英语文化背景知识共73页

英语文化背景知识语言的学习离不开对文化背景知识的了解。

了解有关的英语文化背景知识有助于扩大知识面，增强阅读能力，提高英语水平。

威斯敏斯特宫 (the Palace of Westminster)威斯敏斯特宫是世界上最大的哥特式建筑群，坐落在泰晤士河北岸，历史悠久。

撒克逊人最早在westminster建立了一个教堂。

1065年，英格兰国王爱德华重建了教堂并在附近建了一座宫殿，称为威斯敏斯特宫。

后来历经多次破坏，1840年，英国政府在原地上重建此宫，用作议会大厦，成为世界上最大的议会大厦。

在议会大厦前的议会广场上建有英国首相丘吉尔的高大雕像，以纪念他在第二次世界大战中做出的巨大贡献。

一个圆形中央大厅将议会大厦分为两院：南院为上议院（贵族院），北院为下议院（平民院）。

威斯敏斯特宫的西南角有一高塔--维多利亚塔，为石结构，专门存放议会的重要档案文件；东北角则是一座方塔，塔上有一钟楼，挂着著名的大本钟。

诗人之角 (Poets’ Corner)诗人之角指的是英国威斯敏斯特教堂内著名文学家的坟墓。

这里墓碑林立，埋葬着许多著名的英国文学家。

英国诗歌之父乔叟不仅在此有他的墓穴，还有一个纪念窗。

19世纪著名的小说家狄更斯被安葬在诗人之角的中央。

陪伴他长眠的还有19世纪诗人丁尼生、布朗宁、小说家哈代及英文词典编纂之父约翰逊。

莎士比亚的坟墓虽然在他的故乡，但他在这里也有一个壁龛，放着他的雕像。

海德公园 (Hyde Park)海德公园是英国最大的皇家公园，位于伦敦市中心的威斯敏斯特教堂地区，占地360多英亩，原属威斯敏斯特教堂产业。

16世纪，英王亨利八世将之用做王室的公园。

查理一世执政期间，海德公园曾向公众开放。

1851年，维多利亚女王首次在这里举办伦敦国际博览会。

现在这里也是人们举行各种政治集会和其他群众活动的场所。

演讲者之角 Speakers’ Corner)位于海德公园的东北角，是所谓的“自由论坛”。

自19世纪以来，每星期天下午都有人在这里发表演说，内容涉及政治、宗教、社会等方面。

《新概念英语》第二册文化背景知识Cultural in Britain and the USEducation in Britain and the USIn Britain all children have to go to school between the ages of 5 and 16. In the US children must go to school from the age of 6 to between the ages of 14 and 16, depending on the state they live in.SubjectIn England and Wales the subjects taught in schools are laid down by the National Curriculum(课程), which was introduced in 1988 and sets out(制定) in detail the subjects that children should study and the levels of achievement they should reach by the ages of 7, 11, 14 and 16, when they are tested. The National Curriculum does not apply in Scotland, where each school decides what subjects it will teach.In the US the subjects taught are decided by national and local governments. Whereas British schools usually have prayers(祈祷) and religious(宗教的) instruction, American schools are not allowed to include prayers or to teach particular religious beliefs(信仰).ExaminationsAt 16 students in England and Wales take GCSE examinations. These examinations are taken by students of all levels of ability in any of a range of subjects and may involve a final examination, an assessment(评价) of work done during the two year course, or both of these things. At 18 some students have taken A-level examinations, usually in not more than 3 subjects. It is necessary to have A-levels in order to go to a university or polytechnic(综合技术大学).In Scotland students take the SCE examinations. A year later, they can take examinations called HIGHS, after which they can either go straight to a university or spend a further year at school and take the Certificate(证书) of Sixth Year Studies. In Scotland the university system is different to that in England and Wales. Courses usually last four years rather than three and students study a larger number of subjects as part of their degree.In the US school examinations are not as important as they are in Britain. Students in High Schools do have exams at the end of their last two years, but these final exams are considered along with the work that the students have done during the school years.Social Events and Ceremonies(仪式)In American high schools there is a formal ceremony for Graduation (=completion of high school). Students wear a special cap and gown and receive a diploma(文凭) from the head of the school. Students often buy a class ring to ear, and a yearbook, containing pictures of their friends and teachers. There are also special social events at American schools. Sports events are popular, and cheer leaders lead the school in supporting the school team and singing the school song. At the end of their junior year, at age 17 or 18, students held in the evening. The girls wear long evening dresses and the boys wear TUXEDOS.In Britain, there are no formal dances or social occasions(场合) associated(和...有关) with school life. Some schools have SPEECH DAY at the end of the school year when prizes are given to the best students and speeches are made by the head teacher and sometimes an invited guest. However, in many British schools students and teachers organize(组织) informal dances for the older students.Government in Britain and the USGovernment in BritainNational governmentThe center of government in Britain is PARLIAMENT(国会), which makes all the important laws for the country about crimes and punishment, taxation(犯罪), etc. Parliament is made up of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the monarch(贵族). The Houses of Parliament are in Westminster in London and sometimes “Westminster” itself is used to mean Parliament.The House of Commons (or the Commons) is the lower but more powerful of the two Houses. It has 650 elected members, called Members of Parliament or MPs, each representing people in a particular area or constituency. The House of Lords (the Lords) is the higher but less powerful of the two Houses. It has over 1,000 members, none of whom is elected. These members include: people who have titles like Lord or Viscount(子爵) which have been passed down to them on the death of their father (hereditary peers(世袭贵族)); people who are given titles as a reward for their long service in public life, but whose children do not INHERIT(继承) their title (life peers); and some important leaders of the Church of England (Archbishops(大主教) and Bishops(主教)).The government brings BILL (=suggested laws) to the House of Commons, which are discussed by MPs. The bills then go to the House of Lords to be discussed. The