Essentials of British and American Cultures
Chapter 2. English History
I. Focal Points:
Parliament
the Glorious Revolution
the clashes between England and France in the 18th century
the Industrial Revolution
the progress and reforms in the 19th century
Victorianism
Charles Darwin
major events in the 20th century
II. Questions and Answers on the Text
1. What is considered to be the clearest historical item in the general knowledge of most British people?
It is the year 1066, when the French-speaking Normans under William the Conqueror invaded England from France, defeating the Saxon king Harold at the Battle of Hastings.
2. What do the average people in Britain know about English history before the year
1066?
They know about the Romans and they are sure to know the story of the fine Saxon king, Alfred the Great, and the legendary stories of the still earlier king Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.
3. Who was the most famous of the English Crusaders?
The most famous of the English Crusaders was the Norman king, Richard Lion-Heart.
4. In the Middle Ages, who were the great rivals of the king's authority?
The great rivals of the king's authority were the Church and the powerful local chiefs, called barons.
5.Why was the Pope in the Middle Ages so powerful?
Because the Pope in Rome could always inspire the fear of eternal damnation by "excommunicating" (i. e. expelling from the Church) a king or even a whole nation; the Pope also wielded great political power over the whole of Western Europe.
6.How did the French drive the English from their country at the end of the One-hundred-year War?
The French drove the English from their country partly through the inspiration of the brave girl Joan of Arc, and partly through the effective use of guns, which had only just been invented.
7. In English history, what language did the kings of the Middle Ages speak as their mother tongue? What changes took place after the Hundred Years' War?
All the kings of the Middle Ages spoke French as their mother tongue. After the Hundred Years' War, England became completely severed from France, and the English language finally took the place of French in all classes of society.
8.What were the characteristics of the sixteenth century as the beginning of the modern period in English history and European history?
In the sixteenth century, the invention of printing made books much easier to produce and therefore much cheaper, so that ideas could spread quickly. It was the age of the great voyages of discovery and the beginning of the imperialist expansion; it was also the beginning of freedom of thought in the Christian religion.
9.In the sixteenth century, what changes took place in religion?
The sixteenth century was the beginning of the freedom of thought in the Christian religion, when the decline in the Pope's political power was followed by a decline in his religious authority.
10. What was the result of the decline in the Pope's political power and religious authority in the sixteenth century?
As a result of the decline in the Pope's political power and religious authority, Protestant churches sprang up in Northern Europe in opposition to the established Roman Catholic Church, and Protestant-Catholic hatred became a constant theme in European history.
11. Who delivered the first great blow to the Roman Catholic Church in England?
It was Henry VIII who delivered the first great blow to the Roman Catholic Church in England.
12. How did the English Church break away from the central organization of Christianity?
The long quarrel between the Pope and Henry VIII on the matter of Henry VIII's divorce ended in Henry VIII's declaring that he and not the Pope was the head of the Church in England. As a result, the English Church broke away from the central organization of Christianity.
13. What is meant by "heresy" in the sixteenth century?
It refers to any revolt against the traditional Christian faith. It was held by Catholics that "heresy" was the work of the devil and should be resisted by the most violent means.
14. When did Protestantism gradually become the dominant faith in Britain?
Protestantism gradually became the dominant faith in Britain in the reign of Elizabeth I, whose main interest lay in creating a strong united country in which there should be no more religious persecution.
15. What were the characteristics of the Elizabethan age?
It was an age of literature, especially the literature of Shakespeare, and an age of adventure on the sea.
16. Which country was the biggest enemy of England in the sixteenth century?
Spain was the biggest enemy of England in the sixteenth century.
17. What was the most important event in the English history in the seventeenth century?
The most important event in the English history in the seventeenth century was the English Revolution.
18. What was the conflict between King Charles I and Parliament before the Civil War?
Charles I believed he had a "Divine Right" to govern, while Rarliament believed he was a human being answerable to the people. For a time, Charles I actually ruled without parliament, and levied taxes without Parliament's approval.
19. Who were the "Roundheads"? Why were they nicknamed "Roundheads" ?
The "Roundheads" were the nickname of the "Puritan" elements, those with very strict Protestant principles. They were supporters of the Parliament. They were nicknamed the "Roundheads" because of the bare look of their shorn heads contrasted with the long, curly wigs of the King's more fashionable supporters, the "Cavaliers". 20. Who were the "Cavaliers"?
The "Cavaliers" were the supporters of King Charles I, those who had long, curly wigs.
21. Who was the Roundhead leader?
The Roundhead leader was Oliver Cromwell.
22. What was the consequence of the English Civil War?
The Civil War led to the execution of Charles I and the temporary overthrow of the monarchy, when the country became for more than ten years a sort of republic founded by Oliver Cromwell.
23. When did the Glorious Revolution take place?
The Glorious Revolution took place in 1688.
24. Who was the Britain's great enemy during the whole of the eighteenth century?
Britain' s great enemy during the whole of the eighteenth century was France.
25. What were the two most famous victories that Britain had over France during the eighteenth century?
The two most famous victories were the Battle of Waterloo over the great Napoleon, and the Battle of Trafalgar over Napoleon' s fleet.
26. What is meant by "meet one' s Waterloo"? What is the origin of the phrase?
The phrase "meet one's Waterloo" means "encounter final disaster''. It comes from the Battle of Waterloo, the famous victory won by Britain over Napoleon.
27. What is considered to be the most important event in the eighteenth century in Britain?
The Industrial Revolution is considered to be the most important event in the eighteenth century in Britain.
28. What was the most important invention during the Industrial Revolution?
The most important invention during the Industrial Revolution was the invention of the steam engine.
29. What was Britain's main historical interest after the Battle of Waterloo?
Britain's main historical interest was in the efforts made (a) to overcome social problems, (b) to make Parliament more representative of the people, and (c) to improve local government and social services.
30. What do "Peelers" or "bobbies" refer to?
The word "Peeler" or "bobby" comes from the name of a person, Sir Robert ("Bobby") Peel, who founded the modern police force of Britain. So policemen are called "Peelers", or rather affectionately "bobbies."
31. What is meant by "franchise"?
Franchise means the right to vote in elections.
32. How long did the Victorian age last?
The Victorian age lasted 64 years from 1837 to 1901.
33. What impact did Charles Darwin's The Origin of Species have on the Victorian age?
Darwin's theory of evolution caused violent reaction from the religious Victorians who believed every deeply in God as the Creatorr of Man and in the life after death.
