HOW AND WHY HAS BRITISH PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE CHANGED FROM 1970 TO 2013

1. What is the full name of the U.K.?----United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland2. 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. She promoted further industrial revolution, the building of railways and the growing of trade and commerce. By the end of her reign, Britain had developed to an empire including a quarter of the global population and nearly a quarter of the world's landmass.3. What were the two camps in Europe in World War 1?----The Central Powers which included Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria and the Allied Powers which were mainly comprised of France, the Russia Empire, the Britain Empire, Italy and the United States.4. Why did Britain cooperate closely with the United States after World War 2?----Because they were allied during the war and shared the same worries about the former Soviet Union.1. What were the results of the Industrial Revolution in Britain?----The Industrial Revolution changed Britain in many ways. First, industrial country increased dramatically. Britain became the most advanced industrial country and also the financial center in the world. Second, urbanization took place. Many new cities sprang up. Third, it caused great changes in the class structure. The old social classes declined, and new ones emerged and developed.2. The Rise and Fall of the British Empire?----Colonization of Newfoundland, the first British colony overseas, in 1583 marked the beginning of the British Empire. By 1837, British had long been an empire which included the colonies in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and many small states in the West Indies. By the end of 19th century, the British Empire included a quarter of the global population and nearly a quarter of the world's landmass. During the mid-19th century, the British government consolidated the existing colonies by bringing them under the direct control of the government. Before World War 1, Britain had the largest colonial empire in the world. However, Britain suffered great loss to its manpower in the two World Wars and exhausted its reserves of gold, dollars and overseas investment. Most of Britain's colonies gained independence since the 1940s, which inevitably led to the fall the Empire.1. What are the three functions of the House of Commons?----to draft laws, to scrutinize, criticize and restrain the activities of the government, and to influence future government policy.2. Why is the Conservative Party sometimes called the "Right"?----Because the Conservative Party is supported by landowners and businessmen, who are often from the middle and upper-middle class.3. What kind of public image does Liberal Democrats have in Britain?----The Liberal Democrats is perceived as "middle" between the Conservative and the Labor Party. It is comparatively flexible and pragmatic in its balance of the individual and the social. It emphasizes the need for a change in Britain's constitutional arrangements to make the government more democratic and accountable.4. Why are independent candidates unlikely to win in the general election?----Because even if they were elected, they would be powerless in Parliament. Therefore, it is not possible for many people to vote for independent candidates.1. What do British electoral campaigns usually involve during the process of a general election?----The electoral campaigns usually involve advertising in newspapers, door-to-door campaigning and leaflets. The main parties are given short periods of time on national television to present their policies to the public. Apart from the parties' own publicity, newspapers and TV programs spend a lot of time discussing the campaign, interviewing politicians, and predicting the results.2. What is the Commonwealth of Nations?----The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of independent sovereign states, all of which acknowledge the British monarch as the head. The Commonwealth is not a political union of any sort, and its member states have full autonomy to manage their internal and external affairs. It is primarily an organization in which countries with diverse economic backgrounds have an opportunity for close and equal interaction after gaining independence. The major activities of the Commonwealth are designed to advocate democracy, human rights, and to promote economic cooperation and growth within its members.1. What was the negative aspect of Thatcher's reform in the early 1980s?----Its negative aspect was a rapid increase in unemployment. In 1982, the unemployment rate reached the level of the Great Depression years, with three million people out of work.2. What are the characteristics of Britain's agriculture?----British's agriculture is characterized by a small portion of the population engaged in agricultural activities with a high degree of mechanization. Although it employs a mere 1% of the country's labor force, it meets around 60% of the national demands.3. What happened to Britain's beef industry in the mid-1990s?----British's beef industry was hit badly by BSE, resulting in a ban on beef exports in 1996.4. What are some of the popular tourist attraction in Britain?----The popular tourist attractions in English include: the Dorset and the East Devon Coast, the Lake District, Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, university towns of Oxford and Cambridge, Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral and so on.1. What were the major causes of Britain's relative economic decline in the postwar period?----British's economy experienced a relative decline in the postwar period for severalreasons. First, British suffered a great losses in the two World Wars and had gone heavily into debt to finance the war. Second, the era of the British Empire was over. India and other British colonies, which provided raw material and large market for British goods, gained their independence. Third, British was forced to maintain an expensive military presence in many overseas locations until the end of 1960s. Fourth, British had to make substantial financial contributions to NATO and UN Security Council. Finally, British failed to invest in industry after World War 2 whereas its competitors like Germany and Japan caught up with British buy investing in the most modern equipment and means of production.2. Why do developed nations like Britain encourage the development of the service industry?----The service industry has played an increasingly important role in economy in the development countries. On the other hand ,it requires a large group of people working in it so that abundant employment opportunities are provided. On the other hand, the service industry causes little pollution.1. What used to be the major functions of grammar schools and vocational schools in Britain?----The major functions of grammar schools were to train the most academically capable students and prepare them for university, whereas the major functions of vocational schools were to help less successful students to learn a trade.2. What kind of subjects do Britain comprehensive schools provide?----British comprehensive schools provide a general education, offering both academic subjects like literature and science, and practical subjects like cooking and carpentry.3. In what ways do Britain universities enjoy complete academic freedom?----British universities enjoy complete academic freedom because they can appoint their own staff, decide which students to admit, provide their own courses and award their own degrees.4. How do students in the Open University receive their education?----The students follow university courses through textbooks, TV and radio broadcasts, correspondence, video, and a network of study centers.5. What role does the media play in Britain leisure culture?----The media plays an essential role in British leisure culture since it helps to shape the public's opinion, determine people's moral and political orientation and consolidate or undermine the rule of a government.1. What are the general feature of Britain's independent schools?----British's independent schools require fees from students. Although the National Curriculum is optional in the independent system, most independent schools teach what the curriculum demands. Independent schools get their funding through tuition fees as well as government assistance. Since they are generally better-funded than most state schools, they can recruit the best teachers and provide superior facilities. However, high tuition fees have become an obstacle for many students to enroll.2. The "quality press" and the "tabloids" in Britain?