At the same time, the new university greatly expanded in size and course offerings, breaking completely out of the old, constricted curriculum of mathematics, classics, rhetoric, and music. The president of Harvard pioneered the elective system, by which students were able to choose their own courses of study. The notion of major fields of study emerged. The new goal was to make the university relevant to the real pursuits of the world. Paying close heed to the practical needs of society, the new universities trained men and women to work at its tasks, with engineering students being the most characteristic of the new regime. Students were also trained as economists, architects, agriculturalists, social welfare workers, and teachers.

16. The word “ this ” in line 14 refers to which of the following?

A. Creating and passing on knowledge          B. Drilling and learning by rote

C. Disciplining students                               D. Developing moral principles

17. According to the passage, the seminar system encouraged students to.

 A. discuss moral issues                                    B. study the classics, rhetoric, and music

C. study overseas                                       D. work more independently

18. The word “ constricted ” in line 21 is closest in meaning to which of the following?

A. Mandatory                                             B. Limited

C. Challenging                                     D. Competitive

19. It can be inferred from the passage that before 1850, all of the following were characteristic of higher education EXCEPT________.

A. the elective system                                 B. drilling

C. strict discipline                                       D. rote learning