House of Lords can suggest changes to a bill, but does not have the power to reject it (=refusepermission for it to be passed). When bills come back to the Commons, MPs vote on them and if they are passed they are signed by the monarch and become Acts of ParliamentAt present England, Scotland, Wales, and N Ireland are all governed by Parliament in Westminster. In N Ireland the political parties are different but their MPs still go to the House of Commons. In Scotland there is a lot of discussion about whether Scotland should have some separate or partly separate form of government. The same is true in WalesLocal governmentLocal government is Britain, also known as Councils, can make small laws (bylaws) which only apply in their area, but these are usually about small, local matters. For instance, they may be about fines that will be made for people who park in certain streets.Councils are paid for by local taxes and also by an amount of money given to them each year by the national government. Their main job is the organizing and providing of local services, e.g. hospitals, school, libraries, public transport, street-cleaning, etc. They are also responsible for setting the amount of local tax that people must pay and for collecting this tax.Local councils(议会) are elected by people within each town, city, or country area. The people who are elected, known as councilors, usually represent one of the national political parties, but are often elected because of their policies on local issues(问题) rather than the national policies of their party.Government in the USAll levels of government in the US (federal(联邦), state, and local) are elected by the people of the country.Federal governmentThe constitution of the US specifically limits the power of the federal (=national) government mainly to defence (国防), foreign affairs, printing money, controlling trade and relations between the states, and protecting human rights. The federal government is make up of the CONGRESS(国会), the President, and the Supreme Count(最高法院). CongressCongress, the central law-making body in the US, is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives is the lower but more important of the two houses of Congress. It has 435 members, called Representatives or Congressmen/Congresswomen elected by their state. The member of Representative(代表) for each state depends on the size of the population of the state, with each state having at least one Representative. The Senate is the higher but less powerful of the two houses of Congress. It has 100 members, called Senators(参议院), elected by their state. Each statehas two Senators.Congress decides whether a BILL (suggested law) becomes law. If the Senate and the House of Representative both agree to a bill, the President is asked to agree.The President can veto(=say no to) the bill(议案), but Congress can still make it a law if 2/3 of the members of each house agree to it.State governmentState government has the greatest influence in people’s daily lives. Each state has its own written Constitution(宪法) (set of fixed law), and among the state there are sometimes great differences in law on matters such as property, crime, health, and education. The highest elected official of each state is the Governor. Each state also has one or two elected lawmaking bodies (state Legislature) whose members represent the various parts of the state.Local governmentLocal government concerns laws made at the town, city or county level. These laws are usually limited to a small area and concern such thing as traffic, where and when alcoholic drinks can be sold, or keeping animals. The highest elected official of a town or city Council.Every law at every level of government must be in agreement with(一致) the United States constitution. Any citizen who thinks he or she has not been given their rights under the law may argue their case through all the courts up to the Supreme Court (the final Court of Appeal in the US) if necessary, and any law which is found not in agreement with the constitution (unconstitutional) cannot be kept in forceNewspapers in Britain and the USNewspapers in BritainNational and local papersIn Britain there are 11 national daily newspapers and most people read one of them every day. There are two kinds of newspaper. One is large in size and has many detailed articles about national and international events. These newspapers are called the serious papers or the quality papers. The other kind, called the tabloids is smaller in size, have more pictures, often in colour, and shorter articles, often about less important events or about the private lives of well-know people. Although some people disapprove(反对) of the tabloids(小报),more people buy them than buy the serious newspaper. The Sun, for example, which is a tabloid, is the biggest-selling newspaper in Britain. People who disapprove of the tabloids very strongly sometimes call them the Gutter Press.There are daily or weekly newspapers in all parts of Britain which cover local news as well as some national and international stories. Local papers give information about films, concerts, and other things that are happening in the local neighborhood, including, for example, information about local people who have been married or died recently. National papers generally give information about film, concerts and other events