weddingsWeddings don't always take place in churches. If a woman is getting married for a second time, she will usually get married in a registry office. These are much smaller than churches and the services are less religious. Weddings are usually organized by the bride‟s parents. They send out invitations to the members of their families, and to the couple‟s friends. The best man is usually the groom‟s best friend. He makes a speech at the reception. The bride‟s parents also have a cake made. This usually has three times, or levels.The guests usually drink champagne(香槟酒) at the beginning of the reception. Cake is eaten at the end of the meal.For the wedding the groom will wear a special jacket, which is longer at the back than the front. We call this a morning coat. The bride will often wear a diamond necklace.Vicars in England, and often throughout Europe, wear white collars on their black shirts. We call these dog collars.In church the congregation(集合) sit on long wooden benches(长椅子). These are called pews.It‟s not only bridesmaids that accompany the bride. Sometimes young boys do as well. We call these boys …pages‟, after the boys that accompanied the knights in medieval times.If the couple is really rich they will be taken from the church to thereception by a horse and carriage. The man that takes them is called the coachman.1 Engagement: If you give this to your boyfriend or your girlfriend it means you intend to marry them.2 Reception: the name given to the party which rakes place after a wedding.3 Organ(风琴, 管风琴): special wedding music is play on thi s instrument.4 Groom: the name given to the man who is getting married.5 Champagne(香槟酒): the alcoholic drink usually consumed after a wedding.6 Church: in Europe, weddings usually take place in this place.7 Honeymoon: this is a holiday that the couple go on after the wedding.8 bestman (男傧相): this is the best friend of the man getting married. He makes a speech.9 wedding day: in the west this is said to be the most important day in a woman‟s life.10 bride: the name given to the woman who is getting married.11 cake: this is traditionally eaten at the end of the wedding meal.1 at the end of a wedding, the vicar says the following words‟ in the name of the father, the son, and the Holy Ghost, I pronounce you man and wife.‟2 A wedding when the bride is already pregnant is a …shotgun wedding(强制婚姻)‟.3 weddings traditionally take place on Saturdays4 how is the couple‟s car decorated? Empty card are tied to the back bumper(缓冲器).5 how old do you have to be to marry in England?6 in weddings, the vicar usually starts his speech with the words …dearly beloved‟. Who does this refer to? Jesus Christ7 which of these words is not a word for …vicar‟?A clericB preacherC clerkD priest8 a set of crockery is commonly given to the couple.9 if a woman is married a second time, she will not usually get married in a church and her dress won‟t be white. A white dress is a symbol of the bride‟s virginity(童贞).10 traditionally the bride should come to her wedding late.11 what musical instrument is played at Scottish weddings?the trumpet (喇叭)12 which is the odd ore out?A BellsB ringsC photosD dressE bootsEnglish slang通俗英语------俚语Mouth ----gob five pounds----a fiverStupid person----bonehead a walk---a wanderHow are you?----how‟s it hanging tea---rosie leeTalking rubbish----talking through your hatMake me angry----get my goat beautiful woman--- a babe Something difficult and frustrating----a headachePlace where you live--- gaff nose---hooterCar----wheels stairs------apples and pearsFashionable clothes-----cool threads one pound-----a quidDog----mutt making a joke/being funny----acting the goat Tired/exhausted-------wiped—out ten pounds----a tenner something too expensive----a rip-off an unfaithful lover---a rat friend---china plate to be crazy-----off your headTwo students, Simon and Jane, meet in their university bar.Simon: Hi Jane. How‟s it hanging?Jane: I‟m just wiped—out at the moment. I just finished my chemistry exam. It was a headache!Simon: I‟m sorry to hear that. Say, could you lend me a few quid? I‟m dying for a drink.Jane: sure. What do you want, a fiver or a tenner?Simon: a fiver‟s great.(to the barman) can I have a coke please?Jane: that will be one pound fifty. Thank you.Simon: one pound fifty! What a rip—off! The prices in this place really get my coat!Jane: usually I just stay at home and drink rosie lee.Simon: how is your gaff at the moment? How‟s your boyfriend?Jane: don‟t talk to me about that rat. He was seeing someone else! Simon: terrible. I always thought he was a bonehead. How‟s your mutt? Jane: last week he destroyed one of my shoes. I went off my head! Are you still single?Simon: I met a real babe last week. But you know how it is: unless you‟ve got some cool threads or a nice set of wheels, the girls aren‟t interested.Jane: you‟re a good china plate, but you‟re talking through your hat. We…re not all like that!Simon: I know, I was just acting the goat. But I‟m not handsome, my hooter is too big, and my ob is too small. God was unkind to me. Jane: well, let‟s drink to true love. May we both find it. Here‟s to happiness.Simon: cheers. Say, I need to take a wander to the WC. Know where it is? Jane: round the corner and up the apples and pears.Simon: OK. See you in a moment.George Washington (1732--1799) the first president of the United StatesWhen Washington retired from public life in 1797, his homeland was vastly different from what it had been when he entered public service in 1749. To each of the principal changes, he