擁有美麗風光的劍橋大學。（中央社黃貞貞）
Oxbridge 撰文及考題設計 英國文化協會 Jeremy Beacock
N
o one in the UK has ever studied at Oxbridge, but everyone knows where it is – or rather,
where they are. The name is a compound of two of the
Influence
world’s most famous universities, Oxford and Cam-
Thanks to their position as the only two universities
bridge. The two universities are traditionally rivals,
in England until the 1820s, Oxford and Cambridge were
but they have a great deal in common: a shared history
centres for the country’s intellectual life. Cambridge
and structure and a central role in the intellectual, po-
alumni include the physicist Newton (Trinity), the bi-
litical and social life of the UK.
ologist Darwin (Christ’s College), and Oxford boasts
History and Structure
116
visitors demanding to see “The University”.
figures such as dictionary writer Dr. Johnson (Pembroke) and political economist Adam Smith (Balliol). Their
The first clear references to teachers and students
dominance has continued into the 20th and 21st cen-
at Oxford was in 1169. Cambridge, founded by a
turies, with the two having 131 Nobel prizes between
splinter group of Oxford scholars, is a little younger,
them : 32 of them held by Trinity College, Cambridge.
dating from 1209, although neither were recognized
But the two have not just had an intellectual influ-
formally as universities until the middle of the 13th
ence. They have had an enormous effect on the UK’s
Century. Their special collegiate system stems from
political history, too. 26 of the UK’s Prime Ministers,
the slow growth of the universities over the following
including the current incumbent, David Cameron,
centuries.
went to Oxford – 13 at one college alone, Christ
Each university is made up of associations of col-
Church. 13 more past Prime Ministers went to Cam-
leges, with each college having roughly 500-1000 mem-
bridge, and only 3 prime ministers were not Oxbridge
bers, including both teaching staff and students. Colleg-
graduates.
es have their own buildings and their own identity. For
This effect does not make everyone happy, how-
example, the oldest college in Cambridge is Peterhouse,
ever. Their admissions procedures are often criticized
founded in 1258, and maintains its own traditions, such
for favouring students from private schools over state
as a Latin grace at college meals. On the other hand,
school students. Although only 7% of British pupils
Oxford’s newest college, Kellog College, was created
attend a fee-paying school, they make up 40% of Ox-
in 1990 – and only accepts postgraduate or mature stu-
bridge undergraduates. Many people feel the universi-
dents. People are often confused by this system, and
ties should do more to encourage applicants from state
there are jokes, probably apocryphal, about bewildered
schools, since many are put off by the perception that
全球中央雜誌 2014.12
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英 倫 聚 焦
the two universities are only for the rich and powerful.
people, a visit to Oxbridge is as much about the idyllic
This need not worry the casual visitor though, since
surroundings and the experience of punting along the
the beautiful buildings and romantic settings of both
river as it is about the university’s shared history of in-
