Oxbridge - Review 4

C2 Proficiency · Open Cloze · Close-up C2, National Geographic Learning

For questions 1–8, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space. Use only one word in each space.

On the (9) ___ of it, Oxford and Cambridge are (10) ___ identical. In fact, they are so alike that they are referred to with a single word: Oxbridge. (11) ___ with their world-class universities, ideal locations on charming rivers and stunning architecture, you would expect the obvious similarities between them to reflect a deep underlying unity. You would, however, be wrong. In the world of academia, (12) ___ fiercer rivalry exists than that between Oxford and Cambridge. This (13) ___ of affairs has existed since the early 13th century, when scholars fleeing hostile townsfolk in Oxford settled in Cambridge. There they established a new university that, for the (14) ___ part, was exactly the same as the one they had just left. While Oxford has produced countless heads of government, Cambridge prides itself on being a world leader (15) ___ the field of science. Its illustrious alumni include authorities (16) ___ physics and biology such as Newton and Darwin. But the rivalry holds just as strongly in sport where the annual boat race and rugby match are major events.

Oxbridge

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