ЕГЭ: Reading Part 2 #2

Moscow University is one of the oldest Russian institutions of higher education. It was named after Academician Mikhail Lomonosov, (A) ________ .

Mikhail Lomonosov was a person of formidable willpower and keen scientific mind, (B) ________ .

Lomonosov’s interests ranged from history, art and poetry to mechanics and chemistry. His activity was a manifestation of the enormous potential of Russia, (C) ________ .

Peter I the Great had reformed Russia, (D) ________ . Great importance was placed on education. In 1724, the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences established a university and a grammar school to educate intellectuals and researchers the country needed.

However, these educational establishments did not fulfil the task they had taken on. It was Michail Lomonosov who suggested the idea of establishing a university in Moscow. According to Lomonosov’s plan, there were originally three faculties. First all the students acquired a comprehensive knowledge in the field of science and humanities at the Faculty of Philosophy. Then they could specialize and continue at the Faculty of Phi¬losophy or join either the Law Faculty or the Faculty of Medicine. The best students were sent to continue their education abroad, establishing contacts with the international sci¬entific community. From the very beginning elitism was alien to the very spirit of the University commu¬nity, (E) ________ . The Decree stated that the university was to educate commoners.

Originally tuition at Moscow University was free for all students; later only poor students were exempt from tuition fees. The state funding did not cover all the Univer-sity expenses and it was partly funded by its patrons, (F) ________ . University alumni supported their alma mater through hard times raising money by public sub-scriptions. Moscow University played an outstanding role in popularizing science and learning in Russia. Professors of Moscow University greatly contributed to establishing new cultural centres in Moscow and Russia.