英语国家概况》英国部分课后问题答案（1-2章）Chapter 1 land and people
1.what are the differences between Britain and the British Isles，Great Britain，England，the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth？The British Isles，Greant Britina and England are geographical names，no the official names of the country，while the official name is the United Kingdom，but the full name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.The British Commonwealth is a free association of independent countries that were once colonies of Britian.
2.Describe the geographical position of Britian？
Britain is an island country. It lies in the north Atlantic Ocean off the north coast of Europe.It is separated from the rest of Europe by the English channel in the south and the North Sea in the east.
3.Whereabouts in Great Britain are mostly highland and lowland？
The north and west of Britain are mainly highland， while the south and south-east are mostly lowlands.
4.Does Britain have a favourable climate？ why？ Yes，it has a favourable climate， because it has a maritime type of climate——winters are mild，not too cold and summers are cool， not too hot.It has a steady reliable rainfall throughout the whole year.It has a small range of temperature，too.
5.what are the factors which influence the climate in Britain？ Which part of Britain has the most rainfall and which part is the driest？ The factors which influence the climate in Britain are the following three：1）The surrounding waters balance the seasonal differences；2）the prevailing south-west winds bring warm and wet air in winter and keep the temperatures moderate；3）the North Atlantic Drift，a warm current，passes the western coast of the British Isles and warms them.
The northwestern part has the most rainfall，while the south-eastern corner is the driest.
6.Describe the distribution of Britain‘s population.
Britain has a population of 57 million. It is densely populated， with an average of 237people per square kilometre. It is also very unevenly
distributed ， with 90%of the population in urban areas，10% in rural areas. Geographically， most British people live in England. Of the total of 57 million people， 47 million live in England， 14 million live in London and Southeastern England.
7.What are the three natural zones in Scotland？ The three natural zones in Scotland are ： the Highlands in the north， the central Lowlands ，and the southern Uplands.
8.What is the difference between the ancestors of the English and Scots， Welsh and Irish？
The ancestors of the English are Anglo-Saxons，while the Scots，Welsh and rish are Celts.
9.What are the differences in character and speech between southern England and northern England？ How do the Welsh keep their language and culture alive？
The Welsh are emotional and cheerful people.The Scots are hospitable ，generous and friendly.Irish are known for their charm and vivacity as well as for the beauty of their Irish girls.
Throughout the year they have festivals of song and dance and poetry called Eisteddfodau.On these occasions competitions are held in Welsh poetry，music，singing and art and in this way they keep the Welsh language and Welsh culture alive.
10.What is the main problem in Northern Ireland？
Hundreds of years ago Scots and English Protestants were sent to live in Northern Ireland.Since then there has been bitter fighting between the Protestants and the Roman Catholics.The former are the dominant group，while the latter are seeking more social，plitical and economic apportunities.The british Government and the government of Ireland are now working together to bring peace to Northern Ireland.
Chapter 2 The Origins of a Nation
1.What do you know about the Roman invasion of Britain？
In 55 BC and 54 BC， Julius Caesar， a Roman general， invaded Britain twice. In AD 43， the Emperor Claudius invaded Britain successfully.For nearly 400 years Britain was under the Roman occupation. Though it was
never a total occupation. British recorded history begins with the Roman invasion.
2.Why was the Roman influence on Britain so limited？
Britain was under the Roman occupation for nearly 400 years. The Romans built many towns，roads，baths，temples and buildings.They make good use of Britain‘s natural resources.They also brought the new religion，Christianity，to Britain.However，although Britain became part of the Roman Empire，Roman influence upon Britain was very limited.The Romans treated the Britains as a subject people of slave class.they never intermarried.The romans has no influence on the language or culture of ordinary Britains.
3.Who were the Anglo-Saxons and how did the Heptarchy come into being？
The Anglo-Saxons referred to the three Teutonic tribes who invaded Britain in the mid-5th century.They were Jutes，Saxons and Angles.