Furious debates were Held both in private and in public, and Darwin's theory was destined to outlive Victorianism and contribute to its decay.
34. How did the Victorian stability collapse after the death of Queen Victoria ?
The Victorian stability collapsed within a few years of the death of Queen Victoria. The working classes rose up to fight for their rights and the women woke up to fight for the right to vote. Meanwhile the trouble in Ireland was going from bad to worse.
35. According to the author, how did Britain get involved in World War I?
Britain became involved because she had made friends with her old enemy, France, who was being attacked by Germany.
36. What were the two most disasterous events in British economy between the two World Wars?
They were the General Strike in 1926 and the great "slump" of the early 1930s.
37. What became the threat of the international situation after the great "slump" ?
After the great "slump", fascism became the threat of the international situation.
38. Who were the two big fascists before and during the Second World War?
The two big fascists were Mussolini in Italy and Hitler in Germany.
39. What was the consequence of Hitler' s constant thirst for power?
What was the basis of Hitler's constant thirst for power?
Hitler's constant thirst {or power led Europe into the Second World War. The basis of Hitler's constant thirst for power was the idea of a German "master-race".
40. How long did the First World War last? How long did the Second World War last?
The First World War lasted 4 years from 1914 to 1918. The Second World War lasted 6 years from 1939 to 1945.
41. What is meant by the "blitz" of 1940?
It refers to the bombing of Britain by German planes in 1940, when Hitler sent his bombers day after day to bomb airfields and towns in the south, and then night after night, to bomb London.
III. Explanations
1.King Harold
The Saxon king who was defeated and killed at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, when the French-speaking Normans under William the Conqueror invaded England from France.
2. Alfred the Great
(1)He was a fine Saxon king who successfully defeated the invading Danes.
3. King Arthur
( 1 ) He was the king of England in the sixth century. (2) Little was known about him,
except that he was associated with Corn- wall and is the central figure of many legends about him and his Knights of the Round Table.
4. The Crusades
The Crusades were a series of wars in the Middle Ages in which armies from all over Europe tried to snatch the "Holy Land" ( i.e. Palestine, where Jesus Christ once lived) from the Infidels (i.e. the Muslims).
5. Richard Lion-Heart
( 1 ) He was a Norman king in the Middle Ages. (2) He was also the most famous of the English Crusaders at that time. (3) Many stories have been told about him and his enemy Saladin.
6. the Magna Carta
( 1 ) The Magna Carta (or Great Charter) was a document signed in 1215 by King John under compulsion by the powerful barons. (2) The purpose of the Charter was to make King John to recognize the rights of the barons. (3) The Magna Carta is now in the British Museum, London.
7. the Hundred Years' War
(1) A war between England and France which lasted, on and off, for a hundred years from 1337 to 1453. (2) It was fought entirely in France, and the whole of France very nearly fell into English hands in the famous battles of Crecy and Agincourt. (3) Eventually, partly through the inspiration of the brave girl Joan of Arc, and partly through the effective use of guns, the French drove the English from their land for good.
8. Joan of Arc
(1) She was a French saint and national heroine. (2) During the Hundred Years' War, her bravery and inspiration provided spirit and morale for French armies. (3) Later she was captured and burned at the stake.
9. the Wars of the Roses
(1) It is the name given to the struggle (1455--1485) for the throne of England between two branches of the English royal family: (2) the houses of Lancaster, whose badge was a red rose, and York, whose badge was a white rose. (3) The wars weakened both the nobility and the monarch.
10. the Catholic Church
(1) It refers to the Christian church headed by the Pope. (2) All members of the church accept the gospel of Christ and the teachings of the Bible. Any revolt against the traditional Christian faith was "heresy." (3) In the Middle Ages, the Pope was extremely powerful. (4) In the sixteenth century, some of the actual beliefs and practices of the Catholic Church Were questioned by Protestant doctrines and there was a great deal of presecution by Catholics.
11. the Protestant Church
( 1 ) It refers to the Christian church whose faith and practice originated with the principles of the Reformation. (2) As the Pope’s political power and religious authority declined in the sixteenth century, Protestant churches sprang up in Northern Europe in opposition to the established Roman Catholic Church. (3) In Britain, Protestantism gradually became the dominant faith in the Elizabethan age.
12. bloody Mary
( I ) It was the nickname given to Mary I, Henry III' s elder daughter. (2) She was a devout Catholic, and had so many Protestants burnt to death that she is remembered less by her official title Mary I than by her nickname Bloody Mary. (3) She was succeeded by Elizabeth I.
13 the Elizabethan age
(I) It refers to the period during the reign of Elizabeth I in British history. (2) It was an age of real literary achievement, especially that of Shakespeare, and (3) it was an age of adventure on the sea.
14. the "Gunpowder Plot"
(1) It refers to the most famous of a number of Catholic conspiracies in English history which occurred in the reign of James I (2) It was the plot to blow up the King and Parliament, in which a man called Guy Fawkes was caught in the cellars of the House of Commons in the very act of preparing the explosives. (3) "Guy Fawkes' Night" is still celebrated on November 5th each year.
15. the English Civil War
(1) One of the most important events in the whole of British history. (2) It is a bitter power struggle (1642--1648) between the monarchy and Parliament. (3) The victory of the Parliament led to the execution (1649) of Charles I and the temporary overthrow of the monarchy, and (4) the country became for more than ten years a sort of republic founded by Oliver Cromwell.
16. King Charles I
(1) An English king in the seventeenth century. He believed that he had a "Divine Right" to govern. (2) For a time, Charles actually ruled without Parliament, and levied taxes without Parliament's approval. (3) This aroused the opposition of the Roundheads , and the great Civil War broke out, in which he was defeated, tried as a traitor to his country, and condemned to death.
17. Oliver Cromwell
(1) Oliver Cromwell was the Roundhead leader during the English Civil War. (2) He defeated King Charles I and condemned him to death. (3) The monarchy was overthrown, and the country became for more than ten years a republic.
18. the Glorious Revolution
(1) It refers to the event of 1688 in the English Revolution, when the Catholic
king James II was forced to flee with his baby son to France. (2) The throne was offered to his Protestant daughter and her husband Dutch king William. (3) The bill of Rights was passed by Parliament to restrict the power of the Monarchy. (4) This was the beginning of the Constitutional Monarchy in Britain.
