英语国家概况名词解释

1.the Hardian’s Wall:It was one of the two great walls built by the Romans to keep the Picts out of the area they had conquered.2.Alfred the Great：Alfred was a strong king of the wisemen. It was created by the Anglo-Saxons to advise the king. It’s the basi s of the Privy Council which still exists today.3.William the Conqueror：William was Duke of Normandy. He landed his army in Oct, 1066 and defeated king Harold. Then he was crowned king of England on Christams Day the same year. He established a strong Norman government and the feudal system in England.4.the battle of Hastings：In 1066, King Edward died with no heir, the Witan chose Harold as king. William, Duke of Normandy, invaded England. On October 14, the two armies met near Hasting. After a day’s battle, Harold was killed and his army completely defeated. So this battle was very important on the way of the Roman conquest.5.Domesday Book：Under William, the feudal system was established. William sent officials to compile a property record known as Domesday Book, which completed in 1086. It was the result of a general survey of England made in 1085. It stated the extent, value, the population, state of cultivation, and ownership of the land. It seemed to the English like the Book of doom on Judgement Day.6.the Great Charter：King John’s reign caused much discontent among the barons. In 1215, he was forced to sign a document, known as Mangna Cara, or the Great Charter. It has 63 clauses. Though it has long been regarded as the foundation of English liberities, its spirit was t he limitation of the king’s powers, keeping them within the bounds of the feudal law of the land.7.the Hundred Years’ War：It referred to the intermittent war between France and England that last from 1337 to 1453. The causes were partly territorial and partly economic. When Edward III claimed the French Crown but the French refused to recognize, the war broke out. At first the English were successful, but in the end, they were defeated and lost almost all their possessions in France. The expelling of the English was a blessing for both countries.8.Joan of Arc：She was a national heroine of France during the Hundred Years’ War. She successfully led the French to drive the English out of France.9.the Black Death：It was the deadly bubonic plague who spread through Europe in the 14th century. It swept through England without warning and any cure, and sparing no victims. It killed between half and one-third of the population of England. Thus, much land was left untended and labour was short. It caused far-reaching economic consequences.10.the Wars of Roses：They referred to the battles between the House of Lancaster and the House of York between 1455 and 1485. The former was symbolized by the red rose, and the latter by the white one. After the wars, feudalism received its death blow and the king’s power became supreme. Thdor monarchs ruled England and Wales for over two hundred years.11.Bloody Mary：Henry VIII’s daughter and a devout Catholic. When she became Queen, she persecuted and burnt many Protestants. So she was given the nickname “Bloody Mary”. Mary is also remembered as the monarch who lost the French port of Calais.12.Elizabeth I：One of the greatest monarchs in British history. She reigned England, Wales and Ireland for 45 years and remained single. Her reign was a time of confident English nationalism and of great achievements in literature and other arts, in exploration and in battle.13.Oliver Cromwell：The leader during the Civil War who led the New Model Army to defeat the king and condemned him to death. Then he declared England a Commonwealth and made himself Lord of Protector. He ruled England till the restoration of charles II in 1660.14.the Bill of Rights：In 1689, William and Mary accepted the Bill of Rights to be crowned jointly. The bill excluded any Roman Catholic from the succession, confirmed the principle of parliamentary supremacy and guaranteed free speech within both the two Houses. Thus the age of constitutional monarchy began.15.Whigs and Tories：It referred to the two party names which originated with the Glorious Revolution of 1688. The Whigs were those who opposed absolute monarchy and supported the right to religious freedom for Noncomformists. The Tories were those who supported hereditary monarchy and were reluctant to remove kings. The Whigs formed a coalition with dissident Tories and became the Liberal Party. The Tories were the forerunners of the Conservative Party.16.James Watt：The Scottish inventor who produced an efficient steam engine with rotary motion that could be applied to textile and other machinery.17.Winston Churchill：Prime Minister of Britain during the Second World War. He took over Chamberlain in 1940 and received massive popular support. He led his country to final victory in 1945. He was defeated in the general election of 1945, but returned to power in 1951.18.Agribusiness：It refers to the new farming in Britain, because it’s equipped and managed like an industrial business with a set of inputs into the farm of processes which occur on the farm, and outputs or products which leave the farm. The emphasis is upon intensive farming, designes to give the maximum output of crops and animals.19.the British Constitution：There is no written constitution in the United Kingdom. The British Constitution is not set out in any single document, but made up of statute law, common law and conventions. The Judiciary determines common law and interpret statues.20.Queen Elizabeth II：The present Sovereign, born in 1926, came to the throne in 1952 and was crowned in 1953. The Queen is the symbol of the whole nation, the center of many national ceremonies and the leader of society.21.the Opposition：In the General Election, the party which wins the second largest number of seats becomes the offcial Opposition, with its own leader and “shadow cabinet”. The aims ofthe Opposition are to contribute to the formulation of policy and legislation, to oppose government proposals, to seek amendments to government bills, and to put forward its own policies in order to win the next general election.22.the Privy Council：Formerly the chief source of executive power. It gave the Sovereign private (“privy”) advice on the government of the country. Today its role is mainly formal, advising the Sovereign to approve certain government decrees and issuing royal proclamation. Its membership is about mon law：A written law gathered from numerous decisions of the courts and other sources.24.the jury：A legal system established in England since king Henry II. The jury consists of ordinary, independent citizens summoned by the court: 12 persons in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and 15 persons in Scotland. In criminal trials by jury, the judge passes sentence but the jury decide the issue of guilt or innocence.25.the NHS：The National Health Service was established in the UK in 1948 and based first on Acts of Parliament. This Service provides for every resident a full range of medical services. It is based upon the principle that there should be full range of publicly provided services designed to help the individual stay healthy. It is now a largely free prehensive schools：State secondary schools which take pupils without reference to ability and provide a wide-ranging secondary education for all or most of the children in a district. About 90 per cent of the state secondary school population in GB attend comprehensive school.27.public schools：Fee-paying secondary schools which are longestablished and have gained a reputation for their high academic standards, as well as their exclusiveness and snobbery. The bo ys’ public schools include such well-known schools as Eton and Harrow, and girls’ famous schools include Roedean. Most of the members of the British Establishment were educated at a public school.28.the Great Lakes：The Great Lakes are the most important lakes in the United States. They are Lake Superior, which is the largest fresh water lake in the world, Lake Michigan —— the only one entirely in the U.S. —— Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. They are all located between Canada and the United States except Lake Michigan.29.New England：New England is made up of six states of the North-East. They are Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. It is sometimes called the birthplace of America.30.baby boom：“baby boom” refe rs to the great increase of birth rate between 1946 and 1964. People born in this period are called baby bammers.31.the Chinese Exclusion Act：It was passed by the U.S. Congress in may, 1882. It stopped Chinese immigration for ten years.32.the Bill of Rights：In 1789, James Madison introduced in the House of Representations a series of amendments which later were drafted into twelve proposed amendments and sent to the states for ratification. Ten of them were ratified in 1791 and became the first ten amendments to the Constitution —— the Bill of Rights.33.the Emancipation Proclamation：During the Civil war, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation to get more support for the Union at home and abroad. It granted freedom to all slaves.34.the Constitutional Convention：In 1787, a conference was held in Philadelphia to consider what should be done to make the Articles of Confederation adequate. All the delegates agreed to revise the Articles of Confederation and draw up a new plan of government. After struggle, the Constitution was ratified at last. This conference is called the Constitutional Conversion.35.the Progressive Movement：The Progressive Movement is a movement demanding government regulation of the economy and social conditions. It spread quickly with the support of large numbers of people across the country. It was not an organized campaign with clearly defined goals.36.the Peace Conference：The Peace Conference or the Paris Conference, began on January 18, 1919. The conference was actually a conference of division of colonies of Germany, Austro-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire and the grabbing of as much as possible from the defeated nations. It was dominated by the Big Four (the United States, Britain. France, and Italy)37.the Truman Doctrine: ：On March 12, 1949, President Truman put forward the Truman Doctrine in a speech to the joint session of Congress. The Truman Doctrine meant to say that the U.S. government would support any country which said it was fighting against Communism.38.the Marshall Plan：On June 5, 1947, the Secretary of State George Marshall announced the Marshall Plan, which meant that in order to protect Western Europe from possible Soviet expansion, the United States decided to offer Western European countries economic aid.39.the New Frontier：It was the President Kennedy’s program which promised civil rights for blacks, federal aid to farmers and to education, medical care for all and the abolition of poverty.40.checks and balances:The government is divided into three branches, the legislative, the executive and the judicial, each has part of the powers but not all the power. And each branch of government can check, or block, the actions of the other branches. The three branches are thus in balance. This called “checks and balances”.。