In the 7th century， the Anglo-Saxons invaded Britain and the three tribes settled in different part of Britain which was divided into many small kingdoms of Kent，Sussex，Wessex，East Anglia，Mercia and Northumbria.So they have been given the name of Heptarchy.
4.How were the early Anglo-Saxons converted to Christainity？
The Anglo-Saxons brought their own Teutonic religion to Britain when they invaded Britain，and Christianity was only a fringe belief.So， in 579，Pope Gregory I sent St. Augustine to England to convert the heathen English to Christianity.Augustine was very successful in converting the king and the nobility， and became the first Archbishop of Canterbury.But the conversion of the common people was largely due to the missionary activities of the monks in the north.Many samll monasteries sprang up throughout the ocuntry.
5.What contributions did the early Anglo-Sasons make to the English state？
Though the anglo-Saxons were brutal people， they laid the foundation of the English state.Firstly， the
modern names of “England”and “English”derived from the Angles.Secondly，they divided the country into shires， with shire courts and shire reaves， or sheriffs， responsible for administering law.Thirdly ，they divised the narrow-strip，three-field farming system which continued to the 18th century.Fourthly ，they also eatablished the manorial system， whereby the lord of the manor collected taxes and organized the local army.Finally ， they crated the Witan to advise the king， the basis of the Privy Council which still exists today.
6.Who were the Vikings and how did they invade Britain.？
The Vikings were the Norwegians and the Danes from Denmark.They attacked various part of England from the end of the 8th century. They became a serious problem in the 9th century，especially between 835and 878. They even managed to capture York， an important center of Christianity in 867. They gained control of the north and east of England.
7.What do you know about king Alfred ？ What makes him worthy of the title of “Alfred the Great”？
Alfred was the king of Wessex. He defeated the Danes who attacked England and reached an agreement with them in 879. The Danes gained control of the north and east， while Alfred ruled the rest. He also converted some leading Danes into Christains.
Alfred is known as “the father of the British navy” as he founded a strong fleet to beat the Danes at sea， to protect the coasts and to encourage trade. He recogonized the Saxon army to make it more efficient. He even translated Bede‘s Ecclesiastial History of the English people from Latin to English. He also establish schools and formulated a legal system. All this makes him worthy of his title“Alfred the Great”。
8.Why did the William the Conqueror invade England after Edward‘s death？
It was said the king Edward had promised the English throne to William，but the Witan chose Harold as king. So ， William led his army to invade England. In October 1066， during the important battle of Hastings，William defeated Harold and killed him. On Christmas Day， William was crowned king of England， thus beginning the Norman Conquest of England.
9.what were the consequences of the Norman conquest？
The Norman Conquest of 1066 is one of the best known events in English history， It brought about many consequences.
William confiscated almost the land and gave it to his Norman followers. He replaced the weak Saxons rule with a strong Norman government.So the feudal system was conpletely established in England. Relations with the continent were opened， and civilization and commerce were extended. Normand-French culture，language，manners，and architecture were introduced.The church was brought into closer connection with Roma，and the courts were separated from the civil courts.
10.Why do we say that the English nation is a mixture of nationalities of different orgins？
The population of Britain is made up of the English ，the Scotish，the Welsh，the Irish，the Northern Irish and other peoples. The formation
is complicated because England was invaded by different races at various times from Europe.
Besides the early settles，the Iberians，and the Celts，including Gaels and Britons， Roman occupied Britain for nearly 400 years after 55BC. Then the invasions of Anglo-Saxons helped to form English race and language and laid the foundation of the English state. After that， was the invasions of the Vikings and Danes.Finally， in 1066， William of Normandy invaded England and began the age of the Norman Conquest which resulted in great French influence.
Therefore，many different people of different origins are living in Britain.That‘s th e reason why we say English nation is a mixture of nationalities of different origins.