19. the Industrial Revolution
( 1 ) It refers to the period in British history from 1750 to 1850. (2) Great changes took place with the invention of the steam engine. (3) More factories and big towns were built. (4) It made Britain stronger and richer, and at the same time it also created entirely new social class, the industrial workers.
20. the Victorian age
(I) It refers to the monarch of Britain under the great Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1901, the longest reign in British history. (2) The Victorian age was an age of national development and national optimism. (3) The Victorians were very religious and conservative in family life. (4) It was also, in its later stages, an age of imperialism.
21. the "suffragette" movement
( 1) A term refers to the movement in the early twentieth century by the British women, who had been meek and submissive in Victorian's reign. (2) They rose up to gain their right to vote. (3) This was not simply a political campaign but a profound revolt against an inferior status.
22. Charles's Darwin
( I ) The famous British scientist who wrote the important book "The Origin of Species". (2) His theory of evolution caused violent reaction of the Victorians against the book, and furious ,debates were held in private and in public. (3) Darwin's theory contributed to the decay of Victorianism.
英美文化概况之英国篇 英国早期人文历史常识 （一） 英国东邻北海，西、北面对大西洋，南面是英吉利海峡（the English Channel），与法国隔海相望。 地理上，这里被称为“不列颠群岛”（British Isles），由大不列颠岛（Great Britain）和爱尔兰岛（Ireland）这两大岛屿，以及其它几百个小岛组成。 大不列颠岛上分布着英格兰、苏格兰和威尔士（England,Scotland and Wales）三个区域，而爱尔兰岛则分成北爱尔兰和爱尔兰共和国（Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland）两块。 政治上，大不列颠和北爱尔兰共同组成联合王国（the United Kingdom），而爱尔兰共和国则是独立于联合王国而存在的独立的国家。我们通常所说的英国，则是指联合王国。 联合王国的首都是伦敦（London）；而爱尔兰共和国的首都是都柏林（Dublin）。 大不列颠岛在政治上被划分成英格兰、苏格兰和威尔士三个区域，其中英格兰面积最大、人口最多，总的来说也最为富裕。因此很多人通常会用“英格兰人”（English）指代“不列颠人”（British），这点当然会引起苏格兰人和威尔士人（Scots and Welsh）的不满。不列颠在大约一百年前曾统治着世界上四分之一的人口和土地，其殖民地遍布全球各大洲。二战之后，随着不列颠国力衰退，各殖民地纷纷独立，不列颠帝国（the British Empire）在1931年起被英联邦所取代。
英联邦（the Commonwealth of Nations）是由英国和已经独立的前英国殖民地或附 属国组成的联合体。英国作为英联邦元首并无政治实权；各国在一定协议上相互进行政治、主要是经济方面的磋商和合作；各成员国也有权利选择退出英联邦。 （二） 英国地势西北高、东南低。其西北地区主要地形是高原；而东部和东南部则主要是低地，他们是整个欧洲平原（the Great European Plain）的组成部分。 英格兰占据了大不列颠南面的最大部分土地，那里地势平缓，多为平原、丘陵和沼泽地。特别是英格兰东部沿海地区，土地肥沃，适于耕种。 苏格兰多为山地、湖泊和岛屿，它拥有三大自然区：北部高地，中部低地以及南部山陵。不列颠最高峰尼维斯峰（Ben Nevis）便座落于此，高1,343米。威尔士亦是多山地区，6%的土地被森林覆盖，大部分村庄以放牧为主。 北爱尔兰北部为多岩石、荒蛮的海岸，曲折蜿蜒。其东北部多为高地，东南部为山区，而中部则是低浅的盆地。 不列颠是个岛屿国家，四面环海，它隔着英吉利海峡与欧洲大陆遥遥相望。位处英法两国之间的英吉利海峡最窄之处被称作多佛海峡（Straits of Dover），仅有33公里宽度。1985年英国政府和法国政府决定在多佛海峡处修建海峡隧道。 总长153公里的隧道于1994年五月竣工通车，使得欧洲公路网得以连成一体，被誉为人类工程史上的一个伟业。 英国河流分布细密。塞文河（the Severn）是英国第一大河流，长338公里，它同西
趣味英语习语(英美文化内涵类) 1. Pandora’s box潘多拉的盒子灾祸之源 2.Cast sheep’s eyes to someone向某人投羊眼向某人递秋波 3.On the carpet在地毯上在考虑中，受训斥 4.Bury one’s head in the sand把某人的头埋在沙子里采取逃避态度 5.Heads will roll头要滚了有人要倒霉了 6.feather in cap炫耀 7.get up from the wrong side of the bed心情不好 8.meet one’s waterloo遭遇惨败，败走麦城 9.all at sea茫然若失 10.to strike while the iron is hot趁热打铁 11.be/feel under the weather感觉不舒服/生病 12.kill two birds with one stone一石两鸟 13.beat generation迷惘的一代 14.pour cats and dogs倾盆大雨 15.play cards close to one’s chest保守秘密 16.the lion’s share最大的份额 17.man Friday忠仆，得力助手 18.pond of flesh合情但悖于情理的要求莎士比亚 19.Judas’s kiss犹大之吻(比喻出卖朋友) 20.much cry and little wool雷声大，雨点小
21.naked truth原原本本的事实，赤裸裸的事实(真理与谎言一起洗澡，谎言穿上真理的衣离开，真理宁愿裸着身体也不愿穿谎言的衣服) 22 .kill the goose that laid the golden eggs杀鸡取卵、涸泽而鱼 23.sour grapes聊以自慰的话(狐狸吃不到葡萄就说葡萄是酸的有点类似于中国的阿Q精神) 24.bell the cat替别人冒风险(老鼠要给猫、带上铃铛的寓言故事) 25.cat’paw被别人利用的人(猴子想吃火中的栗子，骗猫为其火中取栗的故事) 26.man for all seasons博学多才适应性强的人(英国政治家、作家托马斯莫尔博学多才适应性强) 27.Mickey mouse米老鼠(无关紧要的人物) 28.skeleton at the feast居安思危(扫兴的家伙或事物。埃及古代习俗凡重大宴会都要在席上显眼处访放一具骷髅，借以提醒到会宾客居安思危，不忘苦难和死亡) 29.as wise as owls聪明(西方人认为猫头鹰是聪明智慧的象征) 30.as quite as mouse安静如鼠非常安静 31.as timid as rabbit胆小如鼠 32. no spring chicken已不再年轻的女人 33.reap what one has sowed种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆 bed of roses舒适的生活 34.as cool as cucumber泰然自若，冷静 the last straw使人忍无可忍的情况，导火索
About American 1.What is the full name of America? The United States of America 2 How many states are there in the United States? Fifty states 3 What is the capital of the USA Washington D.C. 4 Where is the Stature of Liberty? In New York 5 Where does the American president live ? In the white house About Britain 1 What does UK stand for ? The United Kingdom 2 What us the full name of the UK? The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 3What are the four parts of the UK? England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. 4In which continent is the UK situated? In Europe. 5 By which channel is the UK separated The English Channel About China 1.How many ethnic groups are there in China? 56 2.In which continent is China located In Asia 3. what are the four great inventions in ancient China? Paper-making, printing, gunpowder, and the compass 4. What is the largest island in China? Taiwan Island 5. When was the people’s Republic of China founded?