----Among the 10 daily published national newspapers in British, about half of them are regarded as the "quality press" since they carry in-depth articles of particular political and social importance, and reviews and feature articles about "high culture", and they are generally read by well-educated people. The Times, The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph are good cases in point of the quality press. The "tabloids", with color photos and striking headlines, usually cover scandals and gossip about celebrities in politics, sports and entertainment. A typical example is The News of the World.Chapter 81. How is the American population distributed?The distribution of the American population is rather uneven the most densely populated region is the northeastern part of the country. The great plains have a comparatively small population .the south also has a population of almost 57.5million. the west is not densely populated ,except for some metropolitan centers like los Angeles and san Francisco . it has about 20% of the nation’s population.2. Why was the immigration act of 1942 instituted ?The new immigrants in the united states , being poor and accustomed to poverty , were willing to work for very low wages .this made other workers afraid that the immigrants would ls and take jobs away from them . this opposition led to the immigration act of 1942.1．Why is the United States regarded as a”melting pot” and a ”salad bowl” ?The United States is not merely a nation, but a nation of nations. The immigrants came in waves, including the Europeans, the Africans and the Asians. Therefore, America is described as a "melting pot" where various racial and ethnic groups are assimilate into American culture. Recently, America has been called a "salad bowl" in that people of difference races and ethnic groups mix harmoniously, but at the same time keep their distinct culture and customs.2．What do you think is the best way to help assimilation in a multicultural society?The best possible way to help assimilation in a multicultural society is to be open and tolerant toward different cultures. People from different racial and ethnic backgrounds should respect each other. Society should create opportunities to help immigrants become assimilated. At the same time the immigrants should keep their own language, customs and religion, contributing to the diversity of a multicultural society.Chapter 91. Why did American change its policy and enter world war II?Because of the formation of the axis , the American government feared that the axis countries were wining the war and it might threaten America’s security and interests . it began to provide war equipment to the foreign nations resisting the aggression of the axis power . the Japanese air raid on pearl harbor became the direct cause for America’s entrance into the war.2. What were Nixon’s well-known contributions during his presidency?a) brought the Vietnam war to a closeb)reestablishing U.S. relations with chinac) negotiating the firststrategic arms limitation treaty with the former soviet union .3. What were the contents of Reagan’s economic program?Reagan’s economic program called for reductions in income taxes and business taxes in order to encourage investment , and it also requested that many government regulations be eliminated so as to reduce the federal government’s role in the day-to-day operation of business.1. What was the cause of the American Civil War?The Southern planters of America needed a large number of black African slaves to manage their plantations and they regarded the slaves as their property. In the North, with the development of industry, there was a growing demand for free labor. What’s more,the Northerners demanded a law to protect tariffs and asked the government to finance the building of railways and roads. But the Southerners were against it and advocated free trade so as to purchase cheaper goods from foreign countries. The accumulating conflicts led to the division of the North and the South and finally the American Civil War.2. What made the United States a powerful country by the end of World War II?During the two World Wars, America remained neutral in the early stage. However, Americans continued their profitable trade with the warring countries. Therefore, they not only retained their military forces, but also accumulated great wealth. When America entered the wars, it was almost at the end of the wars. By sharing the fruit of victory with other allies, America greatly strengthened its power and became a powerful country by the end of World War II.Chapter 101. What are the two characteristics of the U.S. constitution?One is “checks and balances”, the other is that the power of the central government and the powers of state governments are specified.2. What are the qualifications for a senator and a representative respectively?A senator must be over 30 years old , a U.S. citizen for at least nine years, and a resident in the state which they represent . a representative should be at least 25 years old and a U.S. citizen for no less than seven years.3. What are the major powers of the supreme court?a) to interpret lawsb) to hear appeals from any federal court cases;c) to hear appeals from state court cases that involve the constitution or national laws d) may declare a law unconstitutionale) may declare a presidential act unconstitutional4. What is the difference between the democrats and the republicans in terms of political opinions?The democrats want the government to play an important role in the economy and emphasize full employment as a matter of national concern they favor civil rights laws , a strong social security system which gives enterprises a greater freedom and demand that the government control inflation. They stress the need for law and order, and oppose complete government social programs and free choice of abortion they also favor a strong military posture and assertive stand in international relations.1. How is the American President voted into office? What are your ideas about the American election?Each party holds its national convention every four years to choose a candidate for presidency. To win a presidential election, a candidate has to spend millions of dollars, travel all over the country to make speeches and debate on television with the rival. The general election is technically divided into two stages. During the first stage, presidential electors for each state will be chosen. In the second stage the electors meet and vote a President. Since the second stage is only a kind of formality, everyone knows who will be the next President an soon as the first stage is over.I think the candidates spend too much money on the electoral campaigns. And, the election cannot solve the social and economic problems of the U.S. as some candidates do not keep their word after they become President.2. What was President Eisenhowers foreign policy and what were the consequences ?President Eisenhower made vigorous efforts to wage the Cold War. He placed new emphasis on developing nuclear strength to prevent the outbreak of war. He also frequently authorized the CIA to undertake secret interventions to overthrow unfriendly governments or protect reliable anti-communist leaders whose power was threatened. The CIA helped topple the governments of Iran and Guatemala, but it suffered an embarrassing failure in Indonesia. In addition, Eisenhower used U.S. power and prestige to help create a non-communist government in South Vietnam, which brought disastrous long-term consequences to the United States.Chapter 111. What industry developments took place during the colonial period of America? During the colonial period ,the secondary industries developed as the colonies grew .a variety of specialized sawmills and gristmills appeared. Colonists established shipyards to build fishing fleets and trading vessels . they also built small iron forges . by the 18th century , regional patterns of development in America had become clear.2. How did the civil war affect the American economy?After the civil war , the large southern cotton plantations became much less profitable . northern industries , which had expanded rapidly because of the demands of the war ,surged ahead.3. Why does America try to reduce trade barriers?Because the united states has increasingly realized that open bilateral trade will not only advance its own economic interests, but also enhance domestic stability and its peaceful relationship with other nations.1. How did the U.S constitution lay the groundwork for American’s economic development ?The U.S. Constitution, as an economic charter, established that the entire nation was a unified or "common" market. There were no tariffs or taxes on interstate commerce. It provided that the federal government could regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the states, establish uniform bankruptcy laws, create money and regulate its value, fix standards of weights and measures, establish post office and roads, and fix rules governing patents and copyrights. The last-mentioned clause was an early recognition of the importance of "intellectual property", a matter that began