had made an outstanding contribution. Largely because of his leadership the thirteen colonies had become the United States, a sovereign, independent nation.As commander in chief during the American Revolution, Washington built a large army, held it together, kept it in a maneuverable condition and prevented it from being destroyed by a crushing defeat. The British evacuation of Boston in 1776, under Washington‟s siege, gave security to nearly all of New England.After the war Washington took a leading part in the making of the constitution and the campaign for its ratification. Its success was assured by 1797, at the end of the second term of his presidency. In 1799 the country included nearly all its present—day territory between the Atlantic coast and the Mississippi river.He acted with congress to establish the first great executive departments and to lay the foundations of the modern federal judiciary. He directed the creation of a diplomatic service. Three presidential and five congressional elections carried the new government, under the constitution, through its initial trials.In the conduct of public affairs, Washington originated many practices that have survived. He withheld confidential diplomatic documents fromthe House of Representatives and made treaties without discussing them in the senate chamber. About all, he conferred on the presidency a prestige so great that political leaders afterward esteemed it the highest distinction to occupy the chair he had honored.A national army and navy came into being, and Washington acted with vigour to provide land titles, security, and trade outlets for pioneers of the Trans---Allegheny west. His policy procured adequate revenue for the national government and supplied the country with a sound currenct, a well—supported public credit, and an efficient network of national banks. Manufacturing and shipping received aid for continuing growth.Most of the work that engaged Washington had to be achieved through people. He found that success depended on their cooperation and that they would do best if they had faith in causes and leaders. To gain and hold their approval were among his foremost objectives. He thought of people, in the main, as right—minded and dependable, and he believed that a leader should make the best of their good qualities.As a Virginian, Washington belonged to, attended, and served as a warden of the established (Anglican) church. But he did not participate in communion, nor did he adhere to a sectarian creed. He frequently expressed a faith in divine providence and a belief that religion is needed to sustain morality in society. As a national leader he upheld the right of every sect to freedom of worship and equality before the law,condemning all forms of bigotry, intolerance, discrimination and persecution.Of Washington, Thomas Jefferson wrote:”his integrity was the most pure, his justice the most inflexible I have ever known. He was, in every sense of the word, a wise, a good, and a great man.”Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, on Nolin creek in Kentucky. His father, Thomas Lincoln, was a poverty—stricken farmer, who could never seem to make ends meet. Consequently, Lincoln spent his childhood learning how to use an axe, hunt and work a plow. He was tall, athletic and active. During his campaign for the presidency, Lincoln liked to recount how during his childhood he was kecked in the teeth by a horse and “apparently killed for a time.” His mother, Nancy hanks, died soon after the family moved to Spencer County, Indiana, in 1819.Left with two children to support, Thomas Lincoln remarried Sarah Bush, in 1830 the Lincolns moved to Macon, Illinois, and had 3 more children. Although both of his parents were illiterate, Lincoln learned to read and some of his favorite books included …Arabian nights …and…Robinson Crusoe‟. Lincoln was also popular among his friends, known for his good humor and storytelling abilities.At the age of 22, Lincoln set out on his own for New Orleans. There, he became a partner in a grocery store, although the store eventually foldedand left Lincoln deeply in debt. Before going into law, Lincoln tried many different professions; he worked as a postmaster, a land surveyor, and a rail splitter. He also enlisted as a volunteer in the black hawk war, but he never saw any action during his time of service. Throughout all his odd jobs and failed professions, Lincoln racked up a significant amount of debt, but he later repaid it, earning the nickname …honest Abe（亚伯, Abraham 的昵称）‟. In 1834, Lincoln was elected as a representative for the Illinois general assembly.In 1856, Lincoln became a member of the republic party and quickly became a political front—runner as a moderate who could woo both conservatives and abolitionists. However, Lincoln didn‟t completely oppose slavery as he believed that it was an evil that should be contained and not allowed to grow. After gaining recognition as a possible vice presidential candidate in 1856, he was picked to oppose Stephen Doun gals in the Illinois senatorial race. It was during this race that Lincoln and Douglas began a series of famous debates over the topic of slavery. while Lincoln lost the race, he became a pick for the republican presidential bid in 1860 and won the presidency with a minority of the popular vote. Lincoln presided over the country during one of its most tumultuous periods. However, despite the ravaging of America‟s civil war, Lincoln was able to maintain the continuity of the union. The main