Chapter 3 The Shaping of the Nation
1.What was feudalism like in England under the rule of William the Conqueror？
Under the rule of William the Conqueror，the feudal system in England was completely established. According to this system， the king owned all the land personally.William gave his barons large estates in returnfor military services and a proportion of the land‘s produce.These estates were scattered all over the king. Then， the barons parceled out land to the lesser nobles，knights and freemen，also in return for goods and services.At the bottom of the feudal scale were the serfs. One peculiar feature of the feudal system of England was that all landowners must take the oath of allegiance not only to their immediate lord，but also to the king.
2.How did King Henry II consolidate the monarchy？
Henry II took some measure to consolidate the monarchy. He forced the Flemish mercenaries to have England； recalled grants of Royal lands made By Stephen；demolished scores of castles built in Stephen‘s time；strengthened and widened the powers of his sheriffs and relied for armed support upon a militia composed of English freemen.
3.How did king Henry II reform the courts and the law？ Henry II was the first king of the House of Plantagenet.he greatly strengthened the king‘s Court and extended its judicial work.In Henry II’s reign a common law，which over-rode local law and private law.In Henry‘s day the jury system was at last replacing old English ordeals by fire and water and old Norman trials by battle.
4.What was the quarrel between king Henry II and Thomas Becket？ The Great Council of Henry II drew up the Constitutions of Clarendon in 1164 to increase the jurisdiction of the civil courts at the expense of the church courts.Becket reluctantly signed the Constitutions.but shortly afterwards rejected them.Henry II was so angry that he drove Becket into exile.
5.What was the contents and the significance of the Great charter？Contents：no tax should be made without the approval of the Grand Council；no freeman should be arrested，imprisoned，or deprived of his property except by the law of the land；the Church should possess all its rights，together with freedom of elections；London and other towns should retain their ancient rights and privileges，and there should be the same weights and measures throughout the country.
It was a statement of the feudal and legal relationship between the Crown and the barons，a guarantee of the freedom of the Church and a limitation of the power of the king.
6.Why and how did the English Parliament come into being？ Henry
III‘s many measure was brought matters between he and barons to a head.and the barons force the king to swear and accept the Provisions of Oxford.
Simon de Montfort summoned in 1265 the Great Council to meet at Westminster， together with two knights from each country and two burgesses from each town，a metting which has been seen as that the earliest parliament.
7.What were the causes of the Hundred Years‘ War？ The causes were partly territorial and partly economic.
8.What harm did the Black Death do to the English society？ The Black Death swept through England in 1348-1349 without warning and any cure.It reduced England‘s population from four million to two million and the economic consequences were far reaching.
Much land was left untended and there was a terrible shortage of labour. The surviving peasants were in favourable position to demand higher wages and changed their serfdom into paid labourers. So the government issued statutes of Labourers to protect the interests of landowners. These repressive measures and a series of poll taxes caused much hatred and resulted in the Peasant Uprising in 1381.
9.what do you kn ow about Wat Tyler‘s Uprising？ The uprising broke out in Kent and Essex in 1381 and was led by Wat Tyler and Jack Straw.
Tyler led the mared villagers to occupy London. The king was forced to accept their demands. Most of the rebels dispersed and went home， while Tyler and other leader stayed on for more rights. Tyler was killed at a meeting with the king，who suppressed the Uprising brutally.
Although the Uprising failed，it had great importance in English history. It directed against the rich clergy， the lawyers and the landowners. It effectively blew the serfdom，and a new class of yeomen farmers emerged，paving the way for the development of capitalism.
10.Who were the Lollards？what role did they play in the Peasant Uprising of 1381？
The Lollards were poor priests and travelling preachers who were John Wyclif‘s followers in the 14th century. They went about preaching the equality of men before god. The most famous one was John Ball. Their ideas provided mental preparation for the Peasant Uprising of 1381.