assuming great importance in trade negotiations since the late 20thcentury.2. Cite examples to illustrate the role of government intervention in America's economic development.The government has always played an active and important role in America’s economic development. In the early 1930s,thr United States suffered the worst economic depression in American history. President Roosevelt introduced the New Deal to tackle the financial crisis. Besides, he set up the New York State Emergency Relief Commission to help those in desperate need and tried to relieve the serious problems of the jobless. At the end of 1970s, the American economy again suffered a recession. The Reagan administration combated inflation by controlling government spending deficit, cutting taxes and raising interest rates. Both policies men tioned above helped to set the country’s economic development on its right course, In all, the intervention of the government has ensured that economic opportunities are fair and accessible to the people. It has prevented flagrant abuses of the system, dampened the effects of inflation and stimulated economic growth. Chapter 121. How does an American university choose its applicants?a)their high school records;b) recommendations from their high school teachers;c) the impression they make during interviews at the university;d) their scores on the SAT.2. What functions do American higher education institutions perform?Higher education institutions in the united states have three functions: teaching , research and public service , and each has its own emphasis with regard to its function .3. What similarities do four famous university share?They all have a long history , they all have an excellent faculty , a large number of students and have made extensive academic achievements. Some of their graduates are very successful or influential in some areas such as politics, arts and business.4. What are the origins of thanksgiving day?Thanksgiving is associated with the time when Europeans first came to the new world , in 1620,the mayflower arrived and brought about 150 pilgrims. Life at the beginning was very hard and there was not enough food , so many of them died. During the following summer the native America helped them and then they had a bountiful harvest. So they held a big celebration to thank god and the native Americans.1. What are the ideals that guide the American educational system?The first ideal is that as many people as possible should receive as much education as possible .The second ideal is that of ptoducing a society that is totally literate and of local control . The third ideal is that scholars and students should work to discover new information or conceive new ways to understand what is already known .2. How does America carry out multicultural education?American schools routinely teach the experiences and values of many ethnic cultures. Current textbooks incorporate a variety of ethnic individuals who have achieved success. Struggle for equality are vividly depicted, and past racism is bluntly acknowledged. Cultural pluralism is now generally recognized as the organizing principle of education.Schools at all levels offer students opportunities to learn about different cultures.。

英语国家概况（1）课程形成性考核题英语国家概况（1）课程第2次形成性考核答案和讲评（Unit 06-10）The United Kingdom (II)I. True or False:Unit 6 British Literature(T) 01. The early British literature was concerned with Christianity, and Anglo-Saxons produced many versions of the Bible. (Unit 6)(F) 02. There was a general flowering of culture and intellectual life in Europe during the 17th and 18th centurywhich is known as “The Renaissance”. (Unit 6)There was a general flowering of culture and intellectual life in Europe between the 14th and 17th centuries which is known as “The Renaissance”. (T)(T) 03. Keats, Shelley and Byron brought the Romantic Movement to its height. (Unit 6)(T) 04. Robinson Crusoe tells the story of a shipwreck and a solitary survival. (Unit 6)(F) 05. Writers of romantic literature are more concerned with the power of reason than with imagination andfeeling. (Unit 6)Writers of romantic literature are more concerned with imagination and feeling than with the power of reason. (T)(F) 06. Thomas Hardy, t he author of Tess of the D’Urbervilles, was a first-class novelist but a second-class poet.(Unit 6)Thomas Hardy, the author of Tess of the D’Urbervilles, was not only a first-class novelist but also a first-class poet. (T)Unit 7 British Education System(F) 07. The purpose of British education is to provide children with literacy and the other basic skills. (Unit 7)The purpose of British education is not only to provide children with literacy and the other basic skills but also to socialize the children. (T)(T) 08. The 1944 Education Act made entry to secondary schools and universities “meritocratic”. (Unit 7)(F) 09. British universities are mainly private bodies which collect funds by themselves. (Unit 7)British universities are mainly public bodies which receive funds from the central government. (T) (T) 10. In Oxford and Cambridge, the BA converts to an MA several years later, upon payment of a fee. (Unit 7) (F) 11. Grammar schools in Britain select children at the age of 11 and provide them with a language education.(Unit 7)Grammar schools in Britain select children at the age of 11 and provide them with a general education.(T)(T) 12. Comprehensive schools admit children without reference to their academic abilities. (Unit 7)Unit 8 British Foreign Relations(F) 13. When the Second World ended, Britain no longer was the largest military power in Western Europe.(Unit 8)When the Second World ended, Britain was the largest military power in Western Europe. (T)(F) 14. According to Unit 8, the most single important factor which influences British contemporary foreignpolicy is its history. (Unit 8)According to Unit 8, the contemporary foreign policy of the UK is greatly influenced by its imperialhistory and also by its geographical traits. (T)(T) 15. The Prime Minister and Cabinet decide on the general direction of Britain’s foreign policy. (Unit 8) (F) 16. Britain is a parliamentary monarch. (Unit 8)Britain is a parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarch. (T)(T) 17. Britain hosts a large military American presence and there are some American military bases in the UK.(Unit 8)(F) 18. Britain is not a member of the NATO due to its disagreement with some European countries on defencepolicy. (Unit 8)Britain is a member of the NATO despite its disagreement with some European countries on defence policy. (T)Unit 9 The British Media(T) 19. On an average day, an overwhelming majority of Britons over the age 15 read a national or local paper.(Unit 9)(F) 20. The British media play an important role in shaping a national education. (Unit 9)The British media play an important role in shaping a national culture. (T)(T) 21. Free press has the function of keeping an eye on the government, and therefore it is called the watchdog of parliamentary democracy. (Unit 9)(F) 22. The tabloids are larger format newspapers with colour photos and catchy headlines. (Unit 9)The tabloids are smaller format newspapers with colour photos and catchy headlines. (T)(T) 23. The British Broadcasting Corporation is funded by licence fees and viewers must buy a licence each year for their TV set. (Unit 9)(F) 24. The BBC World Service, the international branch of the BBC, broadcasts in English and 24 otherlanguages throughout the world. (Unit 9)The BBC World Service, the international branch of the BBC, broadcasts in English and 42 other languages throughout the world. (T)Unit 10 Sports, Holidays and Festival in Britain(F) 25. The tradition of having Sunday off derived from the Buddhism. (Unit 10)The tradition of having Sunday off derived from the Christian Church. (T)(F) 26. The origin of Bowling lies in the victory celebration ceremony by the modern soldiers. (Unit 10)The origin of Bowling lies in the victory celebration ceremony by the ancient warriors. (T)(F) 27. The game of Golf was invented by the Irish. (Unit 10)The game of Golf was invented by the Scottish. (T)(T) 28. The extremist animal-lovers’ group would like to have horse-racing banned. (Unit 10)(T) 29. Christmas Pantomime is one of the three Christmas traditions that are particularly British. (Unit 10) (T) 30. In Ireland, New Year’s Eve called Hogmanay (December 31st) is the major winter celebration. (Unit 10)II. Choose the best answer:Unit 6 British Literature01. Which of the following books is written by Geoffrey Chaucer? (Unit 6) Key AA. The Canterbury Tales.B. Beowulf.C. King Lear.D. Le Morte D’Arthur.02. Which literary form flourished in Elizabethan age more than any other form of literature? (Unit 6)Key CA. Novel.B. Essay.C. Drama.D. Poetry.03. Which of the following did NOT belong to Romanticism? (Unit 6) Key DA. Keats.B. Shelley.C. Wordsworth.D. Defoe.04. Which of the following is a tragedy written by Shakespeare? (Unit 6) Key BA. Dr. FaustusB. Macbeth.C. Frankenstein.D. The Tempest.05. Which of the following writers was NOT associated with Modernism? (Unit 6) Key CA. D. H. Lawrence.B. E. M. Foster.C. Charles Dickens.D. Virginal Woolf.06. Which of the following writers wrote the book “1984” that began “Postmodernism” in British literature”?