题型：选择，判断，名词解释，填空名词解释重点整理如下：英国经济的相对衰落：英国已经历了经济的下降，因为1945.But这是一个相对而不是绝对的下降。

英国是富裕和更富有成效的，比它在1945年，但由于其他国家的发展更为迅速，从第二大经济体，第六下滑。

私有化在1908s：英国经济在20世纪70年代经历了一个特别恶劣的时期，高通胀率和英镑贬值，因此，在20世纪80年代，当根据撒切尔夫人的保守党执政时期，一个广泛的方案。

进行了私有化。

许多国有企业（如钢铁，电信，天然气，航空航天）到了私人公司的私有化是在控制通货膨胀取得了成功，但同时失业率迅速上升。

英国经济的主要部门：主要行业，如农业，渔业和采矿，制造这些初级产品的复杂商品的第二产业;和大专（或服务）的产业，如：英国国家经济可以划分成三个主要领域银行，保险，旅游业和零售业。

综合学校：综合学校是在英国最流行的中学，这些学校承认不参考他们的学术能力的儿童提供普通教育的学生可以学习一切从喜欢文学，喜欢烹饪的实用科目的学科。

文法学校。

文法学校在英国中学的类型选择通过一个名为“11 - PULS”考试在11岁以下的儿童，这些儿童与最高分去文法学校，这些学校打好重点上先进的学科，而不是更普遍的综合学校的课程，并期望他们的学生去上大学。

俗称独立学校：独立学校是公立学校，这实际上是私人学校接收他们通过私营部门和学费率的资金，与一些政府援助的独立学校是不是国民教育体系的一部分，但教学的质量和标准。

通过参观女王陛下的学校督察保持这些学校限制学生的父母都比较丰富。

公开大学：。

开放大学是在英国成立的1960年为人们谁可能不会得到经济和社会原因高等教育机会的它是对所有人开放，并并没有要求在同一个正式的其他大学教育资格大学其次通过电视，广播，通信，视频和Q研究中心的净工作课程，公开大学学业结束。

成功的学生将被授予大学学位。

邦联条：独立战争胜利后，美国新的国家是一个虚弱的国民政府组织联合会章程协议下的所谓国会，每个国家都有自己的政府，其自身的规律。

英语国家概况名词解释1、The Constitution:Britain has no written Constitution.The foundations of the British state are laid out in statute law,which are laws passed by Parliament; the common laws, which are laws established through commom practice in courts;and conventions.2、The house of Common: It’s the real center of British political life because it is the place where about 650 elected representatives(Members of Parliament) make and debate policy,These MPs are elected in the General Elections and should represent the interests of the people who vote for them.3、The electoral campaign:Before a general election,the political parties would start their electoral campaigns in order to make their ideologies and policies known to the public.The campaign involves advertisements in newspapers, door-to-door campaigning,postal deliveries of leaflets and ‘party electoral broadcasts” on the television.The parties also try to attack and critisise the opponents’ policies.Therefore,these campaigns sometimes can be quite aggressive and critical.4、Class system in British society:The class system does exist in British society.Most of British population would claim themselves to be either of middle-class or working-class,though some people would actually belong to the upper middle-class or lower middle-class.Class divisions are not simply economic,they are cultural as well.People of different classes may defferent may differ in the kind of newspaper they read,in the way they speak and in the kind of education they receive.One of the distinctive features about the British class system is that aristocratic titles can still be inherited.5、Relative decline of the UK economy:The UK has experienced an economic decline since 1945.But this is a relative decline rather than an absolute one.Britain is wealthier and more productive than it was in 1945,but since other countries developed more rapidly,it has slid from being the second largest economy to being the six.6、Comprehensive schools:are the most popular secondary schools in Britain today.Such schools admit children without reference to their academic abilities and provide a general education.Pupils can study everything from academic subjects like literature to more practical subjects like cooking7、Grammar school s:it’s a type of secondary schools in Britain.Grammar schools select children at the age 11,through an examination called “the 11-plus”.Those children with the highest marks go to grammar schools.These schools lay emphasis on advanced academic subjects rather than the more general curriculum of the comprehensive schools and expect many of their pupils to go on to universities.8、Independent schools:are commonly called public schools which are actually private schools that receive their funding through the private sector and tuition rates,with some government assitance.Independent schools are not part of national education system,but the quality of instruction and standards are maintained through visits from Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools.These schools are restricted to the students whose parents are comparatively rich.9、the first English settle in North America:The first English permanent settlement was organized in 1607 by the London Company with a charter from the English King.The colonists settled in Virginia and survived by imposing strict discipline on themselves and by transplanting tobacco into the colony of Virginia.In 1619,the settlers elected their delegates and set up the House of Burgesses,and the same time they bought and enslaved black servants.These two events greatly influenced the political and social development of the United States later.10、Puritanism:were those who followes the doctrine of John Calvin and wanted to purify the Church of England.They believe that human beings were predestined by God before they were born.Some were God’s chosen people while others were damned to hell.No church nor good works could save people.The sign of being God’s elect was the success in his work or the prosperity in his calling.They also argued that everyone must read the Bible in order to find God’s will and establish a direct contact with God.These beliefs had great impact on American culture.11、George Washington:was one of the founding fathers of the American Republic.He was the Commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in War of Independence against the British colonial rule and the first President of the United States.12、The executive:The chief executive is the President,who is elected to a four-year term.A president can be elected to only two terms according to an amendment passed in 1951.The president can propose legislation to Congress.He can veto any bill passed by Congress.The veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in both houses.The president can appoint federal judges as vacancies occur.He is the commander in chief of the armed forced.The president has other broad authorities in running the government departments and handling foreign relations.13、The Bill of Rights:consists of the first 10 amendments which were added to the Constitution in 1791.The Bill of Rights was passed to guarantee freedom and individual rights such as freedom of speech,the right to assemble in public places,the right to own weapons and so on.14、Industrial Revolution in America:After independence,American was principally an agricultural country.The Industrial Revolution in England brought many changes to American industry between 1776 and 1860.One key development was the introduction of the factory system.A second development was the “American system” of mass production.A third development was the application of new technologies to industrial tasks.Afourth development was the emergence of new forms of business organization---the bank and the corporation.15、Agribusiness:Because American agricuiture is big business,people coined the term “agribusiness” to reflect the large-scale nature of agricultural enterprises in the modern US economy.The term covers the entire complex of farm-related business,from the individual farmer to the multinational maker of farm chemicals.It also includes farmer cooperatives,ruralbanks,shippers of farm products,commodity dealers,firms that manufacture farmequipment,food-processing industries,grocery chains and many other business.16、Higher education:In America,higher education refers to education on the college level.American higher education includes four categories of institutions.They are the university,the four-year undergraduate institution(the college) the technical training institution and the two-year or community college.Some are supported by public funds and some by private funds.Many universities and colleges have won reputations for providing their students with a higher quality of education.The great majority are generally regarded as quite satisfatory.17、NBA:stands for National Basketball Association.Founded in 1950,it’s the association of professional teams in the United States.It has two divisions:the Eastern Division and the Western Division.NBA is very popular not only in the US.but all over the world.The best NBA star in NBA history is Mcchiael Jordan.18、Yellowstone Nationa Park:is the oldest and one of the largest national park in the US.It’s named after the Yellowstone River that flows through the area.It is known for its geysers and hot springs among other natural wonders.19、Football hooligans:reflect the violence associated with football.While all social classes used to join in the local football march,it was regarded as being not at all suitable for gentlemen.Visitors from abroad sometimes complained about stumbling into the midst of a rough and dangerous game when walking the streets of London,while local householders and merchants were troubled by having their windows broken by stray footballs.Dringking hard went along with playing hard.Today,violence is still associated with football.They are supporters of rival teams.They sometimes clash before,during and after matches and occationally run riot through the town,breaking windows and beating each other up.20、Winbledon:is the name of a London suburb.In Winbledon the world’s best players gather to compete on grass courts.It’s one of the major events of the British sporting calendar and probably the most famous tennis event in the world.Besides actually watching the tennis matches,other activies closely associated with the Winbledon fortnight are eating strawberries andcream,drinking champagne and hoping that it doesn’t rain.21、The three traditions of Chrismas in Britain:one is the Christmas Pantomime,a comical musical play.The main male character is played by a young woman while the main female character,often an ugly woman called ‘the Dame,’ is played by a man.Another is to hear the Queen give her Christmas message to her realm over the televition and radio.A third is Boxing Day,which falls on the day after Christmas.Traditionally,it was on Boxing Day that people gave Christmas gifts or money to their staff or servants.Now that most British people do not have servants,this custom is no longer observed.However,a new Boxing Day custom has emerged,in thecities:shopping.Shops open up to sell off all their Christmas stock decorations,food,cards and gift items at low prices.。

