The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Unit 1 Geography, People and Language
I.Read the following statements carefully and decide whether they are True or False.
1.The island of Great Britain is geographically divided into three parts: England, Scotland and
Wales.
2.People in different parts of Britain like to use the name England to refer to their country.
3.Today more than half of the people in Wales still speak the ancient Welsh language.
4.In terms of population and area, Northern Ireland is the second largest part of the UK.
5.The longest river of Britain originates in Wales.
6.Because of political troubles, Northern Ireland has been quite significant among the four
constituent parts of the UK.
7.Though the climate in Britain is generally mild, the temperature in northern Scotland often
falls below -10.c in January.
8.The majority of the people in Britain are descendants of the Anglo-Saxons.
9.The Celtic people are the earliest known in habitants of Britain.
10.English changed into what is described as Modern English from the late `16th century.
II.Choose the one that best completes each of the following statements.
1.The two main islands of the Britain Isles are ____.
a.Great Britain and Ireland
b.Great Britain and Scotland
c.Great Britain and Wales
d.Great Britain and England
2.____ is the capital city of Scotland.
a.Belfast
b.Edinburgh
c.Aberdeen
d.Cardiff
3.According to a 2005 estimate, Britain now has a population of over ____ million.
a.160
b.600
c.60
d.16
4.Among the four parts of the UK, ___ is the smallest.
a.England
b.Scotland
c.Wales
d.Northern Ireland
5.Almost a quarter of the British population lives in ___ England.
a.northeastern
b.southeastern
c.northwestern
d.southwestern
6.English belongs to the ____ group of Indo-European family of languages.
a.Celtic
b.Indo-Iranian
c.Germanic
d.Roman
7.The introduction of Christianity to Britain added the first element of ___ words to English.
a.Danish and Finnish
b.Dutch and German
c.French and Italian
https://www.doczj.com/doc/922863639.html,tin and Greek
8.The evolution of Middle English was reinforced by the ____ influence.
a.Norman
b.Dutch
c.German
d.Danish
9.Samuel Johnson’s dictionary was influential in establishing a standard form of ___.
a.grammar
b.handwriting
c.spelling
d.pronunciation
10.At present, nearly___ of the world’s population communication in English.
a.half
b. a quarter
c.one third
d.one fifth
III.Give brief answers to the following questions.
1.What is the full name of the UK?
2.Why do tourists from all over the world like to go to Scotland?
3.How many periods can the development of the English language be divided into and what are
they?
4.Why did English become more important after the Black Death?
IV.State your understanding of the following questions in about 100 words.
1.Who are British People?
2.What is Standard English?
Unit 2 History
I.Read the following statements carefully and decide whether they are True or False.
1.The British history before 55BC is basically undocumented.
2.The Celts became the dominant group in Britain between the 8th and 5th centuries BC.
3.The name of Britain came from a Celtic tribe---the Britons.
4.The Anglo-Saxons came to Britain in the mid-5th century.
5.The chief or king of the Anglo-Saxon tribes exercised power at their own will.
6.The Vikings began to attack the English coast in the 8th century.
7.Henry II built up a large empire which included England and most of France.
8.The Magna Carta was designed to protect the rights of both the privileged class and the
townspeople.
9.The Hundred Years’ War was a series of wars fought between England and Normans for trade
and territory.
10.In an effort to make a compromise between different religious factions, Queen Elizabeth I
actually defended the fruit of the Religious Reformation.
II.Choose the one that best completes each of the following statements.
1.The ___ attack on Rome ended the Roman occupation in Britain in 410.
a.Norman
b.Danish
c.Celtic
d.Germanic
2.By the late 7th century, ___ became the dominant religion in England.
a.Celtic Christianity
b.Anglo-Saxon Christianity
c.Germanic Christianity
d.Roman Christianity
3.Westminster Abbey was built at the time of ____.
a.St. Augustine
b.Edward the Confessor
c.William the Conqueror
d.Alfred the Great
4.The ___ marked the establishment of feudalism in England.
a.Viking invasion
b.Signing of the Magna Carta
c.Norman Conquest
d.Adoption of common law
5.The end of the Wars of the Roses led to the rule of ___.
a.the House of Valois
b.the House of York
c.the House of Tudor
d.the House of Lancaster
6.The direct cause for the Religious Reformation was King Henry VIII’s effort to ___.
a.divorce his wife
b.break with Rome
c.support the Protestants
d.declare his supreme power over the church
7.The English Civil War broke out in 1642 between ___.
a.Protestants and Puritans
b.Royalists and Parliamentarians
c.Nobles and peasants
d.Aristocrats and Christians
8.___ was passed after the Glorious Revolution.
a.Bill of Rights
b.Act of Supremacy
c.Provisions of Oxford
d.Magna Carta
9.The Industrial Revolution was accomplished in Britain by the middle of the ____
century.
a.17th
b.18th
c.19th
d.20th
10.Britain faced strong challenges in its global imperial dominance by the beginning of the
___ century.
a.17th
b.18th
c.19th
d.20th
III.Give brief answers to the following questions.
1.What are the two components of the British parliament?
2.What were some of Queen Victoria’s major achievements?
3.What were the two camps in Europe in World War I?
4.Why did Britain cooperate closely with the United States after World War II?
IV.State your understanding of the following question and topic in about 100 words.