goals of his presidency were restoration and preservation of the union. Although he isoften remembered as …the great emancipator‟Lincoln, not wanting to alienate any American, at first tried to preserve the integrity of the union by allowing for a gradual elimination to slavery, yet, later he realized that in order for the union to prevail slavery must end. Consequently, on September 22, 1862 Lincoln issued an emancipation proclamation, which attempted to free confederate slaves. In addition to being both doubtful legally and feasibly, Lincoln‟s efforts only freed a minority didn‟t come into full effect until after his death.Lincoln was reelected to the presidency in 1864 with an overwhelming majority. He summed up his sentiments in his second inaugural address, stating, “With malice toward none; with charity for all.”Although he lived to see the end of the war, he did not see his plans for the reconstruction of the United States realized. On the night of April 14th, 1865, Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes booth while attending a performance at ford‟s theater.Franklin D. Roosevelt 罗斯福Franklin D. Roosevelt was born in Hyde Park, New York on January 30, 1882, the son of James Roosevelt and Sara Delano Roosevelt. He attended grogon (1896--1890), a prestigious preparatory school in Massachusetts, and received a BA degree in history from Harvardin only three years. He next studied law at New York‟s ColumbiaUniversity. When he passed the bar examination in 1907, he lift school without taking a degree. For the next 3 years he practiced law with a prominent New York city law firm. He entered politics in 1910 and was elected to the New York state senate as a democrat from his traditionally republican home district.While vacationing at Campobello Island, New Brunswick, in the summer of 1921, Roosevelt contracted poliomyelitis. Despite courageous efforts to overcome his crippling illness, he never regained the use of his legs. As governor of New York in 1930, he began to campaign for the presidency. While the economic depression damaged Hoover and the republicans, Roosevelt‟s bold efforts to combat it in New York enhanced his reputation. In Chicago in 1932 Roosevelt won the nomination as the Democratic Party candidate for president. He broke with tradition and flew to Chicago to accept the nomination in person. He then campaigned energetically calling for government intervention in the economy to provide relief, recovery and reform. His activist approach and personal charm helped to defeat Hoover in November 1932 by seven million votes. The depression worsened in the months preceding his inauguration, March 4, 1933. Factory closings, farm foreclosures, and bank failures increased, while unemployment soared. Roosevelt faced the greatest crisis in America since the civil war. He undertook immediate actions to initiate his new deal. To halt depositor panics, he closed the bankstemporally. Then he set up alphabet agencies such as the AAA( civilian conservation corps ) to employ young men. Other agencies assisted business and labor, insured bank deposits, regulated the stock market, subsidized home and farm mortgage payments, and aided the unemployed. These measures revived confidence in the economy. Banks re—opened and direct relief saved millions from starvation.Roosevelt easily defeated Alfred M. London in 1936 and went on to defeat, by lesser margins, Wendell willies in 1940 and Thomas e Dewey in 1944. He thus became the only American president to serve more than 2 terms.The Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, followed 4 days later by Germany‟s and Italy‟s declarations of war against the USA, brought the nation irrevocably into the Second World War.He gave priority to the western European front and had General George Marshall, chief of staff; plan a holding operation in the pacific and organize an expeditionary force for an invasion of Europe. The USA and its allies invaded North Africa in 1942, Italy in 1943, and the d—day landings on the Normandy beaches in France, June 6, 1944, were followed by the invasion of Germany six months later.The unending stress and strain of the war literally wore Roosevelt out. By early 1944 a full medical examination disclosed serious heart andcirculatory problems. During victory a vacation at warm springs, Georgia, on April 12, 1945, he suffered a massive stroke and died later. He was 63 years old. His death came on the eve of complete military in Europe and within months of victory over Japan in the pacific.Dinner manners1grace: A prayer said at the beginning of the meal.2gravy: this come in a jug and is poured on to the food.3Cheese: This is eaten with biscuits at t he end of the meal.4Scold: to tale to in an angry way.5Mashed: soft potatoes with butter and milk.6Soup: usually the second course.7Pepper: you can put this on the main course.8Cellar: salt comes in one of these.9Crumble: a pudding made with apples and biscuit crumbs.10Melon: this doesn‟t come on sticks, like it does in china.11Meat: main part of the main course.12Mint: the very last food---made with chocolate.13Cutlery: knives, forks and spoons are types of this.14Red: this wine accompanies meat.Gestures and behaviors1 if while you are driving, and waiting at a junction, a driver driving at 90” to you flashes his lights quickly, it is an indication that he will stopto let you out into the road.2 in Elizabethan England, when William Shakespeare was alive, it was true that putting your thumb in your mouth was a sign of disrespect, and if you