(Unit 6) Key AA. George Orwell.B. Robert L. Stevenson.C. D. H. Lawrence.D. Virginia Woolf.Unit 7 British Education System07. In Britain, the great majority of parents send their children to ______. (Unit 7) Key CA. private schoolsB. independent schoolsC. state schoolsD. public schools08. In Britain, children from the age 5 to 16 ______. (Unit 7) Key BA. can legally receive partly free educationB. can legally receive completely free educationC. can not receive free education at allD. can not receive free education if their parents are rich09. Which of the following is a privately funded university in Britain? (Unit 7) Key DA. The University of Cambridge.B. The University of Oxford.C. The University of Edinburgh.D. The University of Buckingham.10. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the Open University? (Unit 7) Key CA. It’s open to everybody.B. It requires no formal educational qualifications.C. No university degree is awarded.D. University courses are followed through TV, radio, email and internet, etc.11. In the examination called “the 11 plus”, students with academic potential go to ______. (Unit 7)Key AA. grammar schoolsB. comprehensive schoolsC. public schoolsD. technical schools12. Which of the following is NOT true about the British education system? (Unit 7) Key DA. It’s run by the state.B. It’s funded by the state.C. It’s supervised by the state.D. It’s dominated by the state.Unit 8 British Foreign Relations13. Britain had a big influence on the post-World War II international order because ______. (Unit 8)Key BA. it used to be a great imperial powerB. it used to be a great imperial powerC. it defeated Hitler’s armyD. it got support from its former colonies.14. Which countries are the permanent members of the UN Security Council? (Unit 8) Key CA. France, China, Germany, Russia and Britain.B. The United States, France, Britain, Germany and Russia.C. China, Russia, France, Britain and the United States.D. Britain, China, France, the United States and Japan.15. How much of the globe did Great Britain rule in its imperial prime? (Unit 8) Key BA. One fourth of the globe.B. One fifth of the globe.C. One third of the globe.D. Two thirds of the globe.16. Which of the following is not involved in making British foreign policy? (Unit 8) Key AA. The Queen of the UK.B. The Foreign Commonwealth Office.C. The Prime Minister.D. The Cabinet.17. Which of the following countries does not have nuclear weapon capabilities? (Unit 8)Key CA. BritainB. The United StatesC. GermanyD. France.18. The Commonwealth is an organization of ______ that were once part of the British Empire. (Unit 8)Key BA. about 40 countriesB. about 50 countriesC. about 60 countriesD. about 70 countriesUnit 9 The British Media19. Which of the following is the world’s oldest national newspaper? (Unit 9)Key CA. The Times.B. The Guardian.C. The Observer.D. The Financial Times.20. Which of the following is the British oldest daily newspaper? (Unit 9) Key DA. The Telegraph.B. The News of the World.C. The Guardian.D. The Times21. A free press is considered very important to the functioning of parliamentary democracy because ______.(Unit 9) Key AA. it plays a watchdog function, keeping an eye on the governmentB. it informs people to current affairs in the worldC. it provides people with subjective reportsD. it publishes short pamphlets for Parliament22. How many newspapers are there in Britain? (Unit 9) Key DA. About 100.B. About 140.C. About 150.D. About 150.23. Which of the following about the BBC is NOT true? (Unit 9) Key CA. There is no advertising on any of the BBC programmes.B. The BBC is funded by licence fee paid by people who possess television sets.C. The BBC has four channels.D. The BBC provides the World Service throughout the world.24. Which of the following newspapers is a tabloid? (Unit 9) Key AA. The News of the World.B. East Enders.C. The Telegraph.D. The Guardian.Unit 10 Sports, Holidays and Festival in Britain25. Which of the following was NOT invented in Britain? (Unit 10) Key CA. Football.B. Tennis.C. Basketball.D. Cricket.26. Where is the International tennis championships held? (Unit 10) Key BA. Wembley.B. Wimbledon.C. London.D. Edinburgh.27. Which of the following is truly a sport of the royal family? (Unit 10) Key DA. Cricket.B. Skiing.C. GolfingD. Horse racing.28. Easter commemorates ______. (Unit 10) Key CA. the birth of Jesus ChristB. the Crucifixion of Jesus ChristC. the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus ChristD. the coming of spring29. Which celebration particularly happens on the Queen’s birthday? (Unit 10) Key CA. Bonfires.B. The Orange March.C. Trooping the Colour.D. Masquerades.30. On which day is Halloween celebrated? (Unit 10) Key AA. October 31st.B. November 5th.C. March 17th.D. December 25th.III. E xplain the following terms:Unit 6 British Literature61. The Renaissance (Unit 6)The Renaissance is the period of time in Europe between 14th and 17th centuries, when art, literature, philosophy, and scientific ideas became very important and a lot of new art etc. was produced.62. Romanticism (Unit 6)Roughly the first third of the 19th century makes up English literature’s romantic period. Writers of romantic literature are more concerned with imagination and feeling than with the power of reason. A volume of poems called Lyrical Ballads written by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge is regarded as the romantic poetry’s “Declaration of Independence”. Keats, Byron and Shelley, the three great poets, brought the Romantic Movement to its height. The spirit of Romanticism also occurred in the novel.63. Modernism (Unit 6)Modernism refers to a form of literature mainly written before World War II. It is characterised by a high degree of experimentation. It can be seen s a reaction against the 19th century forms of Realism. Modernist writers express the difficulty they see in understanding and communicating how the world works. Often, Modernism writing seems disorganized, 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 Virginia Woolf.Unit 7 British Education System64. Independent schools (Unit 7)Independent schools are commonly called public schools which are actually private schools receive their funding through the private sector and tuition rates, with some government assistance. Independent schools are not part of national education system, but 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 arecomparatively rich.65. The Open University (Unit 7)The Open University was founded in Br itain in the 1960’s for people who might not get the opportunity for higher education for economic and social reasons. It’s open to everybody and does not demand the same educational qualifications as the other universities. University courses are followed through TV, radio, videos and a net work of study centres. At the end of their studies at the Open University, successful students are awarded a university degree.Unit 8 British Foreign Relations66. The foundation of British foreign policy (Unit 8)The contemporary foreign policy of the UK is greatly influenced by its imperial history and also by its geographical traits. As Britain lost its empire recently, British policy-makers frequently forget that Britain is not as influential as it used to be in world affairs. Another decisive influence upon the way Britain handles its external affairs is geopolitical attitude to Europe.67. Britain and the EU (Unit 8)Britain joined the European Community in 1973 which is now called the EU. Britain’s pa rticipation in the EU remains controversial. At the centre of the controversy is the fact that it is not clear about what the EU is and what it will become. The UK has always been interested in encouraging free trade between countries and is therefore very supportive of the EU as a free trade area. Britain likes to regard the EU as a place where economic cooperation is possible and where a flow of trained personnel and goods are possible. But Britain has always been less enthusiastic about giving up its national sovereignty to the EU.68. Britain and the United States (Unit 8)The British foreign policy is also affected by its relationship with the United States. During World War II, the two countries were closely allied and continued to work together closely in the postwar years, because they had many things in common about the past and the world situation. Even today, Britain and American policy-makers share the general ideas in many respects. The British are beginning to realize that their own foreig n policy action can be limited by the U.S., but both sides worked hard to maintain the “special relationship”.69. The