1.What were the results of the Industrial Revolution in Britain?
2.The Rise and Fall of the British Empire.
Unit 3 Government and the Commonwealth
I. Read the following statements carefully and decide whether they are True or False.
1. Conventions are regarded less important than common law in the working of the British government.
2. The British monarchy has never been interrupted throughout the history.
3. In reality, the British King or Queen is the source of all government powers.
4. British Parliament is the law-making body of the Commonwealth of Nations.
5. Lords Spiritual and Lords Temporal are all members in the British Upper House.
6. The members in the House of Commons are appointed rather than elected.
7. The British Prime Minister is the leader of the majority party in Parliament.
8. Cabinet members are chosen by the Prime Minister from various political parties in Parliament.
9. British law consists of two parts, the civil law and the criminal law.
10. The legal systems in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are much similar in terms of law, organization and practice.
II. Choose the one that best completes each of the following statements.
1.The British government is characterized by a division of powers between three of the
following branches with the exception of the ___.
a.judiciary
b.legislature
c.monarchy
d.executive
2.The importance of the British monarchy can be seen in its effect on ___.
a.passing the bills
b.advising the government
c.political parties
d.public attitude
3.As a revising chamber, the House of Lords is expected to ___ the House of Commons.
a.rival
https://www.doczj.com/doc/922863639.html,plement
c.criticize
d.inspect
4.British Cabinet works on the principle of ___.
a.collective responsibility
b.individual responsibility
c.defending the collectivism
d.defending the individuals
5.The main duty of the British Privy Council is to ___.
a.make decisions
b.give advice
c.pass bills
d.supervise the Cabinet
6.In Britain, the parliamentary general election is held every ____ years.
a.three
b.four
c.five
d.six
7.____ has a distinct legal system based on Roman law.
a.Wales
b.England
c.Scotland
d.Northern Ireland
8.Generally speaking, the British Parliament operates on a ___ system.
a.single-party
b.two-party
c.three-party
d.multi-party
9.The policies of the Conservative Party are characterized by pragmatism and ___.
https://www.doczj.com/doc/922863639.html,ernment intervention
b.nationalization of enterprises
c.social reform
d. a belief in individualism
10.The Labor Party affected the British society greatly in that it ____.
a.set up the National Health Service
b.improved public transportation
c.abolished the old tax system
d.enhanced the economic development
III. Give brief answers to the following questions.
1.What are the three functions of the House of Commons?
2.Why the Conservative Party is sometimes called the “Right”?
3.What kind of public image does Liberal Democrats have in Britain?
4.Why are independent candidates unlikely to win in the general election?
V.State your understanding of the following questions in about 100 words.
1.What do British electoral campaigns usually involve during the process of a general
election?
2.What is the Commonwealth of Nations?
Unit 4 Education, Media and Holidays
I. Read the following statements carefully and decide whether they are True or False.
1. The British government has been responsible for education since the early 1800s.
2. Education in Britain is compulsory for all children between the ages of 6 and 15.
3. The National Curriculum is compulsory in both the state system and the independent system.
4. When children finish their schooling at 16, they are required to take a national GCSE examination.
5. Graduates from state schools in Britain have a less favorable chance to enter famous universities than those from independent schools.
6. In the 1960s, a large number of new universities were founded in Britain.
7. Most British people begin their day with reading the morning newspaper and end it watching television in the evening.
8. The Times is the world’s oldest national newspaper.
9. The BBC World Service broadcasts only in English throughout the world.
10. Some British holidays are celebrated to mark the important events of the Christian calendar, and others are related to local customs and traditions.
II. Choose the one that best completes each of the following statements.
1.In Britain, the division between grammar schools and vocational schools were ended by
the introduction of comprehensive schools, in the ____.
a.1930s.
b.1940s
c.1950s
d.1960s
2.About ___ of British children receive primary and secondary education through the
independent system.
a.5%
b.6%
c.7%
d.8%
3.Partially funded by central government grants, the British universities receive their
remaining funds from all the following sources except ___.
a.tuition fees
b.loans
c.donations
d.corporate contributions
4.Of the following, ___ is NOT a basis of admission to Britain’s universities.
a.result in national entrance test
b.A-level result
c.An interview
d.School references
5.To be admitted to the Open Universities, one need ____.
a.some educational qualifications
b.no educational qualifications
c.General Certificate of Education-Advanced
d.General National V ocational Qualifications
6.Among Britain’s quality press, the following newspapers are regarded as the “Big Three”
with the exception of ___.
a.The Times
b.The Guardian
c.The Observer
d.The Daily Telegraph
7.Life on Earth is a kind of ___ program produced by the BBC and is popular among 500
million viewers worldwide.
a.feature
b.drama
c.documentary
d.soap opera
8.____ is Britain’s top pay television provider.
a.BSB
b.SkyTV
c.BBC
d.BSkyB
9.Of the following, ___ is NOT a common feature of all the British holidays.
a.families getting together
b.friends exchanging good wishes
c.friends enjoying each other’s company
d.families traveling overseas
10.The following Christmas traditions are particularly British except ___.
a.Trooping the Color
b.Queen’s Christmas message
c.Boxing Day
d.Christmas pantomime
III. Give brief answers to the following questions.
1.What used to be the major functions of grammar schools and vocational schools in Britain?