Chapter 4 Transition to the Modern Age
1.What do you know about the nature and consequences of the Wars of the Roses？
In 1453 England was at last defeated in the Hundred Years‘ War， at this time power in England was in the hands of a number of rich and ambitious nobles. Because the Hundred Years’ War ended，they had to seek a new outlet for their ambition by a attempt to dominate the government at home . There was also a mass of unemployed soldiers. In 1455，war broke out between the House of Lancaster，symbolized by the red rose，and that of York，symbolized by the white rose.
Although the Wars of the Roses were waged intermittently for thirty years， ordinary people were little affected. Feudalism received its death blow. The great medieval nobility was much weakened and discredited. The king‘s power became supreme. From then on，five Tudor monarchs ruled England and Wales for over two hundred years.
2.Why and how did the Reformation happen in England？ And what was the effect？
The reform began as a struggle for a divorce and ended in freedom from the Papacy（罗马教皇）。
They stressed the power of the monarch and certainly strengthened Henry‘s position. Parliament had never done such a long and important
piece of work before；His attack on the Pope’s power encouraged many critics of the abuses of the Catholic Church to expect some movement wawy from Catholicism towards Protestant ideology.
3.How did Queen Elizabeth deal with the religious problem after she became Queen of the country？
Elizabeth‘s religio us reform was a compromise of views. She broke Mary’s ties with Rome and restored her father‘s independent church of England， i.e. keeping to Catholic doctrines and practices but to be free of the Papal control. Her religious settlement waas unacceptable to both the extreme Protestants known as Puritans and to ardent Catholics.
4.What do you know about the English Renaissance？
The English Renaissance had 5characteristics：1）English culture was revitalized not so much directly by the classics as by contemporary Europeans under the influence of the classics； 2）England was a great extent independent of the course of history elsewhere in Europe； 3）owing to the great genius of the 14th century Chaucer，the native literature was sufficiently vigorous and experienced in assimilating foreign influences without being subjected by them； 4）English Renaissance literature is primarily artistic，rather than philosophical and scholarly；and 5）the Renaissance coincided with the Reformation in England.
5.What was the absolute rule of James I of England？ How did the Puritans think about the King‘s rule？
He is a firm believer in the Divine Right of Kings.
In early time they were happy to have James as king because the Scottish Church was a pure Protestant Church with democratically elected officials.but later they increasingly suspected him of being a secret Catholic. And James had little sympathy with their demands.
6.What do you know about the Gunpowder Plot of 1605？
The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 was the most famous of the Cathlic conspiracies. On November 5， 1605， a few fanatical Catholics attempt to blow King James and his ministers up in the House of Parliament where Guy Fawkes hadn planted barrels of gun-powdeer in the cellars. The immediate result was the execution of Fawkes and his fellow-conspirators and the imposition of severe anti-Catholic laws.
7.How did the Civil Wars break out？What were the consequences of the Civil Wars？
King Charles I rejected the demands of the Parliament ，and the Parliament concluded that the only way it could impress it views on such a king would be to defeat him in battle.
Charles was condemned to death.
The English Civil War not only overthrew feudal system in England but also shook the foundation of the feudal rule in Europe.It is generally regarded as the beginning of modern world history.
8.What were the Commonwealth and the protectectorate？
After king Charle‘s execution in 1649， Oliver Cromwell and the Long Parliament declared England a Commonwealth. One of Cromwell’s firs t acts was to crush without mercy a rebellion in Ireland. Another was the suppression of the Levellers， a group within his own army.
In 1653， Cromwell became Lord protector of the Commonwealth of England. He instituted direct military rule by dividing the coutry into 11 districts commanded by major generals. The characteristics of this Period were：the destruction of numerous treasures in churches and cathedrals throughout the country； establishment of colonies and colonial trade； religious toleration for all；and greater understanding of the economy；
9.Why did the Restoration take place？
When Oliver Cromwell died in 1658 and was succeeded by his son，Richard，The regime began to collapse. One of Cromwell‘s generals occupied London and arranged for new parliamentary elections. The Parliament thus was elected in 1660， and to resolve the crisis， it asked the late king’s son to return from his exile in France as king Charles II， It was called the Restoration.