英语国家概况名词解释新Document number【980KGB-6898YT-769T8CB-246UT-18GG08】英语国家概况名词解释1、The Constitution:Britain has no written Constitution.The foundations of the British state are laid out in statute law,which are laws passed by Parliament; the common laws, which are laws established through commom practice in courts;and conventions.2、The house of Common: It’s the real center of British political life because it is the place where about 650 elected representatives(Members of Parliament) make and debate policy,These MPs are elected in the General Elections and should represent the interests of the people who vote for them.3、The electoral campaign:Before a general election,the political parties would start their electoral campaigns in order to make their ideologies and policies known to the public.The campaign involves advertisements in newspapers, door-to-door campaigning,postal deliveries of leaflets and ‘party electoral broadcasts” on the television.The parties also try to attack and critisise the opponents’ policies.Therefore,these campaigns sometimes can be quiteaggressive and critical.4、Class system in British society:The class system does exist in British society.Most of British population would claim themselves to be either of middle-class or working-class,though some people would actually belong to the upper middle-class or lower middle-class.Class divisions are not simply economic,they are cultural as well.People of different classes may defferent may differ in the kind of newspaper they read,in the way they speak and in the kind of education they receive.One of the distinctive features about the British class system is that aristocratic titles can still be inherited.5、Relative decline of the UK economy:The UK has experienced an economic decline since 1945.But this is a relative decline ratherthan an absolute one.Britain is wealthier and more productive than it was in 1945,but since other countries developed more rapidly,it has slid from being the second largest economy to being the six.6、Comprehensive schools:are the most popular secondary schools in Britain today.Such schools admit children without reference to their academic abilities and provide a general education.Pupils can study everything from academic subjects like literature to more practical subjects like cooking7、Grammar schools:it’s a type of secondary schools inBritain.Grammar schools select children at the age 11,through an examination called “the 11-plus”.Those children with the highest marks go to grammar schools.These schools lay emphasis on advanced academic subjects rather than the more general curriculum of the comprehensive schools and expect many of their pupils to go on to universities.8、Independent schools:are commonly called public schools which are actually private schools that receive their funding through theprivate sector and tuition rates,with some governmentassitance.Independent schools are not part of national education system,but the quality of instruction and standards are maintained through visits from Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools.These schools are restricted to the students whose parents are comparatively rich.9、the first English settle in North America:The first English permanent settlement was organized in 1607 by the London Company with a charter from the English King.The colonists settled in Virginia and survived by imposing strict discipline on themselves and by transplanting tobacco into the colony of Virginia.In 1619,the settlers elected their delegates and set up the House of Burgesses,and the same time they bought and enslaved black servants.These two events greatly influenced the political and social development of the United States later.10、Puritanism:were those who followes the doctrine of John Calvin and wanted to purify the Church of England.They believe that human beings were predestined by God before they were born.Some were God’s chosen people while others were damned to hell.No church nor good works could save people.The sign of being God’s elect was the success in his work or the prosperity in his calling.They also argued that everyone must read the Bible in order to find God’s will and establish a direct contact with God.These beliefs had great impact on American culture.11、George Washington:was one of the founding fathers of the American Republic.He was the Commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in War of Independence against the British colonial rule and the first President of the United States.12、The executive:The chief executive is the President,who is elected to a four-year term.A president can be elected to only two terms according to an amendment passed in 1951.The president can propose legislation to Congress.He can veto any bill passed by Congress.The veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in both houses.The president can appoint federal judges as vacancies occur.He is the commander in chief of the armed forced.The president has other broad authorities in running the government departments and handling foreign relations.13、The Bill of Rights:consists of the first 10 amendments which were added to the Constitution in 1791.The Bill of Rights was passed to guarantee freedom and individual rights such as freedom of speech,the right to assemble in public places,the right to own weapons and so on.14、Industrial Revolution in America:After independence,American was principally an agricultural country.The Industrial Revolution in England brought many changes to American industry between 1776 and 1860.One key development was the introduction of the factory system.A second development was the “American system” of mass production.A third development was theapplication of new technologies to industrial tasks.Afourth development was the emergence of new forms of business organization---the bank and the corporation.15、Agribusiness:Because American agricuiture is big business,people coined the term “agribusiness” to reflect the large-scale nature of agricultural enterprises in the modern US economy.The term covers the entire complex offarm-related business,from the individual farmer to the multinational maker of farm chemicals.It also includes farmer cooperatives,rural banks,shippers of farm products,commodity dealers,firms that manufacture farm equipment,food-processing industries,grocery chains and many other business.16、Higher education:In America,higher education refers to education on the college level.American higher education includes four categories of institutions.They are the university,the four-year undergraduateinstitution(the college) the technical training institution and the two-year or community college.Some are supported by public funds and some by private funds.Many universities and colleges have won reputations for providing their students with a higher quality of education.The great majority are generally regarded as quite satisfatory.17、NBA:stands for National Basketball Association.Founded in 1950,it’s the association of professional teams in the United States.It has two divisions:the Eastern Division and the Western Division.NBA is very popular not only in the US.but all over the world.The best NBA star in NBA history is Mcchiael Jordan.18、Yellowstone Nationa Park:is the oldest and one of the largest national park in the US.It’s named after the Yellowstone River that flows through the area.It is known for its geysers and hot springs among other natural wonders. 19、Football hooligans:reflect the violence associated with football.While all social classes used to join in the local football march,it was regarded as being not at all suitable for gentlemen.Visitors from abroad sometimes complained about stumbling into the midst of a rough and dangerous game when walking the streets of London,while local householders and merchants were troubled by having their windows broken by stray footballs.Dringking hard went along with playing hard.Today,violence is still associated with football.They are supporters of rival teams.They sometimes clash before,during and after matches and occationally run riot through the town,breaking windows and beating each other up.20、Winbledon:is the name of a London suburb.In Winbledon the world’s best players gather to compete on grass courts.It’s one of the major events of the British sporting calendar and probably the most famous tennis event in the world.Besides actually watching the tennis matches,other activies closely associated with the Winbledon fortnight are eating strawberries andcream,drinking champagne and hoping that it doesn’t rain.21、The three traditions of Chrismas in Britain:one is the Christmas Pantomime,a comical musical play.The main male character is played by a young woman while the main female character,often an ugly woman called ‘the Dame,’is played by a man.Another is to hear the Queen give her Christmas message toher realm over the televition and radio.A third is Boxing Day,which falls on the day after Christmas.Traditionally,it was on Boxing Day that people gave Christmas gifts or money to their staff or servants.Now that most British people do not have servants,this custom is no longer observed.However,a new Boxing Day custom has emerged,in the cities:shopping.Shops open up to sell off all their Christmas stock decorations,food,cards and gift items at low prices.。