2.What kind of subjects do British comprehensive schools provide?
3.In what ways do British universities enjoy complete academic freedom?
4.How do students in the Open Universities receive their education?
5.What role does the media play in British leisure culture?
V.State your understanding of the following question and topic in about 100 words.
1.What are the general features of Britain’s independent schools?
2.The “quality pass” and the “tabloids” in Britain.
The United States of America
Unit 5 Geography and People
I.I. Read the following statements carefully and decide whether they are True or False.
1.The eastern highlands formed by the Appalachians hold one third of the country’s continental
territory.
2.The climate in the United States can be classified as temperate, with some mild subtropical
and tropical zones.
3.Almost through the middle of the United States, north to south, runs a well-known
50-centimeter rainfall line.
4.New York is the commercial and financial center of the United States, and it is composed of
five boroughs including Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Staten Island, and Queens.
5.San Francisco is the second largest city after New York and the world famous Hollywood and
Disneyland are located here.
6.Half of the U. S. population lives in the western metropolitan centers.
7.The Blacks brought from Africa to America usually worked on plantations or farms in the
North.
8.During the 1830s and 1840s, many northern Europeans and Irish immigrants came to
America.
9.Almost half of the immigrants coming to the United States in the 1980s were Asians.
10.Basic American cultural values are freedom, equality and desire to work hard for a higher
standard of living.
II.Choose the one that best completes each of the following statements.
1.The United States has ___ states on the continent.
a.50
b.49
c.48
d.35
2.The state of ____ is the largest in area of all the states.
a.Alaska
b.Hawaii
c.Texas
d.Florida
3.The U. S. lies in ___ North America, with Canada to the north, Mexico to the south, the
Atlantic to its ____ and the Pacific to its ____.
a.northern, east, west
b.central, east, west
c.southern, west, east
d.western, east, west
4.The largest river in the U. S. is ____.
a.the Missouri River
b.the Mississippi River
c.the Ohio River
d.the Colorado River
5.Some of the world famous universities like Harvard, Yale and MIT are located ___.
a.in the South
b.along the Pacific Coast
c.in New England
d.in the Midwest
6.____ is located on the U. S. –Canadian border between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
a.Yellowstone National Park
b.The Grand Canyon
c.Niagara Falls
d.The Great Salt Lake
7.The native Alaskan population includes the following except the ___.
a.Indians
b.Eskimos
c.Aleuts
d.Blacks
8.The largest minority in the United States is the ____.
a.Pacific Islanders
b.Blacks
c.Native Americans
https://www.doczj.com/doc/922863639.html,ns
9.The Immigrants Act of 1924 restricted the further immigration into the United States,
particularly from ___.
a.Europe
https://www.doczj.com/doc/922863639.html,
c.Africa
d.South America
10.The characteristic of dominant American culture is ___.
a.English-speaking, northern European, Roman Catholic and middle-class
b.English-speaking, western European, Roman Catholic and upper-class.
c.English-speaking, northern European, Protestant and upper-class.
d.English-speaking, western European, Protestant and middle-class.
III.Give brief answers to the following questions.
1.How is the American population distributed?
2.How is the life of the Native Americans today?
3.Why was the Immigration Act of 1924 instituted?
IV.State your understanding of the following questions in about 100 words.
1.Why is the US regarded as a “melting pot” and a “salad”?
2.What do you think is the best way to help assimilation in a multicultural society?
Unit 6 History
I.Read the following statements carefully and decide whether they are True or
False.
1.America was named after Amerigo Vespucci, who arrived on the new continent after
Columbus.
2.The second Continental Congress was held in Philadelphia, and the Continental Army and
Navy were founded under the command of Thomas Jefferson.
3.The Civil War not only put an end to slavery, but also decided that America was a single,
indivisible nation.
4.Many American people approved of the Vietnam War.
5.During Clinton’s term, the economy developed steadily, resulting in a lower rate of
unemployment.
6.In 1990, American troops and the troops from allied nations launched Operation Desert Storm
in order to drive Iraqi troops out of Kuwait.
7.According to the American administration, Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden were
responsible for the terrorist event on September 11, 2001.
8.The American government regarded Iraq a nation among the “axis of evil”.
9.On March 19, 2003, American and UN’s troops, supported by several other countries, began
an invasion of Iraq.
10.Although the combat operations in Iraq are over, it is still hard for America to decide when to
withdraw its army.
II.Choose the one that best complete each of the following statements.
1.The first successful English colony in North America was founded at ___ in ____.
a.Jamestown, Louisiana
b.Boston, Massachusetts
c.Jamestown, Virginia
d.Plymouth, Georgia
2.Pilgrim Fathers are a group of ____ who came to America to avoid persecution in England.
a.Protestants
b.Puritans
c.Catholics
d.Christians
3.The Seven Years’ War occurred between the ____.
a.French and American Indians
b.French and Spaniards
c.French and British
d.British and American Indians
4.“No taxation without representation” was the rallying slogan of ___.
a.the settlers of Virginia
b.the people of Pennsylvania
c.the colonists in New England
d.the people of the 13 colonies
5.The first shots of the American War of Independence were fired in ___.
a.Concord
b.Lexington
c.Philadelphia
d.Boston
6.In May 1775, ____ was held in Philadelphia and began to assume the functions of a national
government.