Introductory Remarks ①．White elephant昂贵而无用的东西 ②．Yellow publications低级趣味出版物 ③．Lame duck跛鸭：不能连任的人 ④．Disinformation假情报 ⑤．Hegemony势力范围 ⑥．Mentor保护人 ⑦．Deep throat秘密消息的来源 ⑧．Paint lily多此一举 ⑨．Smoking gun确凿的犯罪证据 ⑩．Be in high cotton兴隆 ?．Barter trade交换贸易 ?．BBS电子布告栏系统 ?．Anonymous remailer匿名转信站 ?．Cybersalon网络咖啡厅 ?．Cyberspace网络世界 ?．Online prank网络恶作剧 ?．CPI消费者物价指数 ?．ISDN综合服务数字网络 ?．OPEC石油输出国组织 ?．Mitnick affair米尼克事件 21．World Wide Web万维网，全球信息网 22．Cellular phone蜂巢式移动电话 23．Genetic engineering遗传工程 24．The economics of Cloning复制人的经济分析 25．G-7七大工业国集团 26．Reaganomics里根经济学 27．Junk bond垃圾债券 28．Face the music了解美国军队惩罚违纪士兵的方式方法 29．Talk turkey了解美国白人的伪善 30．Come down to the brass tacks了解美国工人的过去 31．Go to the dogs了解英美人破产的辛酸 32．Samaritan源自《圣经》中，指乐善好施者 33．Green Berets指头戴绿色贝雷帽的美国特种部队 34．An Eagle Scout指美国的飞鹰童子军 35．American Dream表意是“美国梦” 36．Forbes list指美国《富布斯》富翁排行榜 37．Madison Avenue是麦迪逊大街，代指美国广告中心 38．A rags-to-riches legacy是美国梦的一个重要的内容，指“留下一笔‘白手起家发财’的遗产” 39．Social Security指美国的“社会保障条例” 40．Medicare指美国为65岁以上的老人专设的“老年保健医疗制” 41．Negative income tax指美国社会的“最低收入补贴” 42．A scapegoat替罪羊
Historic events 一)Hundred Years’ war 百年战争 It was a series of separate conflicts between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of France and their various allies for control of the French throne, which had become vacant upon the extinction of the senior Capetian line of French kings. Time: From1337 to 1543 The war is commonly divided into three or four phases, separated by various unsuccessful truces: ①the Edwardian War (1337–1360); ②the Caroline War (1369–1389); ③the Lancastrian War (1415–1453); Cause: The background to the conflict is to be found in 1066, when William, Duke of Normandy, led an invasion of England. He defeated the English King Harold II at the Battle of Hastings, and had himself crowned King of England. As Duke of Normandy, he remained a vassal of the French King, and was required to swear fealty to the latter for his lands in France; for a king to swear fealty to another king was considered humiliating, and the Norman Kings of England generally attempted to avoid the service. On the French side, the Capetian monarchs resented a neighboring king holding lands within their own realm, and sought to neutralize the threat England now posed to France The King of England directly ruled more territory on the continent than did the King of France himself. This situation – in which the kings of England owed vassalage to a ruler who was de facto much weaker – was a cause of continual conflict. John of England inherited this great estate from King Richard I. However, Philip II of France acted decisively to exploit the weaknesses of King John, both legally and militarily, and by 1204 had succeeded in wresting control of most of the ancient territorial possessions. Significance: The Hundred Years' War was a time of military evolution. Weapons, tactics, army structure, and the societal meaning of war all changed, partly in response to the demands of the war, partly through advancement in technology, and partly through lessons that warfare taught. The war also stimulated nationalistic sentiment. It devastated France as a land, but it also awakened French nationalism. The Hundred Years' War accelerated the process of transforming France