10.How did the “Glorious Revolution”break out？ What was the significance of it？
In 1685 Charles II died and was succeeded by his brother James II. James ， who was brought up in exile in Europe， was a Catholic. He hoped to rule without giving up his personal religious views. But England was no more tolerant of a Catholic king in 1688 than 40years ago. So the Protestant king ， William of Orange， to invade and take the English
throne. William landed in England in 1688. The takeover was relatively sommoth， with no bloodshed，nor any execution of the king. This was known as the Glorious Revolution.William and his wife Mary were both protestants and became co-monarchs. They accepted the Bill of Rights. It‘s the beginning of the age of constitutional monarchy.
Chapter 5 The Rise and Fall of the British Empire
1.What were the parliamentary politics like in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Whigs stood for 1） a reduction in Crown patronage（保护）2）shypathy towards Nonconformists（新教徒）3）care for the interests of merchants and bankers. Tories were traditionalits who wanted to preserve the powers of the monarchy and the Church of England.
2.What is your comment on land enclosures in England？
Agricultural enclosure became frequent in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It has good as well as bad results：1） Farms became bigger and bigger units as the great bought up the samll；2）more vegetables ，more milk and more dairy produce were consumed，and diet became varied.3）enclosure was a disaster for the tenants evicted from their lands by the enclosure.4）a new class hostility was introduced into rural relationships. Concentration of land in fewer hands increased the price of land and dashed the labourers‘ hopes of even owning his own land.
3.What was the industrial revolution？ Why was Britain the first country the start the industrial revolution？
The Industrial Revolution refers to the mechanization of industry and the consequent changes in social and economic organization in Britain in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
1）Britain was well placed geographically to participate in European and world trade；2）Britain has a peaceful society；3）The limited monarchy ensured that the powerful economic interests in the community could exert their influence over Government policy；4）It was a country in which the main towns were never too far from seaprts，or from rivers，which could distribute their products；5）Britain had many rivers and useful maneral resources； 6）British enginerrs had sound traning as craftsmen.7）The inventors were respected；8）Probaly laissez faire an d “protestant work ethic” helped.9）The national market was not hindered by internal customs barrriers.10）The enclosures and other improvements in agriculture made
their contributions by providing food for the rising population，labour for the factories，and some of the raw materials needed by industry.
4.How id the English Industrial Revolution proceed？
The Industrial Revolution began with the textile industry. It‘s characterized by a series of inventions and improvements of machines，such as John Ray’s fl ying shuttle，James Hargreaves‘ spinning Jenny，Richard Arkwright’s waterframe and Samuel Crompton‘s mule. The Scottish inventor James Watt produced a very efficient steam engine in 1765，which could be applied to textile and other machinery. The most important element in speeding industrialization was the breakthrough in smelting iron with coke instead of charcoal in 1709. Similar developments occurred in the forging side of the iron industry which enabled iron to replace wool and stone in many sectors of the economy. Improved transportation ran parallel with production.
As a result of the industrial revolution，Britain was by 1830 the “workshop of the world”； no other country could compete with her in industrial production.
5.What do you know about parliamentary reform？
Political change in England did not come through revolution but through gradual reform. At the general election of 1830，the Whigs under Lord Grey returned to power and want to carry out parliamental reforms. There were several reasons.First，power was monopolized by the aristocrats.Second，representation of town and country，and North and South was unfair.Finally，there were also various rotten or pocket boroughs.
So， between 1832 and 1884 three Reform Bills were passed.The Reform Act of 1832 Abolished “rotten Boroughs”，and redistributed parliamentary seats more fairly among the growing towns.It also gave the vote to many householders and tenants ，based on the value of their property.
6.What do you know about the Chartist Movement and The p eople‘s Charter？What’s your comment on them？
In 1836 a group of skilled workers and small shopkeepers formed the Londan Working Men‘s Association.they drew up a charter of political demands（a People’s Charter），The Chartist movement was the first nation wide working class movement and drew attention to serious problem.