a.the First Continental Congress
b.the Second Continental Congress
c.the Boston Tea Party
d.the Congress of Confederation
7.Abraham Lincoln issued ___ to grant freedom to all slaves.
a.Declaration of Independence
b.Constitution
c.Emancipation Proclamation
d.Bill of Right
8.The policy of the US was ____ at the beginning of the two world wars.
a.neutrality
b.full involvement
c.partial involvement
d.appeasement
9.President ____ applied New Deal to deal with the problems of the Great Depression.
a.Wilson
b.Truman
c.Roosevelt
d.Kennedy
10.The Vietnam War was a long-time suffering for Americans, and it continued throughout the
terms of Presidents ___.
a.Johnson, Nixon and Ford
b.Truman, Eisenhower, and Kennedy
c.Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon
d.Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson
III.Give brief answers to the following questions.
1.Why did America change its policy and enter World War II?
2.What were Nixon’s well-known contribution during his presidency?
3.What were the contents of Reagan’s economic program?
IV.State your understanding of the following questions in about 100 words.
1.What was the cause of the American Civil War?
2.What made the US a powerful country by the end of World War II?
Unit 7 Government
I.Read the following statements carefully and decide whether they are True or False.
1.Bill of Rights was written into the Constitution in 1787. F
2.The form of American government is based on three main principles: federalism, the
separation of powers, and respect for the Constitution and the rule of law. T
3.The US Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government and it consists of two
houses: the House of Commons and the House of Lords. F
4.Certain presidential appointments must be approved by Congress. T
5.The judicial branch of the federal government consists of a series of courts: the Supreme
Court, the courts of appeals and the district courts. T
6.Like Britain, the US has a two-party system. T
7.The Democratic Party is conservative in terms of its ideology. F
8.American presidential campaign adheres to the “winner-take-all” practice. T
9.American foreign policy throughout the WWII was neutrality. F
10.American foreign policy during the Cold War period was containment and intervention.
T
II.Choose the one that best completes each of the following statements.
1.The US Constitution came into effect in _b___.
a.1787
b.1789
c.1791
d.1793
2.The Constitution of the US _c___.
a.gives the most power to Congress
b.gives the most power to the President
c.tries to give each branch enough power to balance the others.
d.Gives the most power to the Supreme Court
3.The Bill of Right ___.
a.defines the rights of Congress and the rights of the President
b.guarantees citizens of the United States specific individual rights and freedoms
c.is part of the Declaration of Independence
d.has no relationship with the Constitution
4.The following except ____ are guaranteed in the Bill of Right.
a.freedom of religion
b.the right to get into people’s house by police
c.freedom of speech and of press
d.the right to own one’s weapon if one wishes
5.All the following except ___ can not make legislative proposal.
a.the Senator
b.the Representative
c.the Secretary of State
d.the President
6.The following except ___ are all powers of the President.
a.vetoing any bills passed by Congress
b.appointing federal judges when vacancies occur
c.making laws
d.issuing executive orders
7.According to the Constitution, a candidate for President must be ____.
a.at least 35 years old
b.at least 14 years’ resident of the United States
c.born in America
d.all of the above
8.The terms for a Senator and Representative are ____ and ____years respectively.
a.two, four
b.two, three
c.two, six
d.six, two
9.The Supreme Court is composed of ____ justices.
a.six
b.seven
c.eight
d.nine
10.The President is directly voted into office by ____.
a.all citizens of America
b.the citizens over 18 years old
c.electors elected by the voters.
d.The senators and representatives
III.Give brief answers to the following questions.
1.What are the two characteristics of the US Constitution?
2.What are the qualifications for a Senator and a Representative respectively?
3.What are the major powers of the Supreme Court?
4.What is the difference between the Democrats and the Republicans in terms of political
opinions?
5.What is the content of President Wilson’s Fourteen Points?
IV.State your understanding of the following questions in about 100 words.
1.What did Eisenhower do to serve his foreign policy and what were their consequences?
2.How is a President voted into office in America? What are your ideas about the American
election?
Unit 8 Education, Media and Holidays
I.I. Read the following statements carefully and decide whether they are True or False.
https://www.doczj.com/doc/922863639.html,cation is governed by state and local governments instead of the national government in
America.
2.All American children are offered 12 years of compulsory public education.
3.The first formal academic institution that a child attends is called kindergarten.
4.After 12 years of schooling, American students receive a bachelor’s degree at graduation.
5.When electing a college or university, undergraduate students have a great concern for its size,
location and academic quality.
6.In American institutions, a board of trustees composed of professionals is responsible for the
administration.
https://www.doczj.com/doc/922863639.html,ually, an undergraduate student has to earn 120 credits to receive a degree.
8.Yale University is the second eldest institution of higher learning in the United States.
9.It is The New York Times that first uncovered the Watergate Scandal in 1972 through the
efforts of two reporters.
10.Thanksgiving Day falls on the fourth Tuesday in November.
II.Choose the one that best completes each of the following statements.