did this, a fight would ensue.3 using a car horn in England can be very rude. Horns are used to indicate danger, but also to indicate if someone is angry with you.4 if men hold hands in England people think that are gay. If moment hold hands people think they are lesbians.5 If you meet an Englishman for the first time, you should not give him a firm handshake.6 if you spit near someone in England, you think they will interpret it that you want to fight.7 in England, people touch wood because they believe it is lucky.8 rolling your eyes upward is a sign that you think something is stupid. Is this true?9 if when someone is talking about someone, and they put their finger to the side of their head, does it mean that they think the person is clever or stupid?10 friendliness, fear, embarrassment, condescension, understanding can a smile communicate.11 putting your fingers in your nose is perfectly acceptable in England. N12 in England, people speak loudly in restaurants. N13 scratching your hair wildly is seen as a sign of frustration and anger, whereas stroking your hair slowly is a sign of calmness.14 putting one finger to your lips is a sign that you want someone to be quiet. Is this true?1 arm raised, open hand …waggles‟ back and forth. Come here.2 palm facing out with the index and middle fingers displayed in the shape of a …v‟. victory.3 thumb and forefinger form a circle with the other three fingers splayed upward. OK4 thumb up with a closed fist. Good5 extend the forefinger and make a circular motion near the ear. Crazy6 rubbing hands together. ??7 scratching the side of the head. Confused8 winking with one eye.9 putting the tongue out of the mouth. Horrible10 holding the nose with thumb and forefinger.11 yawning.12 stroking the chin.13 standing with feet wide apart, and hands in pockets.14men standing with one hand on their hip, the other arm forward with a limp wrist.15arms folded across the chest.16Moving the arms like the flapping of a chickens wings.Beauty standardsBeauty standards are reference points set by our culture which shape our opinions and understanding of beauty, usually with reference to age, size, race, height, outfit and overall physical appearance. Beauty standards achieve this through shaping aesthetic values of individuals in a society. In some cased beauty standards might have certain positive effects on an individual‟s health. As they involve emphasis on the body, they might force people to pay more attention to their bodies.But there are negative side to these standards. They impose limits on people. Societies are usually more concerned about the standards for women than men. singers are expected to conform to the standards more than doctors. Beauty standards shape our perceptions of sexuality, but they have little effect in decisions we make about intellectual, spiritual, political or religious matters. Sometimes other qualities, like a large intellect, can make up for a lack of physical beauty in people‟s eyes, but this may not bring happiness. For example, a scientist who doesn‟t look good may be highly valued by society, but people may not wish to have an intimate relationship with him.Beauty standards can cause pain. Examples of this are the foot binding practices of china, the medieval corset of Europe, and the modern day eating disorder anorexia. These situations usually only effect women.But in other cases, emotional damage can be caused by rhe common values that shape our understanding of what is beautiful. People who do not conform or who do not feel that they conform to the generally established and accepted standards might experience feelings of anxiety, loneliness, insecurity, and low self—esteem.Mostly, discrimination based on beauty standards is based on race and size, and might well affect a person‟s opportunities of social interaction, and even financial status, as these standards might get in the way of career growth.The most common physical and mental problems in the USASleep deprivation is one of the biggest problems in the united states. Nearly half of all Americans have difficulty sleeping because of busy schedules or insomnia. If has been proven that people who sleep fewer than six hours a night don‟t live as long as those who sleep seven hours or more. The national commission on sleep disorders estimates that sleep deprivation costs $150 billion a year in high stress and reduced workplace activity.Another enormous problem in America is obesity. For the vast majority of overweight people, obesity usually results from excess calorie consumption and inadequate physical activity. Unhealthy dietary habits and sedentary behavior together account for approximately 300000 deaths every year. In a survey conducted by the US department of agriculturebetween 1994 and 1996, only 3% of Americans are a healthy balance of grains, fruit, vegetables, dairy product and meats. In 1997 less than one—third of adults engaged in the recommended amount of physical activity ( at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day) and 40% of adults engaged in no leisure—time physical activity.The youth in America are becoming increasingly unhealthy. Almost 18% of under 20—year—olds are overweight, and 80% do do not eat the recommended servings of fruit and vegetables. Every day about 4000 Americans aged between 12—17 try their first cigarette. It is estimated that smoking causes 435000 deaths each ye in the United States. Alcohol abuse is the third leading preventable cause of death( 4% of the total deaths in 2000) and is a factor in approximately 41% of all deaths from motor vehicle crashes. Injury and violence is the leaning cause of death among youth aged 10—24 years: motor vehicle crashes (37% of all deaths), all other unintentional injuries (16%), homicide(18%), and suicide(13%). Each year, there are approximately 19 million new std infections in the US, and almost half of them are among youth aged 15 to 24. 