P： Mary, you look confiused. What’s up?
P：玛丽，你看起来一脸疑惑。怎么啦？
M： Hi, Phil! I couldn’ t puzzle out the organization of the Oxford University, though I thought about it the whole night yesterday.
M:你好，菲尔！虽然我昨天苦苦思索了一晚上，但我还是弄不明白牛津大学的 结构。
P: Oxford University? Why do you pay attention to it?
P:牛津大学？你怎么关注起它来了？
M: Well, I read an article about the school life in the University of Oxford. I found it was very interesting, so I want to know more about it.
M:是这样的，我前几天看到过一篇有关牛津学习生活的文章。我觉得很有意思， 所以就想多了解一些关于牛津的讯息。
P: Oh. One of my good friends studies in the Oxford University, and we always talk about the topic. Wish I could help you!
P：哦。我有个好朋友在牛津大学读书，我们曾经谈论过有关的话题。希望我能 够帮到你！
M: Wonderful! Would you please tell me the relationship between the Oxford University and its colleges?
M:太棒了！那你能给我讲讲牛津大学和它的学院之间的关系吗？
P： Ok! The relationship between the University of Oxford and its colleges is not obvious to anyone who has not experienced it. As thus, it’s natural for you to feel confused.
P:好的！对于任何一个设有在牛津大学读过书的人来说，牛津大学和它的众学 院之间的关系都是很不明显的。所以，你感觉迷惑也是很正常的。
M: You don’ t need to comfort me, go ahead!
M:你不用安慰我了，快说吧！
P: There are 38 independent， self-governing colleges all together at Oxford University. The colleges are the basis of undergraduate life— they live, eat and do their laundry④ at their colleges.
P:牛津大学总共有 38个独立自治的学院。学院是本科生生活的主要场所，他们在自己的学院里吃、住和洗衣。
M: Well, where do they have their classes?
M:那他们在哪里上课？
P: Much of their learning take place within the college walls, though lectures and seminars may take place in university departments or lecture rooms in other colleges. By the way, there are more than 70 departments in the University at the present time.
P:虽然他们会在学校的各个系和.报告厅 里上课或参加研讨会，但是很多时候 他们都在自己的学院学习。顺便说一下，牛津大学目前有 70多个系。
M: It seems that each college has its own library, right?
M:好像每个学院都有自己的图书馆，对吧？
P: Quite right! Undergraduates usually use their college libraries, not the Bodleian, which is the central University library. There are of course exceptions~ department libraries and the Radcliffe Camera of the Bodleian Library.
P:完全正确！本科生一般使用的是他们自己学院的图书馆，而不是牛津大学的 中央图书馆，即牛津大学图书馆。当然也有例外，本科生也会使用系里的图 书馆和牛津大学图书馆的拉德克里夫图书馆。
M: What a large number of libraries the University has!
M:牛津大学的图书馆也太多了吧！
P： Yeah. Actually, facilities such as libraries are provided by the central university, the departments, and colleges. The library provided by the central university is called as the Bodleian Library. Each department has its own individual departmental library. Moreover, all colleges maintain a multi-discipline library for the use of their members.
P：是的。事实上，像图书馆这样的设施是由中央大学、院系、以及学院一起提 供的。由中央大学提供的图书馆叫作牛津大学图书馆。每个系都有自己独立 的系图书馆。而且，所有的学院都有一个多学科的图书馆以供其学员使用。
M： That sounds good! There are so rich resources, no wonder it produced that many excellent people all around the world.
M:听起来很不错！牛津的资源这么丰富，难怪会培养出那么多的世界精英。
P： Exactly. Do you still have questions?
P:—点儿也设错。你现在还有疑问吗？
M: Yes, the last question -~ who is responsible for examninations and the degreegranting?
M:是的，最后一个问题——考试和学位证书颁发是由谁负责呢？
p： Academic supervision is college-based and there are periodic college exams. However, the university is the degree-granting body and sets the exams required to obtain a degree.
P：学术监管是基于学院的，因此有定期的学院考试。但是，学校是学位颁发的 主体，它组织学位考试。
M: I’ve got it! That is to say. nobody graduates from a college.
M:我明白了！就是说没有人是从学院毕业的。
P: That’s right!
P：对板了！
M: Thank you for your time! It’s very kind of you!
M：谢谢你！你真是太好了！
P: Don’ t mention it!
P：别客气！