1.Formal education in the US consists of _____, secondary and higher education.
a.kindergarten
b.public
c.elementary
d.private
2.Of the following subjects, ___ are NOT offered to elementary school students.
a.mathematics and languages
b.politics and business education
c.science and social studies
d.music and physical education
3.Higher education in the US began with the founding of ___.
a.Yale University
b.Harvard University
c.Princeton University
d.New York University
4.Of the following, ____ are NOT among the categories of American higher education.
a.universities and colleges
b.research institutions
c.technical institutions
https://www.doczj.com/doc/922863639.html,munity colleges
5.Of the following, ___ is NOT the responsibility of the board of trustees in US institutions.
a.choosing the president
b.establishing policies for administrators and faculty
c.approving budget and other financial project
d.decide which student to enroll
6.To get a bachelor’s degree, all undergraduate students are required to do the following except
___.
a.attending lectures and completing assignments
b.passing examinations
c.working for communities
d.earning a certain number of credits
7.Of the following universities, ___ has NOT cultivated any American Presidents yet.
a.Harvard University
b.Massachusetts Institute of Technology
c.Princeton University
d.Yale University
8.____ is sold especially to the upper or upper-middle class and it has a reputation ofr its serious
attitude and great bulk.
a.the Washington Post
b.The New York Times
c.Los Angeles Times
d.New York Daily News
9.Of the following, ___ is NOT among the three major radio and TV networks in America.
a.the National Broadcasting System (NBS)
b.the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)
c.the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)
d.The American Broadcasting System (ABS)
10.The National Day of the US falls on ___.
a.June 4th
b.July 4th
c.June 14th
d.July 4th
III.Give brief answers to the following questions.
1.How does an American university choose its applicants?
2.What functions do American higher education institutions perform?
3.What similarities do four famous universities share?
4.What are the origins of Thanksgiving Day?
IV.State your understanding of the following questions in about 100 words.
1.What are the ideals that guide the American educational system?
2.How does American carry out multicultural education?
1. What is the full name of the U.K.? ----United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 2. Why do tourists from all over the world like to go to Scotland? ----They like to enjoy the beautiful Scottish scenery, to drink Scotch whisky and to see Scotsmen wearing kilts and playing bagpipes. 3. How many periods can the development of the English language be divided into and what are they? ----The development of the English language can be divided into three periods: Old English, Middle English and Modern English. 4. Why did English become more important after Black Death? ----The laboring and merchant classes grew in economic and social importance after the Black Death, so English also grew in importance compared to French. 1. Who are the British People? ----The first known inhabitants in Britain were Celts who are the ancestors of the Welsh, Scottish and Irish people. Then came the Anglos, the Saxons and the Jutes who brought with them the English language. Many people from other European countries came later, and in modern times there are a lot of immigrants from many former Commonwealth countries from every part of the world. Britain is a country of mixed cultures, and the Britain people are also composed of people from different ethic and culture backgrounds. 2. What is Standard English? ----Standard English is based on the speech of the upper class of southeastern England. It is widely used in media and taught at schools. It is preferred by the educated, middle-class people. It has developed and has been promoted as a model for correct Britain English. It is also the norm carried overseas. Today, Standard English is codified to the extent that the grammar and vocabulary are much the same everywhere in the world where English is taught and used. 1. What are the two components of the British Parliament? ----the House of Commons and the House of Lords. 2. What were some of Queen Victoria's major achievement? ---- Queen Victoria made tremendous achievements in almost every aspect.
Exercises Part one: choose the correct answer: 1.The highest mountain peak in Britain is in ____. A. England B. Scotland C. Wales D. Northern Ireland 2.The longest river in Britain is ___ A. River Severn B. River Thames C. River Mercy D. River Humber 3. The largest lake in Britain is located in ____. A. England B. Scotland C. Wales D.Northern Ireland 4. The highest mountain peak in Britain is called ___. A. Ben Nevis B. Cross Fell C. Snowdon D. Scafell 5. Which of the following is not the feature of British climate? A. coldness B. more rainy days C. changeability D. more fogs 6. The leading anthracite coalfield in Britain are in ____. A. Scotland B. England C. Wales D. the North Sea 7. The English people are descendant of ___. A. Celts B. Romans C. Anglo-Saxons D. Danes 8. London dialect was once disseminated throught the country Not because London was ____. A. a commercial center B. a political center C. a printing center D. a linguistic center 9. The established church of Britain is ____ A. The Church of England B. The Church of Scotland C. Free churches D. The United Reformed Church 10. British economy in the 1970s was characterized by ____ A. stagnation B. inflation C. recovery D. stagflation 11. Britain is the ____ largest country invested and the investor abroad. A. second B. third C. fourth D. fifth 12. The British beef industry has been hit badly by ____. A. SARS B. BSE C. AIDS D. None of the above 13. The central bank in Britain is ____. A. Lloyd B. Barclay C. Midland D. the Bank of England Part Two Fill in the blanks: 1. The total area of Britain is about ____ square kilometers. 