from a feudal monarchy to a centralized state. The conflict became one of not just English and French kings but one between the English and French peoples. There were constant rumours in England that the French meant to invade and destroy the English language. National feeling that emerged out of such rumours unified both France and England further. The Hundred Years War basically confirmed the fall of the French language in England, which had served as the language of the ruling classes and commerce there from the time of the Norman Conquest until 1362 Important Figures: England King Edward III 1327–1377 Edward II's son
英美文化小常识 01、英美姓名常识 姓名是社会成员的符号或标记。英美人的姓名是名在前，姓在后，过去人们在翻译外国人姓名时，为了迁就中国人的习惯，有时候把英美人的姓名也写成姓在前，名在后。如，Bernard Shaw，译成“肖·伯纳”实则是没有必要，现在多译成“伯纳·肖”，这就比较符合英美人的表达习惯。 02、英美礼仪 美国人请客：美国人喜欢在家里款待客人（guest）而不是在餐馆（restaurant）里。 美国人想请客吃饭，一般要事先与客人协商好，安排好时间（when）和地点（where）。 美国人在家里请客多半不拘礼节，一般采用家庭式，即一盘盘的食品一个人一个人地递过来，或者由坐在餐桌两端的主人（host）或女主人（hostess）给客人端上饭菜，全家大小和客人一起吃，一般是妻子（wife）做菜（dish），丈夫调鸡尾酒（cocktail）。如果因宗教或其他原因，有些饭菜不能吃，客人可将其留在盘子里，或事先对主人说明哪些东西不能吃。 03、英美人“手势语”种种 在人类的语言交流中，手语是必不可少的手段之一，作为“无声语言”的手语，其表意比重约为百分之21，因此，请正确运用
手语。 （1）在美国，如你站在公路边跷起大拇指，则表示要求搭车。（2）如在交谈中两手摊开，一耸肩，伴有一声“嗯呵”，则表示无可奈何的意思。 （3）中国人在对外交往中，最容易让人反感的动作之一就是说话不经意地用食指指着对方，其实，这个动作一来不雅观，二来对欧美国家的人来说相当不礼貌。原来这是一种非礼貌的责骂，数落别人的动作。 (4)用大拇指和食指围成一个圆圈，这个手势早已家喻户晓，它的意思是OK好的，而竖起食指和中指形成个“V”字形，意思则是“胜利”（victory）。 (5) 用手伸向被唤者，手心向上，握拳并伸出食指前后摇动，表示叫对方过来。 （6）把左掌心放在胸前，身体略前倾，表示真诚。 04、西方人交往“七不问” （1）年龄：西方人大都把希望自己在对方眼中显得年轻，对自己的实际年龄讳莫如深，妇女更是如此，她们过了24后就再也不会告诉他人自己的年龄了。 （2）婚姻：西方人认为婚姻纯属个人隐私，向他人询问时不礼貌的。若是向异性打听婚否，则有对方关心过甚之嫌。 （3）收入：西方人将此视为个人脸面，因此它与个人的能力和地位有关。不仅收入不宜谈论，住宅、财产、服饰等体现个人状
英美文化知识素养答题题库 英美文化知识素养答题题库 1 单项选择题： 美国由___________个州组成。 A. 48 B. 49 C. 50 D. 51 答案 C 2 单项选择题： 人有绰号，城市有绰号，有趣的是，有的国家也有绰号，如美国的绰号是_____，英国的绰号是_____ A Aunt Sam, Uncle John B New Continent, Great Britain C Washington, Elizabeth D Uncle Sam, John Bull 答案D 3 单项选择题： 在英美国家，人们通常将“体力劳动者”称为_____workers ，把“脑力劳动者”称为_____workers，而把“服务、维修等行业的人们”称为_____workers。 A blue, green, white B blue, white, grey. C black, blue, green D white, blue, black 答案 B 4 单项选择题： 在美国土生土长的传统节日是_____________。 A. 复活节 B. 感恩节 C. 圣诞节 D. 中秋节 答案B 5 单项选择题： 有这样一则笑话：有一次一个外宾对翻译说：“I wonder if I can go somewhere?”翻译回答道“Yes, you can go anywhere in China.”外宾不禁愕然。你知道这位翻译的问题出在哪里了吗？ A 外宾的意思是他想马上离开。 B 外宾的意思是他要上厕所。 C外宾的意思是他想随便走走。 D外宾的意思是想休息一下。 答案B 6 单项选择题： 当你给一位英国朋友写信时，你若在写完信之后突然想起来还要补充点什么，此时你通常在补充的内容前加上_____这两个字母。 A P,S B OT C C, D D B,C 答案 A 7 单项选择题： 中国人喜欢说“自己动手，丰衣足食”，英美人也有类似的喜好，他们称之为______。
英美文化课程纲要 平阴一中王小猫 第一、目标 1、了解简单的英美文化。 2、增进学生学习英语的兴趣。 3、引导学生养成英语逻辑习惯。 4、培养学生英文阅读能力。 5、提高学生口语能力。 第二、核心能力 1、了解英美基本的交际礼仪，书信礼仪，餐桌礼仪等礼仪及其背景。 2、学会常用的交际用语，能进行简单的交谈。 3、了解简单的英美历史文化背景。 4、扩充词汇量，培养语感。 5、提升阅读能力。 6、提高口语能力。 第三、时间分配 本课程一部每周二开课，二部周五开课。
第四、教材纲要 主题主要内容参考节数 一、交际礼仪1.英语问候习惯及常用语 2.英语交谈习惯及常用语 3、模拟对话 1--2 二、书信礼仪1.英语书信格式 2.英语书信常用语 3.英语书信赏析 1 三、餐桌礼仪及文化1.英美餐桌礼仪 2.英美餐桌文化 3.背景小故事 1--2 四、英美历史文化背景1.英国简单地理历史介绍 2.美国简单地理历史介绍 3.英美文化简单比较 1--3 五、英美文化名人介绍1.牛顿简单生平介绍 2.华盛顿简单生平介绍1--2 六、英美电影欣赏1.英美经典电影欣赏 2.欣赏收获交流1--4 七、英美音乐欣赏1.英美经典音乐欣赏 2.学习简单英文歌曲 1--2 八、实践1.自编英文小品 2.展示与交流 1--3 第五、实施方法 一、教材编选 应注意教材内容应具趣味性与实用性。从日常交际开始逐步扩大，了解交际礼仪，书信礼仪和餐桌礼仪开始。在深入了解英美历史文化及文化作品。从而对英美文化有简单的了解。 1. 日常礼仪的介绍要有趣味性和实用性。让学生在趣味中学习，学生在学习后