happening in London, In Scotland, many people read the Glasgow Herald or the Scotsman and there are Scottish Editions of the tabloids.There also many free local newspapers which are delivered to people’s homes whether they ask for them or not. These contain a lot of advertisements(广告) and also some news. PoliticsMost national newspapers in Britain express a political opinion and people choose the newspaper that they read according to their own political beliefs. Most of the newspapers are right-wing. These are the Daily Telegraph (serious newspaper), the Daily express, Daily Mail, Daily Star, the Sun and Today (all tabloids). Of the other serious newspapers, The Times, the oldest newspaper in Britain, did not formerly have one strong political view but it is now more right-wing. The Guardian is slightly left-wing, the Independent is centre and the Financial(金融) with political issues, but reports on business and financial news. The Daily Mirror (tabloid) is left-wing.Daily and Sunday newspapersDaily newspapers are published on every day of the week except Sunday. Sunday newspapers are larger than daily newspapers, often having 2 or 3 sections. There is also other a magazine, called the colour supplement(增刊). All the Sunday newspapers are national Serious newspapers include the Observer(which is slightly left-wing), the Sunday Times, the Sunday Telegraph and the Independent on Sunday, the Sunday Mirror, the Sunday Express, the News of the World and the Sunday Sport which is considered to lack much serious information.Newspapers in the USNational and local newspapersThere are more than 1500 daily newspapers in the US. Each one is usually sold only in one part of the country, e.g. in a city, but they cover national and international news. In larger cities there is often more than one newspaper and the different ones express different political opinions. Some newspapers are sold in nearly all parts of the US. E.g. USA todayand the National edition of the New York Times. Two other newspapers, the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post are known and respected all over the US but cannot be bought everywhere. Other important newspapers are: the Boston Globe, sold in New England, the Chicago Tribune, sold in the Midwest, the Christian Science Monitor and USA Today, both sold nationally, and the Washington Post on the East Coast.There are also weekly newspapers in all parts of the US which cover local news, such as what is happening in the local neighborhood(地方). Fewer people read these than read the daily newspapers.Daily and Sunday newspapersDaily newspapers are published on every day of the week except Sunday. Sunday newspapers are very big, often having several separate parts. They contain many longer articles and a lot of advertisements. Each section deals with a different subject. E.g. national and international news, sport, travel, etc. One section, the classifieds(分类广告) has advertisements for jobs and things for sale. Another section is called the funnies. There is often also a magazine which is in color.Alternative newspapersIn the 1960s a group of newspapers began to appear that were later called in “alternati ve press”. They expressed extreme(极端的) political opinions, especially left-wing opinion. Many of the newspapers which were part of this movement, such as the Village Voice in New York or the Reader in Chicago, are less extreme today and more widely read.Law in Britain and the USIn both Britain and the US, when a person is accused of a crime it must be shown that they are guilty "beyond reasonable doubt". A person is always innocent(无罪) in the eyes of the law until they have been proved to be guilty by a court they can sometimes ask for permission to APPEAL(上诉) to a higher court in the hope that it will change this decision.Criminal law in England and WalesWhen someone is arrested (ARREST) by the police, a MAGISTRATE (=an official who judges cases in some types of courts) decides whether there is enough EVIDENCE(证据) against the person for the case to go to court. If there is enough evidence and the case is a serious one, the person accused(控告) of the crime (called 'the accused(被告)') is sent to a CROWN COURT for a TRIAL with a JUDGE and JURY (=12 members of the public who have to decide if the accused is guilty(有罪的), then the judge decides the SENTENCE(判决) (2) (=punishment). If there is enough evidence against the accused but the crime is not a serious one (for example a traffic offence) then the case is heard in a MAGISTRATES COURT.If found guilty in the Crown Court the accused may apply to(请求) the COURT OF APPEAL (Criminal Division) where he or she will be heard by a judge. Sometimes a HIGH COURT judge from the Queen's Bench Division assists in dealing with criminal matters in the Court of Appeal or Crown Court.Criminal law in Northern IrelandIn Northern Ireland, as in England and Wales, someone accused of a crime may be tried in a Magistrates' Court or a Crown Court depending on how serious the crime is. Appeals from the Crown Court are heard in the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal.Criminal law in ScotlandScotland has a separate court system. After a person is arrested by the police, an official called the PROCURATOR FISCAL is in charge of deciding whether there is enough evidence against the accused for a trial. If there is enough