2. The chief ranges in England are the ____ and the ____ Mountains. 3. The English people are the descendant of ____, while the Scots, Welsh and Irish are the descendants of the ____. 4. The major languages spoken in Britain are ___，____ and ____. 5. The fishing industry provides ____ % of the UK demand for fish. 6. The British company Glaxo-wellcome is the biggest ____ company in the world. 7. The German company named ___ recently bought Britain’s last major independent car company, Rover. Part Three: Match: 1. Liverpool a, the steel manufacturing center of Britain 2. Hull b, the former center of textile industry of Britain 3. Sheffield c, the fishing port in Hunberside 4. Manchester d, the largest city in Britain 5. Glasgow e, the second largest city in Britain 6. London f, the district of Merseyside 7. Birmingham g, the largest city in Scotland 8. Belfast h, the capital of Wales 9. Edindurgh I, the capital of Northern Ireland 10. Cardiff j, the capital of Scotland Part Four Explain the following terms: 1.the backbone of England 2.the English Channel 3.invisible trade 4.the development areas
The United Kingdom I. Multiple Choice 1. The was “the greatest progressive revolution that mankind had so far experienced, a time which called for giants and produced giants—giants in power of thought, passion, and character, in universality and learning”(Engels). a. Renaissance b. Industrial Revolution c. Reformation d. Bourgeois Revolution 2. is regarded as the first English Prime Minster. a.D uke of Willington b.William Gladstone c.Benjamin Disraeli d.Sir Robert Walpole 3. The official head of Parliament is . a. the Prime Minister b. the Monarch c. the Speaker d. the Chancellor 4. The present sovereign of Britain is . a. Elizabeth I b. Elizabeth II
c. Elizabeth III d. Edward II 5. is a day to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. a. Christmas b. Good Friday c. Easter Monday d. Boxing Day 6. published his book On the Origin of Species which caused a stir in Victorian times. a. Adam Smith b. Charles Darwin c. Thomas More d. Francis Bacon 7. The largest section of Great Britain is . a. Scotland b. Wales c. England d. Northern Ireland 8. The Lake District is well known for . a. its wild and beautiful scenery b. its varied lakes c. the Lake Poets
英美概况练习题 一、将下列汉语单词译成英语，作为提示，每个词、词类和第一个字母以及用短线表示，其余字母数，已给出。 1、饲养v.f________ 2.英勇的a.g____________ 3.普遍的 a . w _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 4.贸易 n .t _ _ _ _ 5.占领 v .o _ _ _ _ _ 6.城市的 a .u _ _ _ _ 7.平均 n. a _ _ _ _ _ _ 8.数量 n .q _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 9.装饰 v .d _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 10.精确的 a .p _ _ _ _ _ _ 11.未来n.f_______ 12.报纸n.n__________ 13.教育v.e________ 14.预算 n .b _ _ _ _ _ 15.题目 n .t _ _ _ _ 16.刺激 v .s _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 17.诚实的 a .h _ _ _ _ _ 18.开关 n .s _ _ _ _ _ 19.著名的 a . f _ _ _ _ _ 20.独立的 a .i _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 21.混合 v .m _ _ 22.说服 v . p _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 23.管子 n . p _ _ _ 24.表扬 v . p _ _ _ _ _ 25.第三 num . t _ _ _ _ 二、将括号中的各词变为适当形式填入空白。答案写在答卷纸上。 1、During the war the British navy_________(play) 2.Most users don’t limit________(them)simply to E-mail. 3.In American colleges and universities,a vast array of subjects________(offer). 4. Experiments have to be made under ___________(care) controlled conditions. 5.Garage-sale items usually ___________(price) at a very small part of their original cost. 6.The part of the moon ____________(face) away from the sun appears dark. 7.He was the first to draw a map that ____________(base) on all available knowledge, rather than on guess or imagination. 8.By the time we got to the airport the plane ____________(take) off. 9.A plant that grows more than three _____________(foot) is unusual in that area. 10.In 1964, the Olympic Games in Tokyo became the first program ____________(transmit) via satellite. 11.At the same time a number of more fundamental reforms_________(enact). 12.Between 1488 and 1534 Europeans _________(make)several important voyages to esplore the world. 13. But for the traffic jam, we ___________(will, arrive) on time .
《最新英美概况》 练习参考答案 （本答案不包括练习中的开放性习题、思考题和讨论题） ==================================================== PART TWO The United States Chapter Eight The Land P. 209—210 I Fill in the blanks with proper words or expressions. 1. the Star-Spangled Banner, Defense of Fort McHenry, 181 2. 2. the Stars and the Stripes, Old Glory, the Star-Spangled Banner. 3. The White House, The Capitol, The Pentagon. 4. June, 14th, June 14th. 5. the Potomac, no state, the Federal government. 6. 36, 36 states. 7. Amerigo Vespucci, American War of Independence. 8. Pierre L’Enfant, light, service. II Choose the answer that best completes the sentence. 1. C 2. D 3. C 4. A B C D 5. C D III Decide which of the following statements is TRUE: 1. F 2. F 3. T 4. F 5. T IV Answer the following questions. 1. (1) At first the Continent was named as “America” after explorer Amerigo Vespucci. (2) During the American War of Independence, the former British colonies first used “the thirteen united States of America” in the Declaration of Independence. (3) The official name of America was adopted on November 15, 1777, when the Second Continental Congress passed the Articles of Confederation. 2. The 50 stars represent the 50 States, while the 13 stripes represent the original thirteen colonies. White indicates purity and innocence; red indicates valour and bravery, and blue symbolizes vigilance, perseverance and justice; it is also a symbol of respect to God. 3. The stars and strips have different meanings. Each star represents each state in America, while strips represent the original thirteen colonies before the independence of America.
