【正确答案】five

【答案解析】[听力原文] British Educational System Today I'll talk about the British educational system, including the primary and secondary education and the higher education in Britain. First, Ill briefly introduce the primary and secondary education in Britain. In England and Wales, students study in primary school from age five until eleven. They attend secondary school until age sixteen. Before graduating, students usually take seven comprehensive exams, called the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) exams. After passing the GCSE exams, students choose to study two to four subjects intensely for the GCE Advanced Level exams, called 'A levels'. At eighteen, they enter higher education to focus on a particular subject called a 'course'. Now let's move on to the higher education in Britain. First, Ill talk about the general practices in England and Wales, and then the general practices in Scotland. In England and Wales, prospective university students apply for places through the Universities Central Council on Admissions (UCCA). Students do not apply directly to the universities themselves. Successful candidates are admitted directly into a specific degree 'course'. A degree course normally takes three or four years to complete. At most universities students study only one major subject. Each course is structured with a fixed program of classes for the entire three years. Increasingly, universities in the United Kingdom are offering classes on a modular basis, which allows students to broaden their studies creating a more interdisciplinary program. At a British university, more emphasis is placed on independent, self-directed study than in the United States. Classes often take the following forms: lectures, which are sometimes completely optional; tutorials, in which a small number of students meet with the lecturer; and seminars, larger discussion classes often based upon seminar essays. In Scotland, there are a variety of tertiary level options available for students, the most important of which are the colleges of further education, the central institutions, teachers colleges and the universities. The colleges of further education provide vocational and technical education, and enroll more students than all other tertiary institutions combined. Central institutions provide courses leading to the Higher National Diploma (HND), bachelor's degrees and some specialized master's degrees. These institutions do not have the authority to directly validate degrees and tend to offer a narrower range of subjects than the universities. Many have close ties to local businesses, offering cooperative work experiences that provide students a period of practical training. Scottish universities are quite distinct from their British counterparts. In fact, they more closely resemble European or American universities. The standard Scottish university degree is a four-year Honors degree (BA Hons). Students are rarely admitted directly to a degree 'course'. Usually they are admitted to a faculty or simply admitted to the university as a whole. Scottish university students begin with a broad-based program during the first year and choose a specialization after the second or even the third year. Students may also elect to complete a three-year Ordinary degree. This is a broad-based degree that does not represent a 'failed' Honors degree. With this, were coming to the end of today's lecture. Next time, well talk about university degrees. ...students study in primary school from age five until eleven. (第二段第二句) 根据定位句可知，学生在5岁是开始上小学，故填five。

【正确答案】higher education

【答案解析】At eighteen， they enter higher education to focus on a particular subject called a “course”. (第二段最后一句) 根据定位句可知，在18岁时，他们开始接受高等教育，着重于一个称为课程的具体的特殊学科，故填higher education。

【正确答案】Degree courses

【答案解析】Successful candidates are admitted directly into a specific degree “course”. (第四段第三句) 根据定位句可知，成功的候选人直接加入一个具体的学位课程的学习中。同时，需要注意的是所填词位于句首，应注意大小写，故填Degree courses。

【正确答案】modular

【答案解析】..universities in the United Kingdom are offering classes on a modular basis，which allows students to broaden their studies creating a more interdisciplinary program. (第四段最后一句) 根据定位句可知，英国的大学在模块的基础上提供教学，这会使学生们扩展他们的学习，创造一个跨学科的项目，故填modular。

【正确答案】independent and self-directed

【答案解析】At a British university，more emphasis is placed on independent, self-directed study than in the United States. (第五段第一句) 根据定位句可知，英国大学比美国大学更加强调独立自主的学习，故填independent and self-directed。

【正确答案】lectures

【答案解析】Classes often take the following forms; lectures，which are sometimes completely optional... (第五段第二句) 根据定位句可知，授课采取以下授课方式:讲座，这种讲座有时是完全可供学生选择的，故填lectures。

【正确答案】available

【答案解析】In Scotland, there are a variety of tertiary level options available for students，the most important of which are the colleges of further education，the central institutions，teachers colleges and the universities. (第六段第一句) 根据定位句可知，在苏格兰，有多种可供学生多项选择，其中最重要的是继续教育，中央机构，高校教师和大学的学院，故填available。

【正确答案】technical

【答案解析】The colleges of further education provide vocational and technical education，and enroll more students than all other tertiary institutions combined. (第六段第二句) 根据定位句可知，进一步教育学院提供职业技术教育，并招收比其他所有大专院校更多的学生相结合，故填technical。

【正确答案】local businesses

【答案解析】Many have close ties to local businesses，offering cooperative work experiences that provide students a period of practical training. (第六段最后一句) 根据定位句可知，许多人密切联系当地企业，提供协同工作经历，为学生提供一个时期的实践培训，故填local businesses。

【正确答案】Honors degree

【答案解析】In fact, they more closely resemble European or American universities. The standard Scottish university degree is a four-year Honors degree (BA Hons). (第七段第二、三句) 根据定位句可知，事实上，他们更接近欧洲或美国的大学。标准的苏格兰大学学位是一个为期四年的荣誉学位(荣誉学士)。同时，需要注意的是所填词位于句首，应注意大小写，故填Honors degree。