Commentary

1. St. Bartholomew's, St.Swithin's Hospitals: medical school in London

2. invigilator: a person who watches over students during exami­nations

3. Old Bailey: Central Criminal Court, situated in London in the street of the same name

4. the tripos: examination for an honours degree in Cambrige Uni­versity

5. firsts, seconds, thirds: a system of grading degrees

6. the viva (voice examination): an oral examination

7. Judgement day: also day of judgement — according to various religions (esp. Christianity), the day when, after the world as come to an end, God will judge everyone for the things they have done in life, and the dead will also rise up and be judged on their lives' actions.

SPEECH PATTERNS

1. An examination is nothing more than an investigation of a
man's knowledge.

She is nothing more than unsophisticated child of nature. Erudition is nothing more than a possession of recondite, profound, or sometimes merely bookish knowledge.

2. However, I'm not worried. They never read the papers
anyway.

— You needn't worry about the meals. She never has anything for breakfast anyway.

— I'm sure she is perfect for you. Anyway, I didn't mean to imply she was deficient.

3. «His father will have him go in for medicine,» the housemaster
said.

None can have him wear a formal dress for any function. The examiner will have him give the proper answer.

4. Now that you are well again, you can travel.

Now that you are through with the problem you can do anything. Now that he's become a graduate student, he can go in for research.

Phrases and Word Combinations