第7章美国文学 7.1 复习笔记 I. A General Introduction II. Fiction III. Poetry IV. Drama I. A General Introduction (简要介绍) 1. The history of American literature is comparatively short, roughly about 200 years. 美国文学的历史很短，大约200年。 2. Many famous writers have earned great fame in the world, such as Walt Whitman, Mark Twain, Theodore Dreiser, and Ernest Hemingway. 很多著名作家已赫然立于世界文坛之上。例如惠特曼、马克·吐温、西奥多·德莱赛和欧内斯特·海明威。 II. Fiction (小说) 1. America did not have its fiction until Washington Irving. 美国的小说从华盛顿·欧文开始。
2. American contemporary literature has continued to undergo healthy development in producing new forms and new language. 美国的现代文学继续健康发展，不断涌现出新的形式和新的语言。 3. In 1990s, American literature takes much newer directions and varieties in quality. 20世纪90年代，美国文学呈现出很多新的趋势和种类。 4. There appeared some famous fiction writers in American literature. 美国文学史上出现了很多著名的小说家。 (1) Washington Irving (1783—1859) (华盛顿·欧文) ①Regarded as the “father of American literature”, Washington Irving was the first American to achieve international literary reputation. ②His most famous story “Rip Van Winkle”helps Irving earn great fame in the literary world. ①华盛顿·欧文是第一个在国际上享有盛誉的美国作家，被称为“美国文学之父”。 ②他最著名的故事是“瑞普·凡·温克尔”，使欧文在文学界获得很高的名望。 (2) Nathaniel Hawthorne(1804—1864) (纳撒尼尔·霍桑) ①Hawthorne is a famous American writer in romantic fiction and a pioneer in psychological description. ②His most famous novel is The Scarlet Letter. ①霍桑是美国浪漫主义小说的著名作家，也是心理描写方面的先驱。 ②他最著名的小说是《红字》。 (3) Mark Twain(1835—1910) (马克·吐温)
2011英美文化与国家概况期末考试填空与简答复习题 1.Of all these isles, the largest one is called Great Britain. For the sake of convenience, Great Britain is often shortened to Britain. 2.United Kingdom is made up of four parts, England, Wales,ScotlandandNorthern Ireland. 3.The island of Great Britain can be divided into two parts according to its geographic features: the Highland Zone in the north and west and the Lowland zone in the south and southeast. 4.In America, The presiding officer of the senate is the Vice-president of the United States who serves as chairman when the Senate is in session. 5.Britain did not produce cotton and textile industry used to rely on wool as the principal fiber. 6.In Britain, the city Birmingham is well known for its production of automobiles, electricity equipment, electronics, munitions, and arms. 7.British government is produced through contest between two major political parties every five years 8.British can enjoy higher education in three ways:
英语专业考研英美概况自测题（一） British Survey Test Part I Geography 1. The total area of the U.K. is _____. A. 211,440 B. 244,110 C. 241,410 D. 242,534 2. England occupies the _____ portion of the U.K. A. northern B. eastern C. southern 3. The most important part of the U.K. in wealth is _____. A. Northern Ireland B. England C. Scotland 4. _____ is on the western prominence between the Bristol Channel and the Dee estuary. A. Wales B. Scotland C. England 5. Wales was effectively united with England in the _____ century. A. 14th B. 15th C. 16th 6. By the Act of Union of _____ Scotland and the kingdom of England and Wales were constitutionally joined as the Kingdom of Britain. A. 1707 B. 1921 C. 1801 7. Physiographically Britain may be divided into _____ provinces. A. 13 B. 12 C. 14 8. Mt. Ben Nevis stands in _____. A. the Scottish Highlands B. Wales C. England 9. The main rivers parting in Britain runs from _____. A. north to south B. south to north C. east to west 10. Cheviot hills lie along the border between _____ and England. A. Scotland B. Wales C. Vale of Eden 11. The longest river in Britain is _____. A. Severn B. Clyde C. Bann 12. London is situated on the River of _____. A. Parret B. Thames C. Spey 13. Edinburgh is the capital of _____. A. England B. Scotland C. Wales 14. The rivers flowing into the _____ are mainly short. A. North Sea B. English Channel C. Dee estuary 15. Mt. Snowdon stands in _____. A. Scotland B. Wales C. England 16. The source of the important River Thames is in the _____. A. Cotswolds B. Oxford Clay C. Pennines 17. About _____ of the water requirements are obtained from underground sources. A. 50% B. 38% C. 42% 18. Gaelic is mainly spoken in _____. A. Scotland B. England C. Northern Ireland 19. The Bank of England was nationalized in _____. A. 1964 B. 1946 C. 1694
1. The highest mountain in Britain is __B__. A. Scafell B. Ben Nevis C. the Cotswolds D. the Forth 2. The longest river in Britain is __C___. A. the Clyde B. the Mersey C. the Severn D. the Thames 3. The largest lake in Britain is ___A__. A. the Lough Neage B. Windermere Water C. Coniston Water D. the Lake District 4. The first inhabitants in Britain were __C___. A. the Normans B. the Celts C. the Iberians D. the Anglo-Saxons 5. British Recorded history began with __A___. A. Roman invasion B. the Norman Conquest C. the Viking and Danish invasion D. the Anglo-Saxons invasion 6. In 829, __C___ actually became the overlord of all the English. A. John B. James I C. Egbert D. Henry I 7. Christmas Day __B__, Duke William was crowned in Westminster Abbey. A. 1056 B. 1066 C. 1006 D. 1060 8. In __B___, a small group of Puritans sailed from _____ in the Mayflower to be the first settlers in the North America. A. 1620, London B. 1620, Plymouth C. 1720, London D. 1720, Plymouth 9. With regard to its size, the USA is the __D___ country in the world. A. largest B. second largest C. third largest D. fourth largest 10. Among the following rivers, __C___ forms a natural boundary between Mexico and the U.S. A. the Potomac B. the Columbia C. the Rio Grande River D. the Colorado 11. The Declaration of Independence was drafted by ___B__. A. James Madison B. Thomas Jefferson C. Alexander Hamilton D. GeorgeWashington 12. On July 4, 1776, ___B__ adopted the Declaration of Independence. A. the First Continental Congress B. the Second Continental Congress C. the Third Continental Congress D. the Constitutional Convention 13. President Jefferson bought __B___ from France and doubled the country’s territory. A. New Mexico B. the Louisiana Territory C. Kansas D. Ohio 14. The first known settlers of Britain were ___D____.
