in Moscow and St. Petersburg ___ of the 18th century.

(a. at the beginning; b. in the middle; c. at the end)

2. The pursuit of higher education was and still is considered to be very ___.

(a. modern; b. fashionable; c. prestigious)

3. The right to education is stated in the ___ of the Russian Federation.

(a. regulations; b. laws; c. constitution)

4. Education in Russia is ___ up to the 9th form inclusive.

(a. free of charge; b. recommended; c. compulsory)

5. Institutes or universities offer 5-years ___ of academic subjects for undergraduates in a variety of fields.

(a. course; b. programme; c. plan)

6. The system of education in Russia began ___ over the past years.

(a. to change; b. to make experiments; c. to research)

7. The Bachelor’s degree is ___ after defending a Diploma project.

(a. presided; b. given; c. awarded)

8. The Master’s degree is awarded after completion of ___ years’ full-time study.

(a. three; b. two; c. four)

9. Nowadays the universities are still in the ___ of these changes.

(a. process; b. state; c. system)

1. At school, Tom Cruise did well at sports. At school, Tom Cruise was good at sports.
Explanation: We are looking for an adjective and preposition to replace the phrase "did well". The preposition should convey the idea of being proficient in something. From exercise 1, we can see the adjective "good" and the preposition "at". So, we can use "good at" to mean the same as "did well at".

2. Other kids laughed at Bill Gates because his only interest was computers.
Other kids laughed at Bill Gates because he was only interested in computers.
Explanation: We need to replace the phrase "his only interest" with an adjective and preposition. The preposition should convey the idea of being interested in something. From exercise 1, we can see the adjective "interested" and the preposition "in". So, we can use "interested in" to mean the same as "his only interest".

3. Kurt Cobain didn't like school, but he really liked his art teacher.
Kurt Cobain didn't like school, but he was fond of his art teacher.
Explanation: We need to replace the phrase "he really liked" with an adjective and preposition. The preposition should convey the idea of having positive feelings towards someone. From exercise 1, we can see the adjective "fond" and the preposition "of". So, we can use "fond of" to mean the same as "he really liked".

4. At his school, Tiger Woods was frightened by the other boys.
At his school, Tiger Woods was scared of the other boys.
Explanation: We need to replace the phrase "was frightened by" with an adjective and preposition. The preposition should convey the idea of being scared or afraid. From exercise 1, we can see the adjective "scared" and the preposition "of". So, we can use "scared of" to mean the same as "was frightened by".

5. Winston Churchill hated school, but he loved reading.
Winston Churchill hated school, but he was very passionate about reading.
Explanation: We need to replace the phrase "he loved" with an adjective and preposition. The preposition should convey the idea of having strong emotions towards something. From exercise 1, we can see the adjective "passionate" and the preposition "about". So, we can use "passionate about" to mean the same as "he loved".

"Large Storms Affecting Caribbean, US" - People in these areas are currently discussing and dealing with very large storms named Harvey, Irma, Jose, and Katia. These storms have been impacting the Caribbean, Mexico, and the southern United States. The purpose of giving hurricanes names like "Irma" is to make it easier to refer to them.

"Basketball: It’s Down To Two Teams" - In a few weeks, we will find out which team will be recognized as the best basketball team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The title will be awarded to one of two teams.

"Wizard" Teacher Transforms His Middle School Classroom Into A Magical Harry Potter Wonderland" - At the start of each school year, students are curious to see what surprises await them in their new classrooms. This year, an educator named Kyle Hubler from Oregon took the excitement to a whole new level. He transformed his classroom into a mini Hogwarts, with elements inspired by the famous Harry Potter series.

"Cassini Spacecraft Begins Last Stage Of 20-Year Mission" - In October 1997, a spacecraft called the Cassini orbiter was launched with the objective of exploring Saturn and its moons. Now, the spacecraft has reached its final stage after a 20-year-long mission.