⾃考英语国家概况名词解释英语国家概况名词解释1 The British Empire ⼤英帝国About a hundred years ago, as result of its imperialist expansion, Britain ruled and empire that had one fourth of the world’s people and one fourth of the world’s land area. The two world wars greatly weakened Britain. The British Empire gradually disappeared and it was replaced by the British Commonwealth or the Commonwealth of Nation in 1931.2.Stonehenge-It is a group of huge monuments of grant rock Slabs on salisbury plain in Southwest England built as long ago as the New Stone Age. It is generally believed that stonehenge served some sort of religious purposes. The Celts----The Celts came to Britain in three main waves. The first wave were the Gales, the second wave were the Brythons and the Belgae came about 150BC. The Celts were practised farmers. The Celtic tribes are ancestors of the Highland Scots, the Irish and the Welsh, And their languages are the basis of both Welsh and Gaelic. They religion was Druidism.3.The British Commonwealth 英联邦The British Empire was replaced by the British Commonwealth or the Commonwealth of Nations in 1931.It is a free association of independent countries that were once colonies of Britain. Member nations are joined together economically and have certain trading arrangements. The Commonwealth has no special powers. The decision to become a member of the Commonwealth is left to each member nation. At present there are 50 members counties whit in the commonwealth (1991). 是曾为英国殖民地，但现在已经独⽴构成的⾃由联合体。

英语国家概况名词解释William the Conqueror。

also known as William I。

was the Duke of Normandy。

In October 1066.he led his army to England and defeated King Harold。

after which he was crowned King of England on Christmas Day of the same year。

William establisheda strong Norman government and XXX.To ensure reliable records of all the land。

tenants。

and their properties。

XXX in 1086.this book was the result of a general survey of England and recorded the extent。

value。

state of n。

and ownership of the land。

It was one of the important measures adopted by William I to establish the full XXX。

Today。

the Domesday Book is kept in the Public Records Office XXX.According to the Domesday Book。