universities are free for tourists to enjoy. For many
tellectual discovery and social influence.
「牛橋」大學 中譯 林仟懿 （中央社編譯）
國從沒有人念過牛橋大學 ，但大家都知道這
英
橋校友包括畢業於三一學院（Trinity）的物理學家牛
所學校在哪，或者說，它們在哪。牛橋是全球
頓和基督學院（Christ's College）畢業的生物學家達
兩所最知名學府─牛津與劍橋的複合詞。這兩所大
爾文，牛津則以字典編撰學者詹森博士（彭布羅克學
學傳統上是競爭對手，但卻有許多共同點，兩者有相
院Pembroke畢業）和政治經濟學家亞當•史密斯（貝
同的歷史與編制，也都在英國的知識界、政壇與社會
里奧爾學院Balliol）畢業為傲。兩所學府到了20與21
生活中扮演著重要角色。
世紀仍居龍頭地位，總共培育出141位諾貝爾學者，其
歷史與編制
中劍橋的三一學院就囊括32位。 但它們的影響力不只在學術界而已，對英國的政
英國歷史首度明確記載牛津師生是在西元1169
治史也有重大影響。英國史上共有26位首相，包含
年，劍橋則由一群分家出去的牛津學者於1209年創
現任的卡麥隆，都是牛津大學畢業生，其中半數畢業
建，時間略晚於牛津。不過兩者直到13世紀中才正式
於牛津基督教堂學院，另外13位畢業於劍橋，只有三
被承認為大學。它們特殊的學院制度，源自於之後幾
位前首相非牛橋畢業生。
世紀間大學的緩慢發展。
但並非所有人都樂見這番影響力。牛橋兩所大學
兩所大學都由多個學院所組 成，每 個學院各 有
的入學程序常被批評為偏頗私立學校畢業生，而較
500到1,000名左右的成員，包括教職員工和學生。學
不青睞公立學校畢業生。即便只有7%的英國學子就
院有各自的大樓和特性，例如劍橋最古老的學院是
讀私立學校，他們卻占牛橋大學部學生的四成。許多
1258年創立的彼得學院（Peterhouse），至今仍保留多
人認為牛橋校方應該更進一步鼓勵公立學校畢業生
項傳統，像是在學院用餐時間以拉丁文禱告。另一方
申請，因為這兩所大學是權貴子弟專屬的印象，讓許
面，牛津最年輕的學院則是1990年成立的凱洛格學
多人打了退堂鼓。
院（Kellog），這裡只收研究生或熟齡學生（註1 ）。
不過一般訪客倒不需要擔心這些，因為兩所學校
民眾多半不了解這項制度，於是流傳了一些笑話（可
的美麗建築物和浪漫環境都開放給觀光客自由參
能是虛構的），取笑那些不明就裡、吵著要參觀「大
觀。對許多人來說，造訪牛橋兩所大學除了感受它們
學」的訪客（註2）。
共同的學術成就和長久的社會影響力之外，欣賞風
影響
景優美的環境和體驗河上撐船更是兩大重點。 註1：熟齡學生指入學時年滿21歲。
牛津和劍橋大學在1820年代為止是英格蘭唯二的 兩所大學院校，所以過去一直是英國學術的重鎮。劍
註2：牛津和劍橋大學沒有單一的大學校園，而是由數十個學院 各自獨立的建築與校區所構成。
CNA NEWSWORLD
117
Key Words rivals [n] – 對手 competitors
dominance [n] – 掌控 control over something
splinter group [phrase] – 分支；小派別 a smaller group which breaks away from another
incumbent [n] – 現任者 the person currently occupying a position
grace [n] – 基督教餐前禱告 a Christian blessing said before a meal
favouring [v-ing from favour(v)] – 偏好 to prefer
apocryphal [n] – 虛構的probably just a story
applicants [n] – 申請人；應徵者people who apply for something
alumni [n, pl] – 校友 former students of a particular university
idyllic [adj] – 愉快的、祥和的 from idyll, a very pleasant, peaceful place
boasts + object [v] – 引以為傲 has and is proud of
雅思考試粉絲團： www.facebook.com/ielts.testcentre
雅思考試模擬試題 IELTS questions
Questions:
Multiple Choice Question 1 & 2:
Choose the best TWO answers from the available options. Oxford and Cambridge have a number of similarities, including A.Their long histories. B.Their influence on British sports. C.The unique clothing students wear.
Name & Location
Date of Other information Foundation
Peterhouse, (3)________
1258
Latin grace; (4) ________ college.
Balliol, Oxford
1263
Adam Smith
Trinity, Cambridge
1546
Home to (5)_________ and 32 Nobel prize winners.
(6) ________ , 1546 Oxford
13 Prime Ministers
Pembroke,(7) __________
1624
Dr. Johnson, dictionary writer.
Kellog College, 1990 Oxford
Only accepts (8) _________________ students.
D.Their intellectual importance. E.Their relations to other universities
Questions 9 – 10:
F.Their geographical locations.
Are the following statements TRUE, FALSE, or NOT GIVEN?
Complete the notes about the various Oxford and Cambridge colleges mentioned in the article. Use no more than THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER.
9. Oxford and Cambridge have not been successful at recruiting students from ethnic minorities. 10. 60% of their intake comes from government run schools.
1&2. A, D (any order) 3. Cambridge 8. Postgraduate and mature students
Questions 3-8:
4. Oldest 5. Isaac Newton 9. NG 10. T.
6. Christ Church
7. Oxford
Answers 118
全球中央雜誌 2014.12