American Survey Test 地理 1. The _____ part of America consists of high plateaus and mountains formed by the Great Cordillera Range. A. eastern B. western C. northeastern 2. In eastern _____ lies Death Valley, 85 metres below sea level. A. California B. Utah C. Arizona 3. In the west of the _____ lie the Colorado Plateaus and the Columbia Plateaus. A. Rocky Mountain B. Coast Range C. Cascades Mountains 4. The _____ lies between the Colorado Plateaus and Columbia Plateaus A. Great Basin B. Colorado Valley C. Great Plains 5. The famous Yellowstone National Park is situated in northwestern part of _____. A. California B. Arizona C. Wyoming 6. The world-known Colorado Valley lies in northern _____, which is cut by the Colorado River. A. Arizona B. Utah C. Montana 7. Among the five Great Lakes, only _____ is wholly within the United States. A. Erie B. Superior C. Michigan 8. Only the climate in the southern part of _____ is tropical. A. Florida B. Georgia C. Virginia 9. Washington, the capital of the US, is on the _____ river. A. Potomac B. Delaware C. St. Laurence 10. The width of the Niagara Fall is about _____ metres and the drop average _____ metres. A. 1650, 50 B. 1240, 49 C. 1540, 49 11. _____ part is the most densely populated region in America. A. The southern B. The northeastern C. The western 12. The Great Salt Lake lies in northern _____. A. Idaho B. Arizona C. Nevada D. Utah 13. _____ has been called the “cradle of American Liberty”. A. Philadelphia B. Plymouth C. Boston 14. About _____ of the world’s annual agricultural products come from the United States. A. half B. one third C. two thirds 15. The highest mountain in the U.S. is Mount _____. A. Appalachian B. Mekinley C. Rocky 16. Mount Mekinley lies in the _____ Range. A. Sierra Nevada B. Cascades C. Alaska 17. The two largest Chinatowns are located in the following cities except _____. A. New York B. San Francisco C. Miami 18. The world’s largest freshwater lake is Lake _____. A. Superior B. Ontario C. Victoria 19. The world-famous Niagara Falls lie between lakes of _____. A. Erie and Michigan B. Erie and Ontario C. Superior and Haron 20. _____ of the America’s territory is covered with forests. A. 1/4 B. 1/5 C. 1/3
英美概况考试重点复习材料（英国部分） 英美概况考试重点复习材料（英国部分） Chapter 1第一章 Land and People 英国的国土与人民 I. Different Names for Britain and its Parts 英国的不同名称及其各组成部分 1.Geographical names: the British Isles, Great Britain and England. 地理名称：不列颠群岛，大不列颠和英格兰。 2. Official name: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 官方正式名称：大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国。 3. The British Isles are made up of two large islands-Great Britain (the larger one) and Ireland, and hundreds of small ones.不列颠群岛由两个大岛—大不列颠岛（较大的一个）和爱尔兰岛，及成千上万个小岛组成。 4. Three political divisions on the island of Great Britain: England, Scotland and Wale大不列颠岛上有三个政治区：英格兰、苏格兰和威尔士。
(1) England is in the southern part of Great Britain. It is the largest, most populous section.英格兰位于大不列颠岛南部，是最大，人口最稠密的地区。 (2) Scotland is in the north of Great Britain. It has three natural zones (the Highlands in the north; the Central lowlands; the south Uplands) Capital: Edinburgh 苏格兰位于大不列颠的北部。它有三大自然区：北部高地，中部低地及南部山陵。首府：爱丁堡。 (3) Wales is in the west of Great Britain. Capital: Cardiff 威尔士位于大不列颠的西部。首府：加的夫 (4) Northern Ireland is the fourth region of the UK. Capital: Belfast.北爱尔兰是英国第四个区域。首府：贝尔法斯特。 5. The monwealth (of nations) is a free association of independent countries that were once colonies of Britain. It was founded in 1931, and has about 50 member countries until 1991. 英联邦是独立的前英国殖民地组成的自由联合体。它成立于1931 年，至1990年止已有约50个成员国。 Chapter 2 第二章 The Origins of a Nation (5000BC-1066)英国的起源（公元前5000年—1066年）