不仅对英美文化有一定的了解，且能够进行简单的日常交流，挺高口语能力，可以在实际中进行应用。 2.英美历史文化介绍要有特色，并且浅显易懂。通过对英美特色历史文化的介绍，使学生对中西方文化的异同有简单的了解。并且初步建立英语的逻辑习惯。 3.英美文化名人介绍使学生进一步体会中西文化的不同，开阔眼界，扩充词汇量，提升阅读能力。 4.英美经典电影音乐欣赏，在娱乐中展示英美文化，并能够提高学生听英语与说英语的能力。 5.自编英文小品要具有开放性，使学生充分发挥想象力，在实践中运用所学知识。通过展示交流鼓励学生开口说英语，提高学生英语学习积极性。 二、教学方法 英美文化是了解性课程，重在使学生了解英美文化，建立英语逻辑，提高学习积极性。所以课程教学中要具有趣味性和互动性。 1. 每单元主题均包含模拟对话，趣味小故事以及实际事例。 2. 教学内容可配合当日或近日发生于英美重大新闻或西方节日，切入各单元主题，以引起动机、随机教学，并使理论与实务兼顾。 3. 可安排实学生观看英文新闻或者小视频，理论结合实际。 4. 教学媒体可选取与单元主题相关的影片或歌曲。其来源亦可征求学生提供，更易引起共鸣。 三、教学评量 课程最终的英文自编小品的展示与交流，直观的体现出学生学习的质量。还要结合平时课上的模拟与演练表现，综合评价学生学习效果。 四、教学资源 教学资源包括书刊、影片、光盘，以及网络资源等。
英国早期人文历史常识 （一） 英国东邻北海，西、北面对大西洋，南面是英吉利海峡（the English Channel），与法国隔海相望。 地理上，这里被称为“不列颠群岛”（British Isles），由大不列颠岛（Great Britain）和爱尔兰岛（Ireland）这两大岛屿，以及其它几百个小岛组成。 大不列颠岛上分布着英格兰、苏格兰和威尔士（England,Scotland and Wales）三个区域，而爱尔兰岛则分成北爱尔兰和爱尔兰共和国（Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland）两块。 政治上，大不列颠和北爱尔兰共同组成联合王国（the United Kingdom），而爱尔兰共和国则是独立于联合王国而存在的独立的国家。我们通常所说的英国，则是指联合王国。 联合王国的首都是伦敦（London）；而爱尔兰共和国的首都是都柏林（Dublin）。 大不列颠岛在政治上被划分成英格兰、苏格兰和威尔士三个区域，其中英格兰面积最大、人口最多，总的来说也最为富裕。因此很多人通常会用“英格兰人”（English）指代“不列颠人”（British），这点当然会引起苏格兰人和威尔士人（Scots and Welsh）的不满。 不列颠在大约一百年前曾统治着世界上四分之一的人口和土地，其殖民地遍布全球各大洲。二战之后，随着不列颠国力衰退，各殖民地纷纷独立，不列颠帝国（the British Empire）在1931年起被英联邦所取代。 英联邦（the Commonwealth of Nations）是由英国和已经独立的前英国殖民地或附属国组成的联合体。英国作为英联邦元首并无政治实权；各国在一定协议上相互进行政治、主要是经济方面的磋商和合作；各成员国也有权利选择退出英联邦。 （二） 英国地势西北高、东南低。其西北地区主要地形是高原；而东部和东南部则主要是低地，他们是整个欧洲平原（the Great European Plain）的组成部分。
我所了解的英美文化小常识：如何付小费 在美国付小费是个经常会遇到的问题，而且它有一约定俗成的习惯，最好能做到入境问俗，如果您不知其中的“秘密”，也许会让您陷入意想不到的尴尬，甚至会出丑。 凡是搭计程车、到餐厅吃饭、服务生或机场人员代提行李等，都是须给小费的。一般情况下，付给出租汽车司机的小费大约是全程路费的10—15％；付给搬运工的是每提一个箱子1美元；理发、美容的小费为理发、美容费的10—15％；给为你代泊车、取车的服务人员每次是一美元；到餐厅吃饭，付小费约为10%—15%；而住旅馆如不是三星级以上的，一般每天出门前放在桌上一美元即可，三星级以上则要数美元或更多。 然而并不是对任何为你服务的人都要付小费。美国的政府公务人员、警察、公司职员、旅馆服务台、公共汽车司机、电影院引座员、空中小姐、商场营业员、加油站的管理员是不收小费的。如果去自助餐厅、快餐店等自选饭菜的地方用餐也不用付小费。另外，在柜台式餐桌上用餐，小费可以少给，留下一两个25美分的硬币即可。若不清楚在什么情况下该给小费，宜事先询问友人。 在此了解的基础上，还要注意一些特殊的“风俗”。例如：晚间用餐小费需比白天多一些：切记千万不要以penny付小费，当penny丢在桌
上，尽管你付小费很多，很可能会被服务生误解为不满其服务，是一种羞辱的举止。因此除非服务实在是太差了，否则绝不可在小费中放置任何penny。当然若你以信用卡付帐。其实小费也是对服务品质的一种评估，有些服务生为了多赚小费会表现特别热心，不时殷勤询问。然而不必管服务生的眼色，你可依自己对该餐厅及该服务生的满意程度付小费，多给或少给没有人会干涉。在美国各种场合小费多如牛毛，如果你该出手时不出手，几乎寸步难行。上餐馆、旅行住店更是切不可忘记，否则遭人白眼不说，背后还要被诅咒祖宗三代；要不就是晚上回到房间里缺这少那，特别是卫生间里，“纸”到用时方恨少啊！在美国有一些情况，这小费你是不给也得给。一友人出差去美国，到了洛杉矶乘出租车进城，他问司机是否有计价表，司机点头称是，这才放心上车。坐好后，视线前方的一纸“告乘客”映入眼帘：“（1）计价表显示的车费中不含小费；（2）本司机没有5美元以下的零钱。”这前一条还好理解，提醒乘客“自愿”给小费，多多益善。然而这后一条却是明摆着要敲诈没有零钱的乘客，这“小费”您是不是不给也得给啊？还有一种情形，那就是强迫索取小费了。这种情况最常发生在大城市，因为游荡人囗太多，他们常驻足街囗，为你指点路线、擦车窗，或帮你找个停车位等略施小惠，然后等着你给小费。遇到这种强迫中奖的情形最好酌情给一、二个quarter。当然此时对于身边的财物也应小心，财不露外，以免招来危险。而平日最好能避开行为怪异的陌生人，如果一、二个quarter能了事，最好出钱了事，免得因招其纠缠而引起危险。顺便需要提醒的是，如果美国朋友请你吃“AA制”，一定要记住，餐费不但是分开各付各的，小费
备注：教学进程一栏可根据教学内容的多少自定页数。
备注：教学进程一栏可根据教学内容的多少自定页数。
第一讲英美诗歌的韵步 第一节韵步的定义与种类 韵步（foot，也被称为音步），是由音节(syllable)组成的，因此，首先要了解什么是音节。 音节由音素（phone）构成，它是语音中最小的不可再分解的单位，是字母组合后的读音标记。音素靠听觉辨认，字母靠视觉辨认，音素属于读音系统，字母属于拼写系统。例如，scansion [′sk?n∫зn]由8个字母拼写而成，只有7个音素。英语音素分为元音（vowel）和辅音(consonant)，共有48个。 音节是英语的发音单位，由一个元音或者由一个元音同一个或若干个辅音构成。音节可分为单音节、双音节、多音节三类。 单音节：you，day，me，big，make，bar等。 双音节：begin，open，foolish，summer，mountain等。 多音节：wonderful，revolution，satisfactory等。 辅音也可构成音节，如people，rhythm中的ple和thm都属于一个音节。 每个英语单词都有一个重读音节，其重读音节是固定的。如husband，共两个音节，第一个音节重读；express有两个音节，第二个音节重读；beautiful有三个音节，第一个音节重读；religion有三个音节，第二个音节重读；subterranean有四个音节，第三个音节重读。 在短语或句子中，冠词和介词一般不重读。如在in the morning，on a desk中，in、the、on、a都不重读。 弄清楚什么是音节，就可以理解什么是韵步了。 韵步是一个或两个重读音节和一个或两个非重读音节的排列组合。其类型如下： 韵步类型表