34% of young women become pregnant at least once before they reach the age of 20.An estimated 22.1% of Americans aged 18 and over—about 1 in 5 adults—suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. The most common is depression. Nearly twice as many women as men sufferfrom depression. But four times as many men than women commit suicide. Schizophrenia is another common mental illness. It affects men and women with equal frequency.There are 3 main types of eating disorder: anorexia, bulimia, and binge—eating disorder. Females are much more likely than males to develop an eating disorder. In their lifetime, an estimated 0.5 to 3.7% of females suffer from anorexia, and an estimated 1.1 to 4.2% suffer from bulimia.Adhd is an increasing problem for children, with roughly 4% of under 18s being affected by it. The letters stand for …attention deficit hyperactivity disorder‟. Children affected find concentrating very difficult, and it is hard for them to sit still. It usually becomes evident in pre—school years, and it frequently persists into adolescence and occasionally into adulthood.Phobias, or irrational fears, are becoming more common in America. The most common is, surprisingly, an irrational fear of spiders---arachnophobia. Half of American women and 10% of American men suffer with this problem. The second largest fear is called social phobia. This is a fear of being evaluated negatively in social situations. This affects 3.7% of Americans every year. The third is aerophobia—a fear of flying. Three other strange phobias are: acrophobia, claustrophobia and agoraphobia. These are fears of heights, confinedspaces and being outdoors, respectively.Problems in the west1 In England, over 50% of 16 year—old have taken illegal drugs.2 Football hooliganism is slowly decreasing in England, but it‟s still a problem. Italy has lots of football hooliganism too.3 America has the biggest problem with poor literacy.4 Homophobia is the dislike of gay people. Gay people are often victimized in England, and the word gay is often used as an insult. In England it is legal for gay people to have sex if they are over 18.5 you should avoid town centers in England at 11.pm.6 skinheads are young men (and sometimes women) who are racist and like beating—up foreigners and immigrants. They have shaved heads, and often tattooed hands and faces. The trend started in England, but in Germany you are most likely to see them today.7 “Yardies”亚迪（牙买加人贩毒运毒集团成员）are dangerous gangs that import drugs into Europe. They are from Jamaica牙买加.8 Switzerland is the richest country in Europe.9 Italy is famous for it‟s previously corrupt governments.Introduction to the U.SThe USA is located in the southern Part of N. America and has a total area of 9,327,200 square kilometers. The USA is divided into three major geographic regions: the highlands in the east, the mountains in the west,and a vast plain in between, then two youngest of the 50 states of America are Alaska and Hawaii, which are far away from the continental United States.The largest river in the USA is the Mississippi, which has the Missouri river and the Ohio River as it‟s two main tributaries. The other important rivers are: the Hudson River, the Columbia River, the Colorado river, the saint Lawrence river and Rio Grande.The five great lakes are: Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, Lake Huron and Lake Ontario.The climate in the USA varies from extremely cold in Alaska to semitropical in southern Florida and Hawaii.The USA is rich in natural resources, such as fresh water, forests, minerals and metals.Washington D.C is the seat of the federal government of the USA.The continental United States stretches 4,500 kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean on the east to the Pacific Ocean on the west.It is the forth largest country in the world.1 The seat of the federal government of the USA. Washington2 the second largest city in the USA and the working class there has a glorious revolutionary tradition. Chicago3 the third among the largest cities in the USA and the largest city in the pacific coast. Los Angeles4 the fourth largest city and the birth place of the American declaration of independence. Houston5 the largest city and port in the USA and the seat of the United Nations. New York6 the second largest city in the pacific coast and has the largest Chinese settlement in the UAS. San Francisco7 it is called motor city, UAS, because it is the heart of America‟s car industry. Detroit8 it‟s called space city, USA, because N.A.S.A is based there. Houston9 it lies in Florida, America‟s sunshine state. MiamiThe differences between England, America and china1 Which of these of countries never successfully invaded England?A ScandinaviaB FranceC Italy Spain2 who are the most religious?A the ChineseB the BritishC the Americans3 in England, which class like to hunt foxes”A the working classB the middle classC the upper class4 which country invented the lawn mower割草机?A EnglandB ChinaC America5 in American English, the phrase “smoke a fag”mean “to shoot a homosexual”.6 in England you can identify a gay man by he wearing a gold earring.。