Commonwealth (Unit 8)The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of states which is made up mostly of former British colonies. There are about 50 members of the Commonwealth: many of these are developing countries like India and Cyprus; others are developed countries like Australia, Canada and New Zealand. The Commonwealth was set up a forum for continued cooperation and as a sort of support network.Unit 9 The British Media70. Quality papers (Unit 9)The quality papers belong to one of the categories of the national dailies. They carry more serious and in-depth articles of particular political and social importance. They also carry reviews, such as book reviews, and feature articles about high culture. These papers are also referred to as “the broadsheets” because they are printed on large size paper. The readers of such newspapers are generally a well-educated middle class audience.71. Tabloids (Unit 9)A tabloid is a small format newspaper with colour photos and catchy headlines. Tabloids are interested in scandals and gossip usually about famous people. They also carry lots of crime, sports and sensational human interest stories so as to attract readers. Stories are short, easy to read and often rely more on opinions than fact. They belong to a catalogue of national papers different from quality papers.Unit 10 Sports, Holidays and Festival in Britain72. Cricket and “fair play” (Unit 10)Cricket was one of the very first team sports in Britain to have organised rules and to be played according to the same rules nationally. The reason that fixed rules were applied to cricket so early on was a financial one: aristocrats loved betting on cricket matches and if people were going to risk money on a game, they wanted to ensure that the game would be played fairly. In Britain people from all walks of life play cricket, but in the 19th century, cricket was a sport played mai nly by the upper class. It was a kind of a “snob” game played by boys who attended public schools. As generations of public school boys grew up to become the civil servants and rulers of the UK and its colonies, cricket became associated with a set of moral values, in particular, the idea of “fair play” which supposedly characterised British government.73. Wimbledon (Unit 10)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 matches, other activities closely associated with the “Wimbledon fortnight” are eating strawberries and cream,drinking champagne and hoping that it doesn’t rain.。

英语国家概况-英国--课后问答题[1]英语国家概况课后问答题Book 1Chapter 1 Questions for Thought:1.What was the British Empire? What do you know about it? In what way is the “Empire” still felt in Britain andin the international field?Key points:1. Before the end of WWII, the British Empire was one of the most powerful empires; it enjoyed the name of “an empire on which the sun never set” due to its overseas colonies on the world.2. People of the British Empire are descendents of the Anglo-Saxons.3. A system of monarchy was observed still on today’s Britain, which went through the history. The Queen is still the Head of the Commonwealth.4. the “Empire” still can be felt in the following ways:a. there are still close relationships between the UK and the fifty or more countries which used to be its former colonies, and which maintain links through a loose organization called the Commonwealth of Nations.b. it became one member of the European Union since 1973.c. the effect also lies in the makeup of the British population itself. Newly immigrants mainly came from the former colonies, specially from India and Caribbean area.d. today the Monarch represents the country in many occasions.e. class exists and lords and peers are obvious evident of theimperial past.2.Why does the author say that it is not possible to sum up the British people with a few simple phrases?Key points:Reasons: 1. regional differences---England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 2. racial differences 3. class differences 4. cultural differences---Highland vs Lowland 5. religious differences---protestants vs Catholics (main in Northern Ireland)3.“British history has been a history of invasion”. Please illustrate this point with the examples from the text.How did each of the invasions influence English culture?Key points:4.What are some general characteristics of Scotland? How did Scotland become part of the union of Great Britain? Key points:1.The Celts originally lived on Scotland, they kept their own culture and language—the Gealic.2.Around the AD 6th C, people from Northern Ireland invaded the South-west --- the lowland zone. They were called Scots and gave the modern country of Scotland its name.3.The Scottish people have a strong sense of nationality and desire for cultural independence. They observed some old customs and tradition, like the Highland tradition. Today, bagpipe, and tartan are considered as the souvenir of the Scottish history.4.The division between highland and lowland Scotland remains a cultural divide today, in much the same way as north and south England see themselves as different from each other.5.Scotland has a great tradition of innovation in the arts, philosophy and science.Robert Louis Stevens on’s famous novel Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde 《吉基尔医生与海德先生》shows that: Scotland was superficially fully integrated into the UK, but concealed beneath this is a still-strong Scottish identity.Union with England in 17071. In 1603, Queen Elizabeth I of England died. James the 6th of Scotland took the throne, called James the First of England;uniting the two thrones2. Scotland maintained its separate political identity.3. In 1707, Scotland joined the Union by agreement of the English and Scottish Parliaments4. Scotland sends 72 representatives to the London Parliament.5.Describe characteristics of Wales and Wales’ unification with Great Britain.Characteristics:1. capital: Cardiff, on the south coast2. rich coal deposits3. attract foreign investment from Japan and U.S, etc.-- new industries to replace coal and steel4. smallest on the British mainland; close to central England; hilly and rugged5. retains a powerful sense of difference from England6. retains its own language; 19% population speaking GaelicUnification with Great Britain1. 1267, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd(卢埃林·阿普·格鲁菲德), forced the English toacknowledge him as Prince of Wales by a military campaign, and unified Wales as an independent nation.2. 1282, he was killed. The English King Edward I named his son the Prince of Wales, trying to bring Wales into the British nation.3. 1400, Owain Glyndwr(欧文·格林道瓦尔) led an unsuccessful rising against the English.4. 1536, Wales was brought legally into the UK by an act of the British Parliament.5. Wales sends 38 representatives to the London Parliament.4 are from the Nationalist Party.6.Are there any differences between England, Scotland and Wales in terms of cultural tradition?Chapter 2 Northern Ireland Questions for Thought:1.Why is Northern Ireland so significant in the UK? What is the political problem there?Keys:1. it is significant because of the political troubles there.2. the political troubleOriginal inhabitants were mainly descents of Celts; they believed in Catholics. The immigrants from Scotland and north England in the 17th c, sent by the English king for the sake of better control over Ireland, were mainly Protestants. Their arrival aroused local people’s hostility. They were pressured.In 1921 the Ireland got independence while in Northern Ireland, the majority was Protestant and loyalists to the British government, wanted to be separated from the rest parts of Ireland.Now in Northern Ireland, the minority—the Catholics found it difficult for them to find job. The conflicts between Protestants and Catholics got increased.To protect the local Catholics, the British soldiers stationed Northern Ireland in 1969, which later accelerated the conflicts between the local people and the British government.2.What are some of the factors in Irish and English history that affect the situation in Northern Ireland today? Keys:1. racial,2. religious3. immigration in 17th c.4. the British solders’ station in 1969Chapter 3 The Government of the United KingdomQuestions for Thought:1.What are some of the characteristics of the British constitutional monarchy? How has the English monarchy evolved gradually to the present constitutional monarchy?1. the oldest institution of government2. King Egbert (埃格伯特国王): the ancestor of the present Queen Elizabeth II. United England under his rule in 829.3. divine right of kings (君权神授)---The ancient doctrine held that the sovereign derived his authority from God, not from his subjects. This was used by the kings as an excuse for abusing power. And the dispute over the power of the king and the parliament led to the civil war.4. the Civil war set the rights of the Parliament. The monarch was kept but his power was limited. The constitution