成人高等学历英语作2-5(仅供参考).docxVIP

2-5 ( 总分: 52 ) Reading (6分) 1. Although Thomas Jefferson did not begin the effort of designing the University of Virginia until late in his life, the education of the common man had occupied his thoughts for decades. He believed ignorance (无知) to be the enemy of freedom, and he wanted to correct what he considered to be the weaknesses of educational institutions (机构) modeled on European settings. He imagined that an “academical village” around a tree-lined lawn would provide an ideal setting in which to pursue higher education. The center of such a village would be a Temple of Knowledge that would house the university library.When Virginia decided to set up a state university in 1818, the retired U.S. President finally was able to devote his talent, time, and energy to creating this new kind of educational institution. By the time he was finished with his design, Jefferson had invented an entirely new American setting for higher education: the college campus.In 1812, Jefferson chose to begin building his “academical village,” the University of Virginia, in Charlottesville, VA, far away from the city center. He intended this spot to promote learning because it was natural and unspoiled, and far from anything that could distract or harm the students. The University consists of two rows of houses, five on each side, leading to a main building. This main building, the Rotunda, became the most important part of the University, because it contained the library. By focusing his entire institution on the library, instead of around the church, Jefferson revolutionized American university architecture.Jefferson’s aim was to create a new institutional form for his ideal educational system, a system he thought should give every citizen the information he needs for carrying out his daily business. This new approach to citizensip and education demanded a new type of university, one where students and professors could coexist and share ideas. He attempted to create this env