Chartism failed bacause of its weak and divided leadership，and its lack of coordination with trade-unionism.
7.How did the Labour Party come into being？
As the new working class became established in the industrial towns in the late 18th century，they became aware of the power which they could possess if they acted together instead of separately. So various working class organizations were formed which brough about the formation of a political party， the Labour Party.
The Labour Party had its origins in the Independent Labour Party，which was formed in January，1893 and led by Keir Hardie， a Scottish miner. The foundation of an effective party for labour depended on the trade unions. In 1900，representatives of trade unions，the ILP，and a number of small societies set up the Labour Representation Committee（LRC）。The IRC changed its name to the Labour Party in time for the general election which was called for in 1906.the Labour Party remains one of the two major parties in Britain until today.
8.What was the colonial expansion like during the 19th century.
1） In the late 18th century Britain acquired vast，underpopulated territories：Canada，Australia，and New Zealand.
2） The conquest of India
3） The scramble for Africa
4） Aggression against China
9.What did Winston Churchill play in the Second World War？
Winston Churchill took over Chamberlain as Prime Minister in 1940 to lead Britain in such a crisis to be attacked by Germany.He received massive popular support as a war leader and led his country to final victory in 1945. He played an important role in the Second World War.
10.What are the main contents of Thatcherism？
Margaret Thatcher became the first woman Prime Minister in Britain in 1979.Her policies are popularly referred to as Thatcherism. It included the return to private ownership of state owned industries.the use of monetarist policies to control inflation，the weakening of trade unions，
the strengthening of the role of market forces in the economy，and an emphasis on law and order.
Chapter 6 The Economy
1.What are the three periods as far as the evolution of the British economy is concerned？
The three periods of the evolution of the British economy are：steady development in the 50s and 60s，economic recession in the 70s and economic recover in the 80s.
2.What measures did the Thatcher government take to improve the nation‘s economy？
1） Macroeconomic measures were directed towards bringing down the rate of inflation and achieving price stability.
2） Microeconomic policies were aimed at working with the grain of market forces by encouraging enterprise，efficiency and flexibility（弹性）。
3.Why is British coal mining called a “sick” industry todayf？
Today British coal mining is decling.The numbers of miners，collieries and the total output have fallen.The reasons include the exhaustion of old mines，costly extraction，poor old equipment，little money being invested，fall in demand due to imports of cleaner，cheaper and more efficient fuels.
4.Where were oil and natural gas found in Britain？How important are they to Britain‘s economy？
Oil and natural gas are found under the North Sea.Today，Britain not only self-sufficient in oil but also has a surplus for export.The transport and domestic heating systems mostly depend on oil. So does the food supply，because most agriculture is highly mechanized.
5.What are the main problems associated with Britain‘s iron and steel industry today？
Britain was the first nation to build a large iron and steel induxtry，but now many problems arise：1）Local supplies of iron ore have become exhausted；2）Old-fashioned ovens for making coke are not able to recover valuable by-products； 3）The blast furnaces，steelworks and rolling mills
are often separated from eachother，which cannot perform as well as more compact operations do ； 4）Many steelworks have to be closed down，causing major unemployment in a area.
6.Where are the main textile producng regions in Britain？What are the reason behind the decli ne of Britain‘s textile industry？
The main textile producing regions of Britain are now the East Midlands，Yorkshire and Humberside，and Northern Ireland.
1） Exports of textiles have not competed well with those of other foreign producers who have manged to produce cheaper good.
2） There has been a rise in cheaper imports of textiles to Britain from foreign producers.
3） Poor and outdated management decisions have caused problems.
4） Substitutions of human-made fibers have been made for natural fibres such as wool，cotton，jute and linen.
5） An improvement of output per worker has been achieved，due to machanization.