in 1086.about half of the rural land was held by ten tenants。

or nobles。

of which only two were English。

Approximately one-fifth of the land belonged to the king himself。

1.the Anglo-Saxons They were two groups of Germanic people who settled down in England from the 5th century.They were regarded as the ancestors of the English and the founders of England,2.Sinn Fein Sinn Fein is a legal political party in Northern Ireland which supports the IRA to fight for the union of Ireland.The leaders of Sinn Fein prefer union with Ireland by a twin campaign,both military and political which they call the policy of"the Bulllet and the Ballot Box".It believes that without the participation of Sinn Fein the political problem of Northern Ireland cannot be thoroughly solved.3.The Good Friday Agreement= ent As a result of muti-party negotiations,The Good Friday Agreement was approved on 10 April 1998.This agreement assures the loyalist community that Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom and it won't change its political status unless the majority of the people of Northern Ireland agree.Under the terms of the agreement,Northern Ireland should be governed by three separate jurisdictions:that of the Republic of Ireland,that of Great Britain and that of its own elected executive government of ten ministers.4.The Constitution Britain has no written Constitution.The foundation of the British state are laid out in statute law,which are laws passed by Parliament;the common laws;which are laws established through common practice in the courts;and conventions.5.The functions of Parliament The functions of Parliament are: to pass laws,to vote for taxation,to scrutinise government policy,administration and expenditure and to debate the major issues of the day.6.Main sectors of the UK economy The UK national economy can be divided into three main areas:primary industries,such as agriculture,fishing and mining;secondary industries which manufacture complex goods from those primary products;and tertiary industries such as banking,insurance,tourism and the retailing.7.Modernism Modernism refers to a form of literature mainly written before WW11.It is characterized by a high degree of experimentation.It can be seen as a reaction against the 19th century forms of Realism.Modernist writers express the difficulty they see in understanding and commuicating how the world works.Often,Modernist writing seems disorganize,hard to understand.It often portrays the action from the viewpoint of a single confused individual,rather than from the viewpoint of an all-knowing impersonal narrator outside the action.One of the most famous English Modernist writers is V irginia Woolf.8.The Commonwealth In the author's opinion,the The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of states which is made up of Britain and mostly of former British colonies.There are 54 members of the The Commonwealth including one currently suspended member:many of these are developing countries like India and Cypris;other are developed nations like Australia,Canada and New Zealand.The The Commonwealth was set up as a forum for continued cooperation and as a sort of support network.9.Wimbledon Wimbledon is the name of a London suburb.In Wimbledon the world's best players gather to compete on grass courts.It is one of the major events of the British sporting calendar and probably the most famous tennis event in the world.Besides actually watching the tennis matched,other activities closely associated with the "Wimbledon fortnight"are eating strawberries and cream,drinking champagne and hoping that it doesn't rain.10.Saint Patrick Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.He helped to spread the Christian religion in Ireland.His mission was accomplished so peacefully that there isno record of a single martyr.11.Checks and balances The Irish system of government is based on the American principle of "checks and balances":that is ,the power of the executive branch of government can be checked by the legislature and by the judiciary,through courts which interpret the law.Enforcement is also part of the role of the courts of law,and is actually carried out by the policy force.Both the legal system and the policy force are conceived of as independent of political influence.12.The Irish Parliament The Parliament of Ireland is comprised of two houses:the Parliament and the ernment policy and administration may be examined and criticized in both Houses;but under the Constitution the Government is reponsible to the Parliament alone.13.The law of primogeniture The law of primogeniture is the traditional law in Ireland that favors the first born male,that is only the first son in the famliy has the right to inherit the properties,be it land or house ,of the famliy when the farther dies. 14.The oral culture of Ireland Ireland is a culture which operates most obviously on an oral level.Almost inevitably ,an Irish person will take an opportunity to talk even if pressed for time.The basis for this is in the original peasant culture,which makes the transfer from an oral to a written culture only slowly in the late 19th century.But even among the most literate classes,great value is extended to the ability to talk spontaneously and with grace and force.15.T erra Nullius Terra Nullius is from Latin.It means a land that is owned by no one.The British declared the Australian continent Terra Nullius to justify their invasion of the indigenous people's land.It served to legitimize their taking possession of the land and devalue the indigenous people as uncivilized and not fully human.16.Difference between the Dreaming and Protestantism The Dreaming is about a people being at one with the country which means that people do not own the land,but the land owns the people who have responsibility of guardianship towards it.After 1788,Protestantism became the dominant form of religion,and a cental concept of Protestantism is that individual people own,and are obliged to use and exploit the land for the greater glory of their God.17.Wakefield Scheme Wakefield Scheme was devised by Edward Wakefield,a convict and theorist on colonization,to solve the problem of labour shortage in colonial Australia.His proposal on the development of colonial Australia was that land should not be freely and cheaply available.It should be sold at sufficient price to ensure that only men of capital could afford it.The money earned from selling land should be used to assist selected free migrants to Australia.18.The “Washminster” form of polity The “Washminster” form of polity is adopted by the Australian government.It is a mixture of the US Washington system of government and the British Westminster system.This means that the political structure of the government is based on a Federation of States with a threetier system of government.However,the chief executive is a Prime Minister,instead of a President as in the US system.19.APEC APEC was established from an Australian initiative in 1989,when Canberra hosted the first informal dialogue with 12 members.Since the the forum has grow n to include 21 member economies and has become one of significant world economic bodies:the 21APEC Member Economies represent over 40 percent of the world's population,56 percent of global GDP,and around 48 percent of world trade. APEC’s mission is to pro mote regional stability andto address global issues including counter-terrorism, non-proliferation and health. 19.The White Australia Policy The White Australia Policy was officially adopted by the Commonwealth of Australian in 1901, in the Immigration Restriction Act. It was made to stop Chinese and other non-British migrants form entering and setting down in Australia. This was mainly achieved through a diction test in a European language. The White Australia Policy was officially abolished in 1973.20.The Kiwi The kiwi is the name of one of the native birds in New Zealand. It is flightless. In colloquial English, the Kiwi, capitalized, is also used to refer to a New Zealander.20.Maoritanga Maoritanga is the Maori word for “Maori culture.” It refers to all the elements of the rich culture heritage of the indigenous people in New Zealand, including their language, customs and traditions.21.The New Zealand Parliament Since 1950 Parliament has had a single chamber, the House of Representatives. Its functions include passing laws, supervising the government’s administration and receiving petitions from citizens with grievances. Currently there are 120 Members of Parliament, all elected by voters.22.The Ombudsman The ombudsman is appointed by Parliament. His respon sibilities are to investigate people’s complaints against government departments and local authorities and to make sure that appropriate official information is freely available in accordance to the Official Information Act. There are the Chief Ombudsman and specialist ombudsmen in various fields.23.The first English settlement in North America The first English permanent settlement was organized in 1607 by the London Company with a charter form the English King. The colonists settled in Virginia and survived by imposing strict discipline on themselves and by transplanting tobacco into the colony of Virginia. In 1619, the settlers elected their delegates and set up the House of Burgesses, and the same time they bought and enslaved black servants. These two events greatly influenced the political and social development of the United States later.24.he Articles of Confederation After the War of Independence was won, the new nation of the United States was organized under the agreement of the Article of Confederation with a weak national government called the Congress. Each state had its own government, made its own law and handled its internal affairs. The states did not cooperate with the Congress and with each other. The Congress had no power to force any state to contribute money to the national government and the Congress could not tax any citizen either. As a result, the Article of Confederation failed.25.Agribusiness Because American agriculture is big business, people coined the term “agribusiness” to re flect the large-scale nature of agricultural enterprises in the modern US economy. The term covers the entire complex of farm-related businesses, from the individual farmer to the multinational maker of farm chemicals. It also includes farmer cooperatives, rural banks, shippers of farm products, commodity dealers, firms that manufacture farm equipment, food-processing industries, grocery chains and many other businesses.26.Three Faiths in the US By the 1950s, the three faiths model of American religion had developed. Americans were considered to come in three basic varieties: Protestant,Catholic and Jewish. In term of numbers, the Protestants are the strongest, the Catholics are next to the Protestants and Jewish are the smallest among the three groups.27.The abuse of power by corporations The abuse of power by corporations is shown in the fact that these corporations are concerned with their own profits than with social responsibility, the quality or price of their products, or the truth of their advertising. They have professional lobbyists in Washington to influence public officials behind the scenes. They argue for legislation to serve their own ends, influence the appointment of officials, block reforms they consider undesirable, and often seem to have more say in the councils of government than the ordinary voters. Many Americans believe that “big business has taken the reins of government away from Congress and the Administration,” and that “government is run by a few interest groups looking after themselves.28.The USA as a kaleidoscope This is a metaphor for national self-definition. The metaphor emerged in the late 20th century. As a metaphor for national self-definition, a “kaleidoscope” overcame the big problem with the never-changing mosaic image, which reflected the many different groups that have gone into making up the American population. But the ease with which the kaleidoscopic patterns changed was problematic. Finally this image as well lost its credibility as a national self-definition --- leaving now a vacuum in term of a metaphor that comprehends the real nature of American society.29.NBA NBA stands for National Basketball Association. Founded in 1950, it is the association of professional teams in the United States. It has two divisions: the Eastern Division and Western Division. NBA is very popular not only in the US but all over the world. The best NBA star in NBA history is Michael Jordan.30.Canadian identity It is sometimes very hard to define what true Canadian identity is. But in general, it refers to something which is distinctively Canadian, which is different from other countries, and which is the very reason for making Canada so special. For example, two official languages of English and French can be considered as part of the Canadian identity.31.Structures of government Canada’s system of government is based on the British system of parliamentary democracy. Like Britain, Canada is a monarchy. The official head of state is the Queen, but she is represented by an official called a Governor General as she doesn’t live in Canada. Canada is a federation with ten provinces and three territories. The government of the country is referred to as “the federal government”, to distinguish it from the lower level government of each provinc e. The Canadian parliament is divided into the House of Commons and the Senate. The members of the House of Commons are elected, whereas the senators are appointed by the Governor General, who acts upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The cabinet, chosen by the Prime Minister, is made up of senior MPs from the governing party.32.The Canadian Mosaic Canada is a nation of immigrants. When Canada is described as a mosaic, it means that the immigrant groups do not have to throw off their old customs, languages and traditions. There is no particular concept of anoverwhelming Canadian identity. This resembles a mosaic of different cultures which overlap but do not overwhelm each other.33. Three factors that influence Canadian economy First of all, Canadian economy is influenced by Canada’s physical geography, which is rich in natural resources; but the huge size and small population of the country has made extracting and transporting goods to markets difficult. The second influence is its neighbor, the United States, which has a much more powerful economy and a larger market. This means that trade has quite naturally developed north to south, across the Can-Am border, rather than east-west, between provinces and regions. The third influence is federal government’s intervention in the economy: the federal government has constantly intervened in the development of the country’s resources and infrastructure, rather than allowing market force to play a full role.34.Canada-Us relations The Canada-US relationship is unique in many ways: First, they are two of the most open and interconnected societies in the world. The sovereignty of the two counties is less formal and concrete. Second, they share a long, undefended border. And they participated in the same military alliance, most notably, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Third, they also share long term interests in their economy. And to facilitate economic integration, the two countries established the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). However, in Canadian-US relationship, there are points where differences of opinion occur. Canadian-American relations have often been rocky because of disagreements over foreign policy.。