99% 的中国人会长期误解的英美文化知识 乱七八糟的都讲一点，是真正的杂谈，资料来源主要是英美人的宪法法律法规历史教材等等，为了阅读方便，前面不注明出处，最后会一一列出。 很多错误，历史来源已久，一般是翻译错误，尤其是因为翻译者的参考文献渠道不足。我能在这里纠正，主要是因为今天的电子资讯手段足够发达。 1. 美国的50 个“州”，应该翻译为50“国”，“美利坚合众国”应该翻译为“美利坚联合国”。这问题很复杂，后面慢慢谈。 2. 美利坚联合国是没有规定官方语言的。其他各国（州），有的有规定，有的没有。 英语只是事实上的通用语，因为使用的人最多；西班牙语是英语之后的第二大共同语，占全国人口12%，因为美国这片土地的最早征服者是西班牙人； 第三大共同语，是广东话，不是中国普通话，主要是移民文化决定的。在美国法庭认证的口译服务中，有广东话(Cantonese)、福建/闽南话(Fukienese)、台山话(Toisanese)、客家话(Hakkanese)、上海话(Shanghainese)，等等。目前为止，官方中文版以繁体字居多。 美国最早的建国业绩，应该从西班牙人开始算起，虽然当时他们对美洲本地人作恶多端。 3. NBA 中的费城76人队(Philadelphia 76ers)，不是指76 个队员，应该叫美国1776 年人队，或者叫76 年人队。 球队的英文名为Philadelphia 76ers。这只球队的组建，是为了纪念1776 年《独立宣言》在费城的签署，在英文中spirit of seventy-six 就是指1776 年的独立宣言精神，有一部电影就叫The Spirit of '76，也是指这段历史。英文的拼法，一般美国人是不会理解错误的，中文翻译为76 人，显然不恰当。 4. 其次谈谈美国的爱尔兰人。 英格兰、苏格兰、爱尔兰在历史上都曾经是彼此独立的国家。 跟中国不同，他们之间始终没有被彻底征服和消灭，其中奥妙就是里通外国，苏格兰和爱尔兰都打不过英格兰，不想被吞并，苏格兰请法国人帮忙，爱尔兰请西班牙人帮忙。 自十二世纪开始，爱尔兰只是名义上被英格兰统治。1558 年伊丽莎白登基，新教成为英格兰宗教主流，而爱尔兰跟西班牙一样信天主教。两种信仰之间的冲突加剧。不过，西班牙军队没有起到很大作用，最后，伊丽莎白的部队ruthlessly cracked down 了爱尔兰的起义。 当时很多英格兰士兵认为爱尔兰人是野蛮土著，这种观念一直持续到今天的英国和撒克逊美国人，就像上海人发明了一个“硬盘人”（外地人，拼写为WD，是西部数据硬盘的商标）。
英美文化背景知识 英语国家中传统的文娱和体育活动；棒球、橄榄球等；英国； 4月23日/7月---戏剧节--为纪念莎士比亚而举行的盛大文娱活动 英语国家中重要的节假日及主要庆祝方式圣诞节---12月25日，情人节----2月14日；感恩节—11月的第四个星期四开始，持续四天 感恩节 每年11月的最后一个星期四是感恩节 (Thanksgiving Day) 。感恩节是美国人民独创的一个古老节日，也是美国人合家欢聚的节日，因此美国人提起感恩节总是倍感亲切。 感恩节的由来要一直追溯到美国历史的发端。1620年，著名的“五月花”号船满载不堪忍受英国国内宗教迫害的清教徒102人到达美洲。1620年和1621年之交的冬天，他们遇到了难以想象的困难，处在饥寒交迫之中，冬天过去时，活下来的移民只有50来人。这时，心地善良的印第安人给移民送来了生活必需品，还特地派人教他们怎样狩猎、捕鱼和种植玉米、南瓜。在印第安人的帮助下，移民们终于获得了丰收，在欢庆丰收的日子，按照宗教传统习俗，移民规定了感谢上帝的日子，并决定为感谢印第安人的真诚帮助，邀请他们一同庆祝节日。 在第一个感恩节的这一天，印第安人和移民欢聚一堂，他们在黎明时鸣放礼炮，列队走进一间用作教堂的屋子，虔诚地向上帝表达谢意，然后点起篝火举行盛大宴会。第二天和第三天又举行了摔跤、赛跑、唱歌、跳舞等活动。第一个感恩节非常成功。其中许多庆祝方式流传了300多年，一直保留到今天。 初时感恩节没有固定日期，由各州临时决定。直到美国独立后的1863年，林肯总统宣布感恩节为全国性节日。 习俗 每逢感恩节这一天，美国举国上下热闹非常，人们按照习俗前往教堂做感恩祈祷，城乡市镇到处举行化装游行、戏剧表演和体育比赛等，学校和商店也都按规定放假体息。孩子们还模仿当年印第安人的模样穿上离奇古怪的服装，画上脸谱或戴上面具到街上唱歌、吹喇叭。散居在他乡外地的家人也会回家过节，一家人团团围坐在一起，大嚼美味火鸡。 同时，好客的美国人也忘不掉这一天邀请好友、单身汉或远离家乡的入共度佳节。从18世纪起，美国就开始出现一种给贫穷人家送一篮子食物的风俗。当时有一群年轻妇女想在一年中选一天专门做善事，认为选定感恩节是最恰当不过的。所以感恩节一到，她们就装上满清一篮食物亲自送到穷人家。这件事远近传闻，不久就有许多人学着她们的样子做起来。 美食 美国人一年中最重视的一餐，就是感恩节的晚宴。在美国这个生活节奏很快，竞争激烈的国度里，平日的饮食极为简单。但在感恩节的夜晚，家家户户都大办筵席，物品之丰盛，令人咋舌。在节日的餐桌上，上至总统，下至庶民，火鸡和南瓜饼都是必备的。因此，感恩
英美文化趣味问答竞赛试题卷二（初赛）一：谚语翻译（60’) 1）是驴是马，拉出来溜溜2）伤心旧事别重提 3）鼎力相助 4）小心隔墙有耳 5）真理永存 6）人言可畏 7）人越高尚，越谦虚 8）魔鬼有时也会说真话9）言行不一 10）无私者无畏 11）针锋相对 12）吠犬不咬人 13）人生苦短 14）收获与风险并存15）吃一堑，长一智16）习惯是后天养成的17）众口铄金，积毁销骨18）不学无术 19）当局者迷旁观者清20）不鸣则已，一鸣惊人21）病从口入 22)好书如挚友 23)贪小便宜吃大亏 24)循序渐进 25)智者千虑必有一失 26)集思广益 27)兼听则明 28)覆水难收 29)小人无大志 30)不入虎穴焉得虎子 二：名词词组（20’) 1）国家安全2）上市子公司3）两型社会4）跨越式发展5）入境旅游6）服务型经济7）计划生育8）和平统一9）因地制宜10)南水北调 三：单位换算题(10)(保留两位小数） 1）10华氏度=？摄氏度2）7英里=？千米 3）9磅力=？牛顿4）4平方公里=？公顷5）8磅=？千克 四：趣味题(10’) 1)The two very important crops in British are A.barley and oats B.wheat and rice C.barley and corn D.wheat and barley 2)British recorded history begin with the invasion A.Norman B.Roman C.Anglo-Saxon D.Viking 3) is the oldest of all the parties in Ireland. A.The Irish Labour Party B.The Progressive Democrats C.Fianna Fail D.Fine Gael 4)Who is the first female Prime Minister in Australia? 5)Who is the most well-know Irish writer of the modern period?