7.What are new industries and where can they be found in Britain？
New industries are microprocessors and computers，biotechnology and other high-tech industries.They can be found in three areas：the area between London and South Wales；the Cambridge area of East Anglia and the area between Glasgow and Edinburgh in Scotland.The third area is the most spectacular of the three and is often c alled the “silicon Glen”。
8.Britain‘s agriculture is highly mechanized，Give examples to show this.
Britain‘s agriculture is highly mechanized.For example， only 3%of the population are farmers but they manage 70% of the land area.Very modern farmers use computer today. They talk about tecnological arming.The new farming has been called“agribusiness”because it is equipped and managed like an industrial business.The emphasis is upon intensive farming，designed to give the maximum output of crops and animals.
9.What are the main farming types in Britain？Where are they best suited in Britain.
1） Arable farming emphasizes crop production and occurs on the more fertile soil.the chief areas are the East and South-East.
2） Dairy farming rears cattle primarily for milk production.Western regions with moderate rainfall，mild winters and coool summers are often important dairying areas.
3） Stock farming rears livestock primarily for meat.It is the chief king of farming in the North and West of Britain.
4） Mixed farming has elements of cattle-rearing and crop-growing.it is in most of rural Britain.
5） Hill farming with sheep and cattle is found in areas with poorer soils and rougher pastures.（rocky mountain）
6） Market gardening is the growing of vegetables and fruit which can be rapidly transported to market while fresh.It is often found near large urban areas.
Chapter 7 Government and Administration
1.What is a constitutional monarchy？When did it begin in Britain？
The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy：the head of State is a king or a queen.it going back to at least the 9th century.
2.What is the role of the Monarchy in the British government/
the sovereign is the symbol of the whole nation. In law，he/she is head of the executive，and integral part of the legislature，head of the judiciary，the commander-in-chief of all the armed forces of the Crown and the “supreme governor”of the established Church to England.
3.What are the main functions of Parliament？
The main functions of Parliament are：1）to pass laws；2）to provide the means of carrying on the work of government by voting for taxation；3）to examine government policy and administration，including proposals for expenditure；4）to debate the major issue of the day.
4.What does the Cabinet consists of ？What does the collective responsibility of Cabinet Government mean？
The Cabinet usually consists of about 20 most senior ministers who are appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of the Prime
Minister.Ministers are responsible collectively to Parliament for all Cabinet decisions；individual Ministers are responsible to all Cabinet decisions；individual Ministers are responsible to Parliament for the work of their departments.
5.Who does the Privy Council consists of ？Do you think it is very powerful now？why（not）？
Its membership is about 400，and includes all Cabinet ministers，the Speaker of the House of Commons，the Archibishops of Canterbury and York，and senior British and Commonwealth statesmen.
Today its role is largely formal，advising the sovereign to approve certain government decressand issuing royal proclamations.
6.Who are the members of the House of Lords？What is the function of the House of Lords/
The house of Lords is made up of the Lords Spiritual and the Lords Temporal.
The main function of the House of Lords is to bring the wide experience of its members into the process of lawmaking.
7.What are the two major parties in Britain？
The two major parties are the Conservative Party and the Labour Party.
8.How many constituencies are there in Britain today？How many members are there in the House of Commons？
There are 651 constituencies in Britain and 651 members in the House of Commons.
9.How often does a general election take place？
A general Election must be held every five years and is often held at more frequent intervals.
10.What are the responsibilities of the County Council and the District Council？
County councils provide large-scale services，while district councils are responsible for the more local ones. At present in England，county councils are responsible for strategic planning， transport planning，highways，traffic regulation， education， consumer protection， refuse
disposal， police，the fire service， libraries and personal social services.District councils are responsible for environmental health，housing and refuse collection.
Chapter 8 Justtice and the Law
1.What are the primary sources of British law？
The primary‘ sources of British law include statutes， a large amount of “unwritten”or common law，equity law and European Community law.
2.What are the common features of all systems of law in Britain？
A feature common to all systems of law is that there is no complete code. Another common feature is the distinction made between criminal law and civil law.