was set up to guarantee rights of people. Monarch became a symbol of the country.2.How did the doctrine of the “divine right of kings”, according to the author, lead to the English Civil War?What do you know about the causes of the English Revolution in the 17th century?King James I believed the divine right of kings, so did his descent---Charles I.Charles I called his t Parliament only when he needed to collect money.The Civil War was caused by a dispute over the power of the king against Parliament in the 17th C. The Republican “roundheads”, led by Oliver Cromwell, wanted to abolish the monarchy and to reassert the ri ghts of Parliament. In 1642, the royalists were defeated and King Charles I was executed in 1649.The English Civil War not only overthrew feudal in England but also shook the foundation of the feudal rule in Europe. It is generally regarded as the beginning of modern world history. The Civil War was in essence a capitalist revolution because capitalism paved its way of development after the war.3. What is the history of English parliament? What role did the parliament play in the Civil War?In medieval times, a group of leading, wealthy barons who were summoned by the king several times a year to give the king some extra money. This was the Great Council. By the 13th C., representatives of counties, towns and cities were also included in order to raise more money. This was the beginning of what we know as Parliament today.In the Civil War, the parliament was opposite to the monarchy in their dispute over the power. The Republican “roundheads”, led by Oliver Crom well, wanted to abolish the monarchy and to reassert the rights of Parliament.4. Discuss the major characteristics and the main content of the British constitution.Britain, like Israel, has no written Constitution. The foundations of the British State are laid out in statute law(成文法), which are laws passed by Parliament; the common laws(普通法,判例法), which are laws established through common practice in the courts; and conventions(习惯法), which are rules and practices not existing legally, but regarded as vital to the workings of government.5. Why the parliament is supreme in the British sate? What function does parliament have? What role does the Queen and the Prime Minister play in British government?Parliament is supreme in the British state because it alonehad the power to change the terms of the Constitution. There are no legal restraints upon Parliament. It can make or change laws, functions:1) passes laws2) provides the means of carrying on the work of government by voting for taxation3) scrutinize government policy, administration and expenditure and to debate the major issues of the day.the roles of the Queen/King1. symbolize the tradition and unity of the British State2. legally head of the executive, (行政部)3. an integral part of the legislature(立法机关)4. head of the judiciary(司法部)5. commander in chief of the armed forces6. “supreme governor” of the Church of England--- most Britons felt the Queen’s important jobs were:1. represent Britain at home and abroad2. set standards of good citizenship and family life3. a confidante(知己的女友) to the Prime Minister, offering valuable observations on the running of government Role of the Prime MinisterKing George I was “imported” from Germany in 1714 and was not interested in politics, so he l eft the job of chairing cabinet meetings to one of his cabinet ministers, called the prime minister. Later in 1832, elections replacedappointment. The party with the most supporters in the Commons forms the government and the leader of that party becomes Prime Minister.Today Prime Minister and his cabinet compose of the entity of the government.6. What kind of institution is the House of Lords? What role does it play in British government?It’s one house of the Parliament, but the power of making law and collecting taxes mainly resides on the House of Commons. The House of Lords consists of the Lords Spiritual(上议院的神职议员), who are the Archbishops and most prominent bishops of the Church of England; and the Lords Temporal(上议院的世俗议员), which refers to those lords who either have inherited the seat from their forefathers(called hereditary peers) or they have been appointed(by the sovereign, at the suggestion of the Prime Minister and were called life peers(终身贵族). The lords mainly represent themselves instead of the interests of the publicChapter 4 PoliticsQuestions for Thought:1.Who can stand for election as an MP in the UK? Why are small parties and independent candidates powerless in the election campaign for the formation of a government?Anyone who is eligible to vote can stand as an MP. It is necessary only to make a deposit of 500 pounds which is lost if the candidate does not receive at least 5% of the vote.Because even they were to win the seat they would be powerless in parliament against the big parti es’ representatives (p54, para1)2.What are three big parties in the UK? What are some of the similarities and dissimilarities between the threeparties?They are the Labor party, the Conservative party and the Liberal Democratic party.the Labour party--- one of the 2 biggest parties in the UK. Itis also the newest party, created by the trade union movement at the end of the 19th century. It is a socialist party, believing that a society should be relatively equal in economic terms, and that the government should redistribute the wealth between the rich and the poor. It also thinks that the government should provide a range of public services for all the people.the Conservative party --- one of the 2 biggest parties in the UK. It is basically the party of the individual, protecting the individual’ s right to acquire wealth and to spend it as he/she wants. It advocates economic policies which are favourable to businessmen, such as low taxes. From 1979 to 1997, the Conservative party won 4 consecutive elections and was in power for quite a long period of time.the Liberal Democrats--- the 3rd biggest party and often seen as a party of the “middle”, occupying the ideological ground between the two major parties. They are comparatively flexible and pragmatic in their balance of the individual and the social. They emphasize the need to change the Britain’s constitutional arrangements to make the government more democratic and accountable.Similarities:1. they all support the capitalist system2. generally speaking, they all are the active participants and supporters of representative democracy3. they share some similar beliefs in their political and socioeconomic ideologyDissimilarities:1. they represent the interests of different social groups2. they h ave different opinions on the government’s role in social economy and they each take different economic policiesduring their administration3.What are some of the recent political trends in the UK? Are these trends more democratic or undemocratic?What is the author’s opinion?recent political trends--- The 1970s were a decade of problems in the UK. The economy did badly, with high inflation and low growth. Big private companies started to go bankrupt, and the nationalized industries were seen as inefficient.--- In 1979, the Labour government faced a vote of no confidence, which it lost, causing a general election. This was won by the Conservative under their leader Margaret Thatcher, who became the UK’s first woman Prime Minister--- the policies of the Conservative:1. privatise nationalized industry (successful, companies become efficient and profitable * negative consequences of the policy: 1) Unemployment went up 2) Poverty increased 3) Government welfare payments have become less generous. So the society became less equal---a time of “private affluence and public squalor”一部分个人富裕起来,而大部分百姓的生活却贫困化, 公众福利制度也处于困境)2. cut tax rates (a less re-distributive taxation system削弱再分配性质的税收制度)Summary of the political trend in the 1980s:British politics move to t he “right”, away from the “public” and toward the “private”; away from the “social”, and toward the “individual”.Chapter 5 The UK EconomyQuestions for Thought:1. Define “absolute decline and relative decline” in the UKeconomy. How does the author explain the reason for absolute decline and relative decline?To be brief, absolute decline refers to all kinds of the indexes indicate economy declines, for example, the GDP and GNP declines, the currency devalued, unemployment increased, the economy retrogresses, the country’s economic status ranks behind its former rank. People’s living standard become lowered, and the comprehensive national strength falls behind others’. While relative decline refers to economy develops in a relatively low speed. Compared to its former economic strength and the index of GNP,GDP, the present economic development is relatively slower. Absolute and relative decline of the British Economy1. By the 1880s, dominant in the world--- 1/3 of the world’s manufactured goods; 1/2 of the wor ld’s coal, iron and cotton; shipping greater than the