英语国家概况笔记整理英语国家是指以英语为官方语言的国家，主要分布在英联邦国家和美洲国家。

这些国家在文化、经济等方面有着广泛的联系和合作，具有丰富的历史及文化背景，是世界上最具影响力的国家之一。

下面将对英语国家的概况进行整理。

英联邦国家是指以英国为领袖的国际组织，由英国、加拿大、澳大利亚、新西兰、南非、印度、巴基斯坦等53个国家和地区组成。

这些国家中以英国、澳大利亚、加拿大、新西兰为代表的国家，在经济、政治、文化、教育等方面有着密切的联系和合作，军事上也有协调和互助的关系。

英国是英语国家的中心，由四个国家：英格兰、苏格兰、威尔士和北爱尔兰组成。

英国拥有悠久的历史和文化背景，是文化艺术、科技创新、高等教育等方面的领袖国家。

英国的文化产业发达，英语是世界第一大语言，英国的音乐、电影、电视剧等文艺作品也备受全球瞩目。

澳大利亚位于太平洋和印度洋之间，是由六个州和两个地区组成的联邦制国家。

澳大利亚是一个多元化的国家，拥有丰富的自然资源和景观。

澳大利亚在旅游、采矿、农业等方面具有突出的优势，是世界经济中不可忽视的力量。

加拿大是北美洲最大的国家，拥有广阔的土地和丰富的自然资源。

加拿大是世界上最发达的国家之一，其经济主要以服务业和加工制造业为主。

加拿大在金融、信息技术等领域具有较强的实力。

新西兰是一个位于南太平洋的岛国，由北岛和南岛以及其他一些小岛组成。

新西兰优美的自然环境使其成为了世界上著名的旅游胜地，同时其在农业、林业、渔业等领域也有着不俗的表现。

美洲国家是指以英语为官方语言的南、北美洲国家，包括美国、加拿大和13个加勒比国家。

这些国家在经济、政治、文化等方面也有着紧密的联系和合作。

美国是世界经济最大的国家之一，是世界级的大国和超级大国。

美国拥有强大的军事实力和文化影响力，同时也在国际事务中发挥着重要作用。

美国是全球科技、金融和文化中心之一，其在电影、音乐、时尚、饮食等方面也有着巨大的影响力。

加勒比国家是指坐落在加勒比海与墨西哥湾之间的一批岛国，其中比较著名的包括牙买加、海地、巴哈马等。

英语国家概况名词解释第一篇：英语国家概况名词解释Terms1.A-level: General Certificate of Education Advanced Level referred to as A-level, It is a British general secondary education certificate examination’ advanced courses, is the British national curriculum system, and the students of the university entrance exam courses.2.bible: The Bible is the holy book of Christianity.It consists of two testaments.The Old T estament contains the Jewish writings before the coming of Christ.The much shorter New Testament contains four accounts(“gospel”)of the life of Christ, followed by the writings of the early Christians, of whom St Paul was the greatest.3.WASP:White Anglo-Saxon Protestant of the original meaning is to point to the United States in power elite group and its culture, customs and moral behavior standard, can now be referring to the European American Protestant people.This group has a huge economic and political power, American society and for the most part of the upper middle class.Despite the increasingly diverse American society, but their cultural, moral and value orientation is to a great extent, affects the development of the United States.4.Independence Day: commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States celebrating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.5.wall street:Wall Street is the financial district of New York City, named after and centered on the eight-block-long, 0.7 miles(1.1 km)long street running from Broadway to South Street on the East River in Lower Manhattan.Over time,the term has become a metonym for the financial markets of the United States as a whole, the American financial sector(even if financial firms are not physically located there), or signifying New York-based financial interests.Wall Street is the home of the New York Stock Exchange, the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies.Several other major exchanges have or had headquarters in the Wall Street area, including NASDAQ, the New York Mercantile Exchange, the New York Board of Trade, and the former American Stock Exchange.Anchored by Wall Street, New York City has been called the world's principal financial center.6.Hollywood:is a district in the central region of Los Angeles, California, in the United States.It is notable for its place as the home of the entertainment industry, including several of its historic studios.Its name has come to represent the motion picture industry of the United States.Hollywood is also a highly ethnically diverse, densely populated, economically diverse neighborhood and retail business district.Hollywood was a small community in 1870 and was incorporated as a municipality in 1903.It merged with the City of Los Angeles in 1910, and soon thereafter a film industry began to emerge, eventually becoming dominant in the world.7.Pilgrim Fathers: is a name commonly applied to early settlers of the Plymouth Colony inpresent-day Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States.Their leadership came from the religious congregations of Brownist English Dissenters who had fled the volatile political environment in England for the relative calm and tolerance of 16th–17th century Holland in the Netherlands.Concerned with losing their cultural identity, the group later arranged with English investors to establish a new colony in North America.8.GreatCharter:Magna Carta(Latin for Great Charter), also called Magna Carta Libertatum or The Great Charter of the Liberties of England, is an Angevin charter originally issued in Latin in June 1215.It was sealed under oath by King John at Runnymede, on the bank of the River Thames near Windsor, England at June 15, 1215.Magna Carta was the first document forced onto a King of England by a group of his subjects, the feudal barons, in an attempt to limit his powers by law and protect their rights.Question:Melting pot: is a metaphor for a heterogeneous society becoming more homogeneous, the different elements “melting together” into a harmonious whole with a common culture.It is particularly used to describe the assimilation of immigrants to the United States.The melting-together metaphor was in use by the 1780s.The exact term “melting pot” came into general usage in the United States after it was used as a metaphor describing a fusion of nationalities, cultures and ethnicities in the 1908 play of the same name.Separation of powers: Separation of Powers(三权分立)is the basic of thewestern capitalist countries.The origin of the principle of separation of powers can be traced back to(追溯到)the period of Aristotle(亚里士多德时期).It is proposed to avoid the abuse of power(滥用权力).The US Government is divided into three branches so that no one branch has all the power.Each branch has its own purpose:Legislative Branch(立法机构)— to make laws;Executive Branch(行政机构)—to executive laws;Judicial Branch(司法)—interpret the laws;Civil war(U.S.): was a civil war fought from 1861 to 1865, after seven Southern slave states declared their secession and formed the Confederate States of America(the “Confederacy” or the “South”, which grew to include eleven states).The states thatremained in the Union were known as the “Union” or the “North”.The war had its origin in the frac tious issue of slavery, especially the extension of slavery into the western territories.Foreign powers did not intervene.After four years of bloody combat that left over 600,000 soldiers dead and destroyed much of the South's infrastructure, the Confederacy collapsed, slavery was abolished, and the difficult Reconstruction process of restoring national unity and guaranteeing civil rights to the freed slaves began.Presidential Election: is an indirect vote in which citizens cast ballots for a slate of members of the U.S.Electoral College;these electors in turn directly elect the President and Vice President.Presidential elections occur quadrennially(the count beginning with the year 1792)on Election Day, the Tuesday between November 2 and 8, coinciding with the general elections of variousother federal, states and local races.The most recent was the 2012 election, held on November 6.The next election will be the 2016 election, which will be held on November 8, 2016.British Newspaper culture: Traditionally, UK newspapers could be split into more serious-minded newspapers, usually referred to as the broadsheets due to their large size, and sometimes known collectively as “the quality press ”, and less serious newspapers, generally known as tabloids , and collec tively as “the popular press”, which have tended to focus more on celebrity coverage and human interest stories rather than political reporting or overseas news.Democracy with a constitutional monarchy : Initially after the American and French revolutions, the question was open whether a democracy, in order to restrain unchecked majority rule, should have an élite upper chamber, the members perhaps appointed meritorious experts or having lifetime tenures,or should have a constitutional monarch with limited but real powers.Some countries(as The United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Scandinavian countries, Thailand, Japan and Bhutan)turned powerful monarchs into constitutional monarchs with limited or, often gradually, merely symbolic roles.Often the monarchy was abolished along with the aristocratic system(as in France, China, Russia, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Italy, Greece and Egypt).Many nations had élite upper houses of legislatures which often had lifetime tenure, but eventually these lost power(as in Britain)or else became elective and remained powerful.Industrial Revolution: was the transition to new manufacturing processes in the period from about 1760 to sometime between 1820 and 1840.This transition included going from hand production methods to machines, new chemical manufacturing and iron production processes, improved efficiency of water power, the increasing use of steam power, and the development of machine tools.It also included the change from wood and other bio-fuels to coal.第二篇：英美国家概况名词解释等1.The civil rights movementIt is one of the most important of all social movements in the 1960s in America.Rosa Parks’ spontaneous action in 1955 was believed to the true beginning of the civil rights movement.The black students’ sit-in at a department lunch counter in North Carolina touched off the nationwide civil rights movement.During the first half of the decade, civil rights organizations like the SNCC,CORE,and SCLC struggled for racial intergration by providing leaderships,network and the people.In the latter half of the decade, some black organizations changed their nonviolent tactics, and emphasized on more radical meansto end discrimination and raised the self-image of the blacks.The civil rights movement produced such great leaders as Martin Luther King.Jr, and Malcolm X, who inspired a generation of both blacks and whites to devote their lives to fighting for racial equality in th US.2.A federal system【联邦制】It is one in which power is shared between a central authority and its constiuent parts, with some rights reserved to each.3.King ArthurIt is said that he was the King of England in the 5th century and united the British and drove the Saxons back with his magica sword,Excalibur.His real existence is in doubt.He is the central figure of many legends.4.The Anglo-SaxonsThey were two groups of Germanic peoples who settled down in England from the 5th century.They were regarded as the ancestors of the English and the founders of England.5.Riverdance[大河舞] It is a very popular form of dancing based on Ireland’s intricate[错综复杂的]folk dances which are rearranged and modernized and adapted onto current stage performance.Dancing is traditionally part of Irish culture.It is usually accompanied by the Irish pipe and fiddle.The music usually sounds fast and furious.Most of the actionis from the waist down, with the arms held rigidly at the sides.6.The House of CommonsIt is the real center of British political life because it is the place where about 650 elected representatives(members of parliament)make and debate policy.These MPs are elected in the General Elections and should represent the interests of the people who vote for them.7.The Commonwealth【英联邦】In the author’s opinion, the Commowealth is a voluntary association of states which is made up mostly of former Britishcolonies.There are 50 members of the Commonwealth: many of these are developing countries like India and Cyprus;others are developed nations like Australia,Canada and New Zealand.The Commonwealth was set up as a form for continued cooperation and as a sort of support network.8.MaoritangaIt is the Maori word for “Maori culture.” It refers to all the elements of the rich cultural heritage of the indigenous people in New Zealand, including their language, customs and traditions,9.The “Washminster” form polityIt is adopted by the Australian government.It is a mixture of the US Washington system of government and the British Westminster system.This means that the political structure of the government is base on a Federation of States with a three-tier system of government.However, the chief executive is a Prime Minister, instead of a President as in the US system.10.Yellowstone National ParkIt is the oldest and one of the largest national parks in the US.It is named after the Yellowstone River that flows through the area.It is known for its geysers and hot springs among other natural wonders.counterculture[反主流文化]In the wake of the Free Speech Movement and the New Left, there appeared a phenomenon that historians called the “counterculture”.The counterculture rejected capitalism and other Americans principles.They had morals different from those taught by their parents.Some group of youth tried to construct different ways of life,.Among the most famous were the hippies.They thought new experience through dropping out, and drug taking.But it was music,rock music particular, that became the chief vehicle for the counter cultural assault on the traditional American society.The counterculture exerted a great influenceupon people’s attitudes tow ard social morals, marriage, career and success.Martin Luther King, Jr.A black Baptist minister, he was leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference during the civil rights movements of the 1960s.To promote his philosophy of nonviolent protest against segregation and other kinds of social injustice, King organized a series of “marches”, including the march on Washington of August 1963, when King delivered his famous “ I Have a Dream” speech.As a civil rights leader, King worked not only to end racial discrimination and poverty, but also to raise the self image of the blacks.Due to his strong belief in non-violent peaceful protest, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Price in 1964.He was assassinated in the city of Memphis in April 1968.13．