Read the following passage and choose the correct answer to each of the questions.

The entire education system in Vietnam is now facing several crises such as out-of-date course curricula, a lecturer-centered method of teaching and learning, research activities separated from teaching activities, a big gap between theory and practice that leads to a large number of graduates being unable to find a job, and the fact that degrees from Vietnamese universities are not recognized worldwide. There is, therefore, a huge demand for quality educational services.

Teaching methods delivered in the public school system are very teacher- oriented. You will find that the students are quite studious and very disciplined in the classroom. The more successful students are those who can absorb the given material and transfer the knowledge to their notebooks as in class debate is not entirely welcome in every class. This is a sharp contrast to western classroom settings where participation and challenging of materials has a greater focus.

Students are arranged by class number and do not move from classroom to classroom between classes. They also stay together as a small group for their entire elementary, junior- high, or high-school levels in one location per grade. The teachers are the ones who float from classroom to classroom making it difficult for the Vietnamese teacher to establish a room of their own. This is where western students develops much needed social skills, whereas the Vietnamese students develop a stronger group bond. The end result though, is the severe shyness in many Vietnamese when introduced to a new group of people and the need to interact. It becomes even more apparent at the university level.

The word ‘absorb’ in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to