sum of the rest of the world2. By 1900, overtaken by the U.S and Germany3. From 1945(the year when WWII ended) until present, thought of as relative decline because of steady economic growth and rapidly increasing living standards and still remaining one of the Group of Seven industrial economies(七大工业国:US, UK. Germany, France, Japan, Italy and Canada), but other countries developed more rapidly, so it slip from being the 2nd largest economy to being the 6th.4. causes for the relative decline1) gone into heavy debt to finance the war(selling many accumulated overseas assets, borrowing large amounts from the US and Canada)2) British colonies which used to provide raw materials and big markets gained independence —the end of the era of empire*Supplementary note: In the 17th C., trade between Britain and India started, which was undertaken by a trading company called the East India Company. In 1813, Britain took over the company. At that time, the company controlled nearly all the official and administrative work in the whole sub-continent of India. Then the British Empire’s rule began. In 1947, India, “The Jewel in the Crown” of the British Empire, gained its independence. So the UK lost the largest resource of raw materials and a big market for its goods.3) Britain was heavily burdened with the huge military expenditure during the process of decolonisation. [It was still forced to maintain a substantial and expensive military presence in many overseas locations until the process was completed (mostly by the end of the 1960s). And as one of the shapers of the post-war world required substantial military contributions (member of NATO and UN Security Council).]4) lacked the inve stment in modern equipment and new products (Britain’s industry survived comparatively unaffected. It continued with its older factories and pre-war products. While the main losers in the war, Germany and Japan, had to start from nothing, so they could invest in the most modern equipment and new products, which was sufficient.)* low rates of domestic industrial investment; high rate of overseas investment* lack of a close relationship between industry and banks because the UK was the 1st economy to industrialise, and industrial firms grew used to financing their own development, without need to borrow from banks. So banks looked overseas for investment opportunities.Summary of the decline:---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 2nd largest economy to being the 6th.2. What did the Conservative party under Margret Thatcher promise to do to the UK national economy in 1979? What was her radical reform programmer? Was the program successful?the Conservative party under Margret Thatcher promise to launch a radical program of reform.Tha tcher’s radical reform:1. Reduce bureaucracy---limited government2. privatizationThe British economy went through a particularly bad period in the 1970s, with high rates of inflation and devaluation of he currency.(forced the Labour government to borrow money from IMF) Therefore, in the 1980s, when the Conservative party under Margaret Thatcher was in power, an extensive programme of privatization was carried out. Many state-owned businesses(such as steel, telecom, gas, aerospace) were turned into private companies. The author thinks that privatization was successful in controlling inflation but at the same time unemployment rate increased rapidly.* After the recession 1990-1992, the economy had a steady growth. The UK is the 2nd only to the U.S as a destination for international direct investment.3. what are the three main areas of national economies? Describe the development of each of the three areas in the UK economy.1. primary industries, such as agriculture (crop andgrazing)(small in relation to national health—1.4%, but efficient—producing 58% of the food need with 2% of the workforce; 3/4 of the land for agriculture—1/4 of that for crops, the rest for grazing animals of which sheep are the most numerous livestock), fishing(渔业), and mining [energy production: oil, gas, nuclear energy, coal mining etc. *3 of the 10 biggest companies in Britain: Shell(half Dutch), British Petroleum (BP), and British Gas英国三大能源公司:壳牌公司(与荷兰合资),英国石油公司,英国煤气天然气公司]; the world’s largest mining company, RTZ, is a UK c ompany]2. secondary industries, which manufacture complex goods from those primary products (producing 22% of the national wealth, particularly strong in pharmaceuticals药品—the British company Glaxo-Wellcome is the biggest drug company in the world; chemicals化工产品—ICI is the 2n largest paint manufacturer in the world; aerospace—the 3rd largest in the world inferior to the U.S and Russia, producing the full range of aerospace products from civil andmilitary aircrafts to missiles, satellites and jet engines, producing 2% of UK national output, accounting for 8% of manufactured export goods; when an Englishman Frank Whittle developed the world’s first practical jet engine in 1937, the foundations had been laid for the 3 major branches of the aviation industry: aircraft, engines and aviation electronics, with British companies prominent in each field; The Comet was the world’s first jet- powered civil airliner; Lynx holds the world speed record for helicopters; and food and drink. Big electronics industry: the 4th largest in the world, but foreign-owned like car industry. High-technology engineering industry. British Steel is the world’s 4th largest steel company)3. tertiary industries (or service, producing 65% of the national health), such as banking, insurance, tourism, advertising and the selling of goods (financial sector is important with London as one of the top 3 financial centers in the world; the world’s largest foreign exchange market; one of the busiest share-dealing centers股票交易中心in the world—the London Stock Exchange )Chapter 7 British Education SystemQuestions for Thought:1.What are the purposes of the British education system? Please comment on these purposes. What are the main purposes of the Chinese education system? Are there any differences or similarities in the education of the two nations?---“the three R’s” (“reading, ’riting and ’rithmetic”) — to provide children with literacy and the other basic skills they will need to become active members of society and also to socilise children, teaching them rules and values needed to become good citizens, to participate in the community, an to contribute to the economic prosperity of an advanced industrial economy.2. How does the British education system reflect social class?Class inequality can be erased or continued according to educational policy.Children from the lower-class families may have less chance of receiving education than those from middle-class or upper-class families. They may leave school for their families could not afford their tuition fees or for they have to work to support their families. They could not enjoy as excellent education as those from middle-class families, either. The unequal chances of education brought by social class may further influence one’ssocial bonds and opportunities of finding good jobs or getting rapid promotion on the social ladder.3. What are the major changes that have taken place since WWII? Is British education moving towards more progress or more equality? Rick up some examples from the text to support your points.Major changes---to raise enrollment and ensure more equal opportunities of education(p105)1. 1944 education act2. 1960 comprehensive school---entrance examination abolished3. great education debate---1989 national curriculum established5. what is the open university in Britain? What do you think of this system?Keys (p115)本文档部分内容来源于网络，如有内容侵权请告知删除，感谢您的配合！。