Richard NixonRichard Nixon was the former President of the United States.He won the elction in 1968 and was re-elected in 1972.While he was in office, he contributed to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the US and China and visited China in 1972.Shortly after he was re-elected ,he was involved in theWatergate scandal,for which he was forced to resign from the presidency.1.Explain your understanding of how the United States is governed according to its constitution, including its polity and the check and balance mechanism of governing.if Congress proposes a law that the president think is unwise, the president can veto it.That means the proposal does not became law.Congress can enact the law despite the president’s views only if two-thirds of the members of both houses vote in favor of it.If Congress passes a low which is the challenged in the courts as unconstitutional, the Supreme Court has the power to declare the law unconstitutional and therefore no longer in effect.Thepresident has the power to make treaties with other nations and to make all appointments to federal positions,including the position, of Supreme Court justice.The Senate,however,must approve all treaties and confirm all appointments before they become official.In this way the Congress can prevent the president from making unwise appointments.2.How do you understand the saying: ”British history has been a history of invasion.” ?Before the 1st century AD Britain was made up of many tribal kingdoms of Celtic people:a powerful cultural originating in central Europe.Then in 43AD Britain was invaded by Roman Empire, and England and Wales became part of the Roman Empire for nearly400 years.As the Roman Empire came under threat from the east, the Roman armies and Roman protection were withdrawn from Britain, and Britain was again divided into small kindoms, andagain it came under threat from outside, this time from Germanic peoples:the Angles,and the Saxon.In the 5th century AD it is said that a great leader-King Arthur appeared, united the British, and with his magical sword, Excalibur,drove the Saxons back.whatever Arthur’s success,legend or not,it did not last,for the Anglo-Saxons did succeed in invading Britain,and either absorbed the Celticpeople,or pushed them to the western and northern edges of Britain.From the late 8th century on, raiders from Scandinavia, the ferocious Vikings, threatened Britain’s shores.Their settlements in England grew until large areas of northern and eastern England were under their control.1066, the Normans, from northern France, whowere descendants of Vikings.Under William of Normandy they cross the English Channel and in the Battle of Hastings, defeated an English armyunder King Harold.This marks the last time.that an army from outside the British Isles succeeded in invading3.Your understanding of the characteristics of American religion and its social functionsFirst of all, American with different religions live together under the same law.The Bill of Rights in the US Constitution insists that there should be no state religion.That means that the government has no right to interfere in people’s religious affairs.The freedom of religion and the separation of state and church guaranted in the Constitution is believed to be the basic principles against religious persecution.Secondly,the religious beliefs of Americans continue to be strong with social progress.Every Sunday morning, all over America people pour into the churches.Half of American Protestants are active church members, and there are few who habitually stay away.Not only the Catholic churches,but the Protestant ones too,are flourishing,and new ever-growing suburbs.Through all the social and economic changes religion has remained a constant factor.Thirdly,in the united states every church is a completeluy independent organization,and concerned with its own finance and its own building.if one goes to a Protestant church,he or she will hear morality preached,but not a word of doctrine.Churches and religious sects are expressions of group solidarity rather than of rigid adherence to doctrine.第三篇：国家概况名词解释与问答题汇总--美国英语国家概况名词解释与问答题汇总Unit One GeographyTerms:1.The Star-spangled Banner(the flag)2.The Yellowstone National Park3.Mount Rushmore National Memorial4.The Great Lakes5.The Grand Canyon 删除6.Mississippi River删除Questions:1.Please list five famous buildings or things in New York City.Unit Two HistoryTerms:1.The Declaration of Independence2.The Bill of Rights3.The Boston Tea Party4.Thomas Jefferson5.Monroe Doctrine6.Gold Rush7.Uncle T om’s Cabin删除8.The American Civil War9.Abraham Lincoln10.Westward Movement11.Progressive Movement12.The lost generation13.The Monkey Trial删除14.The Great Depression 15.Franklin Roosevelt16.Lend-lease Bill删除17.The Beat Generation删除18.The Civil Rights Movement19.Martin Luther King, Jr.Questions:1.What were the reasons for people to found colonies in North America?2.What do you know about the War of Independence(reasons, process, and significance)?3.How was American Constitution established and what doyou know about it?4.5.6.7.8.What do you know about Monroe Doctrine? What do you know about the U.S.-Mexican War and its result? What do you know about the Civil War(reasons, process, and significance)? What do you know about the Progressive Movement? What kind of changes did modern America experienced at the beginning of the 20th century?9.What do you know about World War One and America’s policy during the war?10.The target of the Progressive Movement was trust and monopoly.What were the negative effects brought by monopoly?11.What were the nature and effects of WW I?12.What do you know about Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal?13.“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government….”Who is the writer and what is the name of the document?What is the historical background of the document and how did it come into being?Unit Three American IdentityTerms:1.Hispanics(Latinos)2.Model minority3.Melting potQuestions:1.Why America is called “a nation of immigrants”?2.What contributions did immigrants make to America?(Please list at least three points of views)Unit Four Political InstitutionTerms:1.The checks and balances2.CongressQuestions: 1.What are the US government principles?2.What do you know about the Presidential election in America?Unit 5 EconomyQuestions:1.What is the most striking characteristic of the American economy in terms of its diversity?2.When did service industries in the U.S.experience rapid growth? How significant is the service industry in the American economy?Unit 8 EducationTerms:1.Harvard College2.Ivy League Questions1.How have the goals and purposes of education in the U.S.evolved over time? Trance them briefly.Unit 9 Religion Questions:1.In your opinion, why do so many Americans want to keep “In God We Trust” on their currency?2.How did American religion become pluralistic and diversified?第四篇：2014英语国家概况判断题In the early 20th century, those dominating American life were mostly WASPs.正确In the US, scientific and economic advance and rising material progress have been accompanied by a decline in religious observance.错误The title of Prince of Wales is held by a Welsh according to tradition.错误In Britain, class and educational differences are reflected in the newspaper people read.正确The world' s oldest daily newspaper is The Observer.错误Horse racing is the true royal sport.正确Under a Constitutional Amendament passed in 1951, a president can be elected to only one term.错误The state of Hawaii is a big island in the central Pacific Ocean 错误.Most British people are Protestants while most Irish people are Catholics.正确There is more violence in the US than in other industrialized countries.正确According to the textbook, larger American universities are always better, and more desirable universities are always more expensive错误.Harvard College was originally founded to train government officials.错误“ We Shall Overcome!” is a very famous song during the 1960s.错误The largest of the racial and ethnic minorities in the US now is the blacks, or Afro-Americans.错误Drug abuse in the US has come to be regarded as one of the most challenging social problems facing the nation.错误Yellowstone National Park is the oldest national park in the US正确.John F.Kennedy was the first Catholic elected as the USpresident正确.The theory of poltiics of the American Revolution came from John Locke, a French philosopher in the 17th century.错误Britain has a written constitution like most countries.错误Queen Elizabeth II is both the head of the state and the head of government in the UK.错误Secrecy is an important part of the voting process.正确 The Labour Party is the oldest party in the UK.错误By the early 1760s, the 13 English colonies in North America were ready to separate themselves from Europe.正确The British state actively interferes with the decision of when,where, how and what children are taught.错误The tradition of having Sunday off derived from the Christian Church.正确It takes at least four years to get a bachelor' s degree from an institution of higher education in the US.正确You must have the A-level qualification to enter British university.错误Britain is no longer an imperial country.正确Scotland was never conquered by the Romans.正确A great moment for the civil rights movement was the March on Washington on August, 1963 when President Kennedy gave the famous “ I Have a Dream” speech.错误It is not very difficult to generalize about the American way of life.错误The most exciting moment in baseball game is a homerun.正确 Most people in Scotland speak the old Celtic language, called “ Gaelic”.错误The British media play an important role in shaping a national culture.正确To advertise in a British newspaper, the only thing you have to worry about is the cost.错误Easter is the biggest and best loved British holiday.错误When the War of Independence was over, the US was on unified nation as it is today.错误The 10 very short paragraphs which guarantee freedom and individual rights and forbid interference with lives of individuals by the government are called the Bill of Rights.正确Super Bowl will decide the champion baseball team of the year in the US.错误Ireland is part of Great Britain错误The Good Friday Agreement was approved on 10 April 1998.正确 Critics of the affirmative action programs are of the opinion that this results in reverse discrimination.正确The anti-war teach-in by white students in Berkeley began the civil rights movement in the 1960s.错误When the civil rights movement began, non-violent, direct action tactics like “ sit-ins” and boycotts were he chief vehicle for social protest.正确George Washington, Banjamin Franklin, and Abraham Lincoln were regarded as the founing fathers of the USA.错误Hollywood films give the wrong impressions that all Americans are rich.正确Thre are more than 100 Protestants sects in the US today.正确Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492.正确It is commonly believed that Boxing Day involved the sport of boxing.错误It is no doubt that Britain is the oldest representativedemocracy in the world.正确The British Prime Minister is directly elected by the people.错误According to the textbook, there are two major political parties in the UK.错误The Conservative Party is the party that spent most time in power正确.The purpose of British education is not only to provide children with literacy and the other basic skills but also to socialize children.正确All secondary schools in Britain are run and supervised by the government.错误The Open Univeristy uses many non-traditional ways to teach students, such as TV and radio broadcasts, correspondence, videos, and a network of study centers.正确The stereotype of the English gentleman never applied to the majority of the British people.正确Scotland was unified with England through violent means.错误 Segregating blacks into separate schools was unconstitutional after the decision of the Supreme Court in 1954.正确The US was founded on the principle of human equality, and in reality the nation has lived up to that ideal.错误第五篇：英语国家概况选择题Chapter1 1.The two main islands of the British Isles are A.不列颠群岛的两个主要岛屿是A.Great Britain and Ireland C.Great Britain and WalesB.Great Britain and ScotlandD.Great Britain and England 2.B is the capital city of Scotland.是苏格兰的首府A.BelfastB.EdinburghC.AberdeenD.Cardiff 3.Among the four parts ofthe United Kingdom, D is the smallest.在英国的四个部分中，是最小的A.England IrelandB.ScotlandC.WalesD.Northern 4.English belongs to the C group of Indo-European family of languages.英语属于印欧语系语系A.CelticB.Indo-IranianC.GermanicD.Roman 5.The introduction of Christianity to Britain added the first element of D words to English.基督教传入英国，增加了英语的第一个元素。