3.How do you divide the British courts according to the nature of cases.
The British courts can be divided into criminal courts and civil court according to the nature of cases.
4.Why do the criminal convicts like to be tried first before the magistrates‘ courts.
All criminal trials are held in open courts because the crimianl law presumes the innocence of the accused until he has been proved guilty beyond reasonable doubt；every possible step is taken to deny to the prosecution any advantage over the defence.
5.What does the civil courts system do？
The civil courts system does the following jurisdiction：1）actions founded upon contract and tort；2）trust and mortgages cases；3）actions for the recovery of land；4）cases involving disputes between landlords and tenants；5）admiralty cases and patent cases；and6）divorce cases and other family matters.
6.What is the jury‘s job？
In criminal cases，the jury‘s job is to decide the issue of guilt or innocence.
7.What is the function of the High Court？How many divisions is it divided into？What does each division deal with？
The High Court deals with the more complicated civil cases.Its jurisdiction covers mainly civil and some criminal cases；it also deals with appeals from tribunals and from magistrat es‘ courts in both civil and criminal matter.The High Court has three divisions：1）The Family Division，which is concerned with family law，including adoption and wills；2）the Chancery Division，which deals with corporate and personal insolvency；disputes in the running of companies，between landlords and tenants and in intellectual property matters；and the interpretation of trusts and contested wills；and 3）the Queen’s Bench Division，which is concened with contract and tort cases，and deals with applications for judicial review.
8.How many police forces are there in the UK？
There are 43 police forces in England and Wales，8 in Scotland and one in Northern Ireland.
9.Capital Punishment for murder has been abolished in the UK.What do you think of it？
Capital Punishment for murder has been abolished in the UK but remained the penalty for treason and piracy.Proposals for its restatement are regularly debated by Parliament，for it‘s a kind of effective way to deter the potential law-breaker and be good to the social stability.
10.How different is the Metropolitan Police Force from other police forces in Greant Britain.
London‘s Metropolitan Plice Force is directly under the control of the Home Secretary，while other police forces in Great Britain is organized and controlled on a local basis under the Home Secretary and the Scottish and Northern Ireland Secretaries.
Chapter 9 Social Affairs
1. What is meant by the term “welfare state” in Britain？
The welfare state is a system of government by which the state provides the economic and social security for its citizens through its organization of health services，pensions and other facilities.The system is funded out of national isurance contributions and taxation.In Britain ther term applies mainly to the National Health Service，national insurance and social security.
2.Are British people obliged to use the National Health Service.
No， they are no obliged to use the NHS.
3.At what age do men and women generally retire？
Generally speaking ，men retire at the age of 65and women at the age of 60.
4.What contributory social security benefits do the British people get？
The British people can get the following contributory social security benefits：retirement persions， unemployment benefit，sickness and invalidity benefit，maternity allowance and widows‘ benefit.
5.What is the most important established Church in Britain？How is it related to the Crown and linked with the State.
It is the Church of England
Church of England is uniquely related to the Crown in that the Sovereign must be a member of that Church and ，as “Defender of the Faith”，must promise on his or her accession to uphold it.
The Church is also linked with the Sate through the House of Lords，in which the two archbishops，the bishops and 21 others senior bishops have seats.
6.What festival is the greatest in Britain？What is its significance and at what time is it celebrated？
Christmas is the greatest festival in Britain. It‘s celebrated on December 25th. Apart from its religious significance which celebrates the birth of Christ，two important things are of great importance：the custom of giving gifts and the habit of spending it with the family.
8.How is New year‘s Eve celebrated in England and Scotland？
On New Year‘s Eve， in England and Scotland ，people stay up late，often at a party or a religious“watch-night service”，to see the New Year in. As the clocks strike midnight between December 31st and January 1st，church bells start ringing joyfully，and people at their parties drink a toast to the New Year，wishing their friends happiness and prosperity.
9.What is the Scotiish tradition concerning New Year‘s Day？