英美人习惯(英美文化常识) 问路（Asking the way）：问路是到达目的地最省事、最有效的办法。在英美国家，人们对于外国人问路通常会热心回答的。但在问话时，他们不喜欢你一口气很流利地背出许多问话，也不喜欢在别人思考你的问题时一直追问，更不喜欢陌生人离他们太近，这样会使他们觉得很不自在，甚至觉得是一种威胁，因为西方人的空间意识很强。 乘车（Taking a bus）：英美人候车总是很自觉排队上车。他们遵循“First come, first served.”（谁先到，谁先上）的行为准则。英美人不喜欢搭乘过路车，因为你很可能遇上不怀好意的人或者歹徒。 在图书馆（At the library）：英美国家的图书馆每天从上午一直开放到子夜。有些图书馆里还有供学生租用的一间间小室，是学生们最喜欢的场所之一，也是学生们从事学术研究、著书立说的最佳场所。 购物（Shopping）：英美人把周末当作上街购物日，他们喜欢在这时开着自己的车上街购足一周所需要的日用品和食品。星期日则喜欢在家料理家务，或外出郊游、访友。 谈论天气（Talking about the weather）：英国人特别喜欢谈天气，这也许是因为英国的天气历来变化无常，为人们在茶余饭后提供了话题。但他们很少为谈天气而谈天气，人们往往以此很自然地引出许多其他的话题。 询问健康（Asking about health）：表示对某人健康情况的关心时，英美人不喜欢中国人带有劝告性的忠告，如“请多穿衣”“多喝水”。他们认为这犹如家长的口气，并非出于关心。探望病人，英美人一般不送大礼，更不能送食品。他们喜欢送鲜花或慰问卡片或书、唱片等。 在饭馆（In a restaurant）：在英美，不可以用自己的刀叉为别人添菜，也不能把自己盘里的菜分给别人。在吃饭时，一般不允许抽烟。付款时，人们喜欢各付各的，除非你事先说自己请客，否则随同去的女性也自己买单。
英美国家文化学习心得 XXX学院学号：XXX 姓名：XXX 我是一名来自物电学院的非英语专业的学生，之所以选修英美文化这门课，就是本着更好地学好外语的想法的。从初中到高中，一直以来，我就认为语言是文化的一部分，要想学好一门语言，最好先学习和了解与这门语言相关的文化背景，因为它能够体现出各地风俗的差异及社会历史的发展。 美国语言学家Edard Sapir 说：“语言不能脱离文化而存在，文化反映的是社会所想所做，而语言表达了社会的想法。”脱离了文化的语言是空洞而又无意义的，脱离了语言的文化是没有传承性的，因此，语言与文化是不可或缺的。从这个意义来说，学习一个国家的文化和学习这个国家的语言同等重要。 在外语学习中，缺乏必要的背景知识使会对篇章中某些词语特有的文化内涵体会不出来，这样，即使知道每个词的词典意义也是不可能正确理解篇章的内容。例如，“…a couple who happened to have been the First Family of the nation…” 这段话的字面含义是：一对有幸成为美国第一个家庭的夫妇。The f irst family means the President’s family in the US.但是，“the first family”的真正含义是美国总统之家，而不是美国历史上第一个家庭。如果对美国惯用语有所了解，那么就不难理解这个句子的真正含义。另外，中西方文化存在着巨大的差异, 例如：中国人喜欢关心他人的工作收入、家庭生活、社会交往等情况。而西方人则因为崇尚个人主义, 将自己的收入、家庭、婚姻、年龄等情况视为隐私，而不愿他人了解此类信息。同时，西方人比较自我，经常以自我为中心。深入了解这些中西方文化差异，学生能够更好的理解文章内容，弄懂作者的意图，进而提高阅读能力。因此，掌握好文化知识有助于促进语言的学习。 例如：一张试卷，在做听力题时，判断一个人的听力, 实际上是对一个人的英语水平、知识面、分析及联想能力的综合检验, 即使材料中有些生词, 也能根据上下文猜测出它们的意思。但是遇到一些我们不熟悉的材料或与英美文化背景知识有关的材料时, 听起来就感到难得多。尽管有的材料比较简单, 也听懂了字面意思, 但由于缺乏文化背景知识而不能理解其中的真正含义。例如: 这是美国人常讲的两个笑话:（1）A: Where are you from? B:I’ll ask her. ( Alaska) A: Why do you askher? （2) A: Where are you f rom? B: How are you. ( Hawaii) 。这两个笑话中, 在A 看来B 是答非所问, 但如果A 了解美国的地理概况, 知道美国有两个远离大陆的洲: 阿拉斯加( Alaska) 和夏威夷( Hawaii) , 那么就不会闹出把Alaska