重点翻译术语：(1) New Frontier 新边疆(2) the Civil Rights Movement 民权运动(3) the Great Society 伟大社会(4) the Counterculture Movement 反主流文化运动(5) the New Left Movement 新左派运动(6) the Anti-War Movement 反战运动(7) the Strategic Defence Initiative 战略防御措施(8) the Populist Party人民党(9) Star Wars星球大战(10) Monroe Doctrine门罗主义(11) Truman Doctrine 杜鲁门主义(12) the Marshall Plan 马歇尔计划(13) the Missile Crisis 导弹危机(14) the House Un-American Activities Committee 众议院非美活动调查委员会(15) W ASP 白人盎格鲁—撒克逊新教徒(16) indentured servants 契约佣工(17) the Civil War 美国内战(18) the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 全国有色人种协进会(19) model minority 模范少数族裔(20) Indian Reservations 印第安人保留区(21) Gold Rush淘金热(22) Supreme Court最高法院(23) the Court of Appeals 上诉法院(24) the District Court地区法庭(25) judicial review 司法复审(26) the House of Representatives 众议院(27) chief justice 首席大法官(28) associate justice 大法官(29) the Articles of Confederation 《邦联条例》(30) winner-take-all 赢者通吃/ （美国总统选举中）胜者获得所有选举人选票(31) grants-in-aid programs联邦拨款项目(32) the midterm election中期选举(33) Watergate Scandal水门事件丑闻(34) Electoral College选举人团(35) laissez faire自由放任(36) post-industrial society后工业社会(37) Sherman Antitrust Act谢尔曼反托拉斯法(38) New Deal新政(39) National Labor Relations Board全国劳工关系委员会(40) Social Security system 社会保障制度(41) Food Stamp食物劵(42) Aid to Families with Dependent Children未成年人家庭援助计划(43) original jurisdiction 初审管辖权(44) grand jury 大陪审团(45) petit jury 小陪审团(46) the Department of Justice 司法部(47) the Attorney General 司法部长/ 总检察长(48) the Solicitor General 司法部副部长/副总检察长(49) Common Law 习惯法(50) civil law 民法(51) criminal law 刑法(52) the Federal Bureau of Investigation美国联邦调查局(53) due process of law 正当法律程序(54) charter school 特许公立学校(55) school voucher 教育劵(56) associate degree 准学位(57) community college 社区大学(58) the Bilingual Education Act 双语教育法(59) affirmative action program 积极行动方案(60) reverse discrimination 反向歧视(61) compulsory education 义务教育(62) city upon a hill 山巅之城(63) the Great Awakening 大觉醒运动(64) rummage sales 旧杂物义卖(65) the Grand Canyon 大峡谷(66) British Commonwealth英联邦(67) God save the King /Queen 天佑吾王(68) the Stars and Stripes星条旗(69) E pluribus unum合众为一(70) the Good Friday Agreement北爱尔兰和平协议(71) Magna Carta（英国）大宪章(72) shadow cabinet影子内阁(73) the House of Lords 贵族院/ 上议院(74) Lords Spiritual 神职贵族(75) Lords Temporal 俗职贵族(76) the House of Commons下议院(77) Constitutional Monarchy君主立宪制(78) the Prime Minister首相(79) the Department of State国务院(80) Secretary of Commerce商务部长。