evidence and the crime is a very serious one, the accused is sent to the HIGH COURT OF JUSTICIARY where there is a judge and jury(陪审团) (in Scotland there are 15 people on a jury). If there is enough evidence but the crime is a less serious one, the case is heard in a SHERIFF COURT (The sheriff is a trained lawyer who acts as a judge). Appeals from the Sheriff Court go to the High Court of Justiciary.Criminal law in the USThe US has tow separate court systems. In general terms STATE COURTS are used when someone has done something against the laws of CONSTITUTION of a particular State. FEDERAL COURTS deal with cases to do with the laws and Constitution of the United States as whole. Federal courts also hear cases where the US Government is one of the sides involved(介入). Cases for crimes which are not serious are likely to be heard in state courts. Serious crimes may be tried in wither state courts of federal courts depending on the situation, for example cases where a crime has taken place in another state are often heard in federal courts.After a person has been arrested a magistrate(地方官员), or in some cases a GRAND JURY made up of between 16 and 23 citizens, decides whether they should go to trial. If there is enough evidence for a trial the accused goes to court and has to state whether he/she is guilty or not guilty of the crime. If they say they are not guilty they are sent to trial with a judge and jury (of 16 or 20 citizens) in either a State or COUNTY COURT or, in federal cases, a DISTRICT COURT. If the accused is found guilty they may have the fight to appeal to a higher court, as shown below.The final court of appeal in the US federal system and for some cases in the state courts is the US SUPREME COURT. It is made up of a CHIEF JUSTICE and eight ASSOCIATES. The accused does not have the fight to be heard by the Supremes Court, but the SupremeCourt decides which cases it will hear.Holiday in Britain and the US Paid HolidayPeople in the US get 2 weeks a year paid vacation (holiday) form their job. Most British people have four or five weeks paid holiday a year. Americans often complain that two weeks is not enough holiday, especially when they hear about the longer holidays that Europeans get. In addition, there are 8 days in each country, which are public holidays (the British call Bank Holiday) and many of these fall on a Monday giving people a long weekend. In Britain, so many people drive to another part of the country, especially the coast, on Bank Holiday weekends that there are serious traffic jams, which may stretch(长达) for many miles.Popular Holiday PlacesWith the US, outdoor vacations are popular, for example at the Grand Canyon or Yosemite or Yellowstone or the national parks or forests. Yong people may go walking or camping in the mountains. Many people have capers or small trailer(拖车) in which to travel, or if they are in a car, they may stay at Motels on the journey Disneyland and Disneyworld are also popular and people can to skiing in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Wyoming and Montana.It is also very common to use vacations to visit relatives who may live in states a long distance away. Some children go to summer camp for a holiday during the summer vacation form school, where they do special activities, such as sports or crafts.When Americans want a holiday for sun and rest, they usually go to Florida, Hawaii, Mexico or the Caribbean. They may go to Europe for culture, for example, to see art, plays, and places of historic interest.In Britain, many people like to go to the seaside for holidays. There are places near the sea, such as Black pool, Scarborough and Bournemouth, where there is plenty to do even if it rains. In a traditional British seaside holiday, the children can watch a Punch and Judy Show, eat candy floss and rock (=sweet) and make sandcastles, while older people can hire a deckchair to sit on the beach. People also like to go to go the country, especially to walk, in places like Scotland, Wales and the Lake District.When the British go abroad they usually want to go somewhere warm. Spain and 'Spanish islands of Majorca and Ibiza are popular as are other places in southern Europe. For skiing, people often go to the Alps.Medicine in Britain and AmericanMedicine in BritainIn Britain there is a National Health Service (NHS) which is paid for by taxes and National Insurance(保险), and in general people do not have to pay for medical treatment. Every person is registered with a doctor in their local area; know as general practitioner or GP. This means that their name is on the GP's list, and they may make an appointment to see the doctor or may call the doctor out to visit them if they are ill. People do sometimes have to pay part of the cost of drugs that the doctor prescribes(开处方). GPs are trained in general medicine but are not specialists in any particular subject. If a patient needs to see a specialist doctor, they must first go to their GP and then the GP will make an appointment(预约) for the patient to see a specialist at a hospital or clinic.Although everyone in Britain can have free treatment under the National Health Service. It is also possible to have treatment done privately, for which one has to pay; some people have private health insurance to help them pay for private treatment. Under the NHS, people who need to go to