A boy of 14 has become the youngest student to win a place at Cambridge University. Arran Fernandez, who was 16 at home by his father, Neil, will 17 a mathematics degree at Fitzwilliam College next month and he hopes to have a career as a research mathematician to 18 the Riemann hypothesis(黎曼猜想) that has confused the brightest minds. It will make him the youngest Cambridge student 19 14-year-old William Pitt the Younger studied there in 1773.
Last night the child genius said: “I am looking forward to going to the 20 . I have started the first-year books 21 and it is all right, not too 22 . I can understand it. I am excited about going to Cambridge, 23 I am used to making records about being the youngest in education. It isn’t the youngest moment that is so important to me-- 24 I’m more interested in going to Cambridge than comparing 25 with other people who go there.”
But 26 his age he will not be able to 27 many of the alcohol-fuelled festivities(庆典) traditionally 28 to Freshers’ Week. “I don’t think I’m missing too much fun,” he insisted. “Even if I was 18, I wouldn’t want to go out 29 . ”
Arran, 30 plans to join the bird-watching society instead and go boating while at university, was five when he 31 the youngest person to be 32 a GCSE (General Certificated of Secondary Education), after passing maths. He was offered the 33 to learn at Cambridge in 2010, when he was 14, on the condition he gained an A-level in physics, which he 34 with an A+ grade. Arran had already gained an A grade in further maths last year.
Cambridge also asked him to attend three GCSEs in subjects which were not related to maths and physics to 35 his knowledge. He gained A+s in English literature and French and an A in English language this summer.
16. A. educated B. equipped C. arranged D. evaluated
17. A. run B. operate C. end D. start
18. A. work out B. make out C. help out D. break out
19. A. before B. after C. since D. but
20. A. festivities B. lectures C. contests D. literature
21. A. especially B. already C. hardly D. gradually
22. A. difficult B. easy C. interesting D. boring
23. A. therefore B. but C. additionally D. and
24. A. fortunately B. merely C. actually D. mentally
25. A. it B. them C. themselves D. myself
26. A. because of B. instead of C. except for D. as for
27. A. pick out B. join in C. pick up D. join up
28. A. added B. addicted C. related D. encouraged
29. A. smoking B. singing C. drinking D. dancing
30. A. who B. which C. that D. he
31. A. turned B. seemed C. grew D. became
32. A. presented B. awarded C. rewarded D. submitted
33. A. tendency B. treaty C. profit D. opportunity
34. A. improved B. achieved C. reserved D. represented
35. A. reduce B. improve C. broaden D. insure