英国历史与文化（公选课）试卷（开卷）2010-2011第二学期第一部分回答问题25%Answer the following questions:1. What is the role of the Monarch in British government?Monarchy is the oldest form of government in the United Kingdom.In a monarchy, a king or queen is Head of State. The British monarchy is known as a constitutional monarchy. This means that, while The Sovereign is Head of State, the ability to make and pass legislation resides with an elected Parliament.Although the British Sovereign no longer has a political or executive role, he or she continues to play an important part in the life of the nation.As Head of State, The Monarch undertakes constitutional and representational duties which have developed over one thousand years of history. In addition to these State duties, The Monarch has a less formal role as 'Head of Nation'. The Sovereign acts as a focus for national identity, unity and pride; gives a sense of stability and continuity; officially recognises success and excellence; and supports the ideal of voluntary service.In all these roles The Sovereign is supported by members of their immediate family.2. What do you know about state schools and ‘public schools’ in the U.K.?About 90 percent of the state secondary school population in Great Britain attend comprehensive schools. These take pupils without reference to ability or aptitude and provide a wide-ranging secondary education for all or most of the children in a district.Many of Britain…s public schools are private-run and long-established and have gained a reputation for their high academic standards，as well as their exclusiveness and snobbery.3.What are the major functions of the Parliament?The main functions of Parliament are: (1) to pass laws; (2) to provide, by voting for taxation, the means of carrying on the work of government; (3) to examine government Policy and administrations, including proposal for expenditure; and (4) to debate the major issues of the day.4. What is the most important established church in Britain?It is the Church of England.5. How much do you know about BBC?The British Broadcasting company (English: Broadcasting Corporation), abbreviation is, is a British BBC funded by the government but the independent operation of public media, has long been considered the most respected global one of the media. In a long time, the BBC has monopolized British television and radio. In 1955 the itv and founded in 1973, before British independent radio stations all over Britain BBC has been the only television, radio broadcasting company. Today is a global except in BBC with high visibility of the media, and also provides all kinds of other services, including books, newspapers and magazines, English teaching, a symphony orchestra and the Internet news service.二．解释短语Explain the following terms:25%1.The United KingdomBritish full name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is from England, Scotland, wales and Northern Ireland constitute the United Kingdom, the unification of the central government and in a head of state. Britain is located in continental Europe in Great Britain, the British home anybody by beihai, British Isles, Celtic sea, across the English channel, surrounded by the Atlantic ocean and the Irish sea. Land area 24.36 square kilometers and a population of about 60 million. Britain is the world's first industrialised countries is a culturally diverse and opening-up thoughts of society. Capital London is Europe's largest and most international characteristic city.2. “Shadow Cabinet”The Shadow Cabinet is a team of fictional superheroes created by Milestone Comics and published by DC Comics. They first appeared in Shadow Cabinet #0 (January 1994), and were created by Dwayne McDuffie, Robert L. Washington III and John Paul Leon. Almost all of the original run, issues #4-11 and #13-17, were written by Matt Wayne.3. Compulsory educationCompulsory education is according to legal provision, school-age children and adolescents have to accept, the state, society, families of national education must be guaranteed. Its essence is national in accordance with legal provisions for school-age children and adolescents particular fixed number of year of the implementation of the education system of the force. Compulsory education say again forced education and free compulsory education. Compulsory education have mandatory, free sex, universality characteristic. Our obligations prescribed in the compulsory education law education of schooling for nine years, this stipulation conforms to China's national conditions, is adequate.4. Constitutional MonarchyA constitutional monarchy is a form of constitutional government, where either an elected or hereditary monarch is the head of state, unlike in an absolutemonarchy, where in the king or the queen is the sole source of political power, as he or she is not legally bound by the constitution. Most constitutional monarchies have a parliamentary system (Australia, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Denmark, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, United Kingdom) in which the monarch is the head of state, but a directly- or indirectly-elected prime minister is head of government. Although contemporary constitutional monarchies mostly are representative, parliamentary systems, or constitutional democratic monarchies,[citation needed] they have co-existed with fascist andquasi-fascist constitutions (Italy, Spain) and with military dictatorships.5. Boxing DayBoxing Day is a bank and public holiday commonly occurring on 26 December. It is observed in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Ghana, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Greenland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Nigeria, Kenya, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica and other countries in the Commonwealth of Nations with a mainly Christian population. In South Africa this public holiday is now known as the Day of Goodwill. Though it is not an official holiday in the United States, the term "Boxing Day" is used by some Americans, particularly those that live near the Canada –United States border. In Canada, Boxing Day is listed in the Canada Labour Code as a holiday.[1][2] It is not an official holiday in Quebec or British Columbia.第三部分：Choose the answer that best completes the statement or answers the question:50%1. Which of the following book is written by Geoffrey Chaucer? AA. The Canterbury Tales.B. Beowulf.C. King LearD. Morte D‟Arthur.2. which of the following was NOT one of the three forces that led to the Modern Development of Europe? DA. The growth of capitalismB. The RenaissanceC. The Religious ReformationD. The spiritual leadership of the Roman Catholic Church3. Which of the following is not considered a characteristic of London?A. The cultural centre. DB. Business centreC. The financial centre.D. the sports centre.4. Who are the ancestors of the English and the founders of England?A. The Anglo-Saxons. AB. The Normans.C. The Vikings.D. The Romans.5. Which is the largest city in Scotland? CA. Cardiff.B. Edinburgh.C. Glasgow.D. Manchester6. Which of the following is Not a characteristic of the British government? AA. It offers the Queen high political status and supreme power.B. It is both a parliamentary democracy in the world.C. It is the oldest representative democracy in the world.D. It has no written form of Constitution.7. Which of the following kings was executed in the civil war? AA. James IB. James IIC. Charles I.D. Charles II.8. Under whose reign was the Bill of Rights passed? BA. James II.B. William of OrangeC. Oliver Cromwell.D. George I.9.Which group of people cannot vote in the general election? BA. Members in the House of Commons.B. Lords in the House of Lords.C. The UK Citizens above the age of 18.D. The UK resident citizens of the Irish Republic.10.By whom is a “vote of no confidence” decided? DA. The house of Commons.B. The house of Lords.C. The two major parties.D. The Prime Minister.11. The long poem ___C__ in Anglo-Saxon perio d was termed England‟snational epic.A. The Canterbury TalesB. Paradise LostC. The Song of BeowulfD. The Fairy Queen12. Among the great Middle English poets, Geoffrey Chaucer is known for his production of___D_.A. Piers PlowmanB. Sir Gawain and the Green KnightC. Confessio AmantisD. The Canterbury Tales13. ___A____ is regarded as the father of English poetry.A. Geoffrey ChaucerB. Edmund SpenserC. John MiltonD. D. Wordsworth14. Generally, the Renaissance refers to the period between ______ and ______ centuries. AA. 14th...mid-17thB. 14th...mid-18thC. 16th...mid-18thD. 16th...mid-17th15.Shakespeare‟s greate st tragedies are ___A____.A. Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and MacbethB. Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and Romeo and JulietC. Hamlet, Coriolanus, King Lear and MacbethD. Hamlet, Julius caesar, Othello and Macbeth16. The sentence “Shall I compare thee to a summer‟s day?” is the line of oneof Shakespeare‟s___D_A. comediesB. tragediesC. historiesD. sonnets8.17. The 18th century England is known as the ____C__ in the history.A. RenaissanceB. ClassicismC. EnlightenmentD. Romanticism.18. The greatest of Scottish poets was ____A__.A. Robert BurnsB. George CrableC. O. GoldsmithD. Thomas Gray19. The greatest English critical realist novelist was ___B____, who criticizedthe bourgeois civilization and showed the misery of the common people.A. William Makepeace ThackerayB. Charles DickensC. Charlotte BronteD. Emily Dickinson20. The longest river in Britain is ___C__.A. the ClydeB. the MerseyC. the SevernD. the Thames21.Which part of Britain is always fighting____D___?A. EnglandB. ScotlandC. WalesD. Northem Ireland22. The first inhabitants in Britain were __C___.A. the NormansB. the CeltsC. the IberiansD. the Anglo-Saxons23. British Recorded history began with __A___.A. Roman invasionB. the Norman ConquestC. the Viking and Danish invasionD. the Anglo-Saxons invasion24. Christmas Day in __B__, Duke William was crowned in Westminster Abbey.A. 1056B. 1066C. 1006D. 106025.___A__ was famous for his abdication because of his marriage with adivorced Ame was famous for his abdication because of his marriage with a divorced American:A. Edward VIIIB. Edward VIIC. George VID. George VII。