De nuevo, la Universidad de Harvard se sitúa como la mejor universidad del mundo. En general, las universidades europeas han caído varios puestos desde el pasado año y las universidades chinas han mejorado. Ente las 100 mejores universidades hay universidades coreanas, brasileñas y turcas pero, por supuesto, no hay ninguna española.

The top 100 list of world universities for 2012 shows Harvard, in Massachusetts, USA, at number one again. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is at number two and the University of Cambridge, in the UK, comes number three. The country with the most reputable universities in the world is the USA according to the global reputation ranking. In fact, there are seven USA universities at the top ten.

The list is made by 17,554 leading academics from 149 countries who have rated campuses across the world according to how good they thought their research and teaching were.

UK's leading universities, Cambridge and Oxford, have dropped several places since last year but England still has by far the best universities in Europe, with the Imperial College of London and the University College London among the 21 best universities in the world. At place 22 we find the best European university out of the UK: the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland.

Harvard University is number one in the top 100 list of most reputable universities as it did last year, according to data put together by The Times and Thomson Reuters. But what's interesting are the subtle changes from last year´s list: some of the UK's leading universities have dropped several places since last year, while China's universities have improved their performance. China is expanding its higher education system faster than most other countries in the world. Nevertheless, these trends have not yet changed the overall results of the countries producing the most reputable universities.

Surprisingly, Brazil and Turkey have universities at the top 100: the University of Sao Paulo and the Middle East Technical University, in Ankara. The fact that Spain and Italy do not a have a university among the top 100 is a bit worrying. The situation of Spain´s high education is dramatic and the government´s new policies are not likely to change the situation very much: Spanish universities are centres for pathetic politization rather than places for study and research.

Only countries with strong, independent and competitive universities will leave the crisis behind and will lead the world in the future.

                                                                                                   Oxford University, United Kingdom

TEST YOUR ENGLISH

A. Are the following statements true or false?

- The United Kingdom has some of the best universities in the world.

- New York University is the best university in the world.

- Brazil and Turkey have universities at the top 100.

- China is not expanding its higher education.

- The situation of the Spanish universities is dramatic.

B. Translate the following sentences into English (Past simple)

B1- PET

- Shakespeare nació en Inglaterra.

- ¿Cuándo nació la reina?

- Los amigos de Jack jugaron a fútbol ayer.

- Nuestro profesor trajo un libro antiguo la semana pasada.

- Su (de él) hermana no escribió una carta el martes pasado.

B2- FCE

- Mi jefe no voló a Londres porque cancelaron la reunión.

- ¿Por qué no viniste al cine el sábado pasado?

- El coche se averió así que no llegamos a la reunión a tiempo.

- Como hacía mucho calor ellos finalmente no fueron a la playa.

- ¿Cuántas naranjas compraste en el supermercado ayer por la tarde?

C1- CAE

- A mi hermano le arreglaron el coche en ese taller la semana pasada.

- Los amigos de Mark cogieron el avión a Atlanta, después alquilaron un coche para llegar a Memphis y finalmente condujeron a través de Tennessee durante una semana.

- ¿Cuándo fue la última vez que tus amigos visitaron España?

- Lo pasamos muy mal intentando cambiar el neumático bajo la nieve.

- Les tocó la lotería así que pagaron la casa al contado.

RESPUESTAS A “TEST YOUR ENGLISH” Nº 3

A. Are the following statements true or false?

- The United Kingdom consists of three countries or regions. F

- Scotland is the biggest country of the United Kingdom. F

- In 1707 England conquered Scotland. F

- The cross of St. George is white. F

- A red dragon is one of the symbols of Wales. T

B. Translate the following sentences into English (Past simple)

B1- PET

- England didn´t conquer Scotland.

- When did England and Scotland join together?

- We flew to London last week.

- Bob´s friends drank beer last Saturday.

- What did you buy at the supermarket?

B2- FCE

- I didn´t enjoy the concert very much because it was crowded.

- We were very thirsty so we drank three bottles of water.

- England and Scotland joined together and formed an only nation three hundred years ago.

- Who called you last night?

- Who did you call last night?

C1- CAE

- My brother worked at that factory for fifteen years but they shut it down and they sacked all workers.

- Jake graduated in 1997 and then he lived in London for three years before his uncle offered him that job in Scotland.

- My boss had a go at me for being late last Monday.

- Who did you have to go to the meeting in New York with?

- Mary´s sister went into politics when she left university.

NOTA: algunas oraciones y expresiones pueden ser traducidas de varias formas. Si tienes dudas, puedes consultarme a través de los mensajes de la sección o a través de mi correo: mserranohuguet@gmail.com.