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    The University of Birmingham is the first excellent UK Russell Group university to announce that it will accept the "Gaokao" exam for high-flying Chinese students wishing to join its undergraduate courses in 2019. High school students who complete the "National Higher Education Entrance Examination", or Gaokao, with top grades will be able to apply for direct entry onto Birmingham degree programmes without first completing a foundation year which is a routine for the freshman.

Gaokao is usually taken by students in their last year of senior high school and, every year, each province in China sets the grades required to gain admission to its universities. It is usually held across China in early June. Students are tested in Chinese, Mathematics, a Foreign Language and social sciences or natural sciences.

University of Birmingham Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir David Eastwood said: "The University of Birmingham has been challenging and developing great minds for more than a century. We welcome people from around the globe to study at Birmingham and Chinese students form an integral part of our education and research community. We are further opening access to Birmigham?s wealth of education opportunities for the brightest and most dedicated Chinese students by accepting this strict and important qualification. I look forward to welcoming these high-flying students to the University of Birmingham. "

Gaokao is increasingly accepted by universities in Australia, the USA, Canada and mainland Europe. Birmingham will only be considering high quality students who achieve a minimum 80% Gaokao score and meet additional academic and English language requirements.

Professor J on Frampton, Director of the University of Birmingham?s China Institute said: "The University of Birmingham has a long history of educating students from China and one of our most famous graduates is Li Siguang-the founding father of Chinese geology. I am delighted that the University is now accepting the Gaokao. This gives the brightest and best Chinese students an opportunity to move straight into the first year of our undergraduate programmes and experience the benefits of studying at a global Top 100 university, such as Birmingham. "

1.What do Chinese students have to do to enter the University of Birmingham before 2019?

A. Score over 80% of the university?s qualification examination.

B. Prepare Birmingham degree programmes.

C. Acquire the right to permanent residency.

D. Go through a foundation year.

2.Who is the announcement intended for?

A. Chinese students.

B. All people living in the UK.

C. The students of the UK.

D. The foreign students in China.

3.Which of the following best explains "integral" underlined in paragraph 3?

A. complete.                            B. indifferent.

C. necessary.                           D. unimportant.

4.What does the text mainly talk about?

A. The introduction to the "Gaokao" of China.

B. The University of Birmingham?s admission to Gaokao.

C. The high quality students accepted by top universities.

D. The history of the University of Birmingham.