(五) Before the clergyman named John Harvard passed away in 1638, he could not
have guessed how famous his name would become. He left his book collection and
some of his land to a college, which was to become a world-famous institution of
higher education. He also left the college his name, the name by which it has been
known for over three hundred and fifty years: Harvard. The oldest university in the
United States, Harvard, has become synonymous with achievement; to be a student at
Harvard is a great distinction. But, prestigious as it is now, the university sprouted
from pretty humble roots.
It all began in 1636 when the college was established in Massachusetts. Although
it was not a specifically religious establishment, its early curriculum was guided by
the Puritan philosophy of the early settlers. The college followed the classical system
of British universities such as Oxford and Cambridge. Ancient languages, logic and
grammar were all important but every subject was supposed to aid one’s
understanding of God and the Bible. Many of Harvard’s first students went on to
become Puritan ministers, preaching in churches around New England. By the
eighteenth century, however, Harvard was starting to shed its religious restraints and
widen its curriculum. Science, in particular, became more important. In addition to
Law School and Medical School, in the mid to late nineteenth century, Business
School, School of Arts and Sciences, and School of Dental Medicine were added.
Initially, Harvard consisted of only nine pupils and one teacher. Today, the
University has more than 18,000 degree students, twelve graduate schools and is
rightly regarded as one of the best Universities in the world. Seven presidents of the
United States have attended Harvard, as well as many prominent intellectuals.
Harvard’s proud academic tradition is reflected in the fact that many of the
university’s professors have received Nobel Prizes. Its namesake, John Harvard, could
never have imagined the glorious future that lay ahead, when he left the college his
property three and a half centuries ago.
【題組】72. In its early phase, the education at Harvard was to serve the purpose of _____.
(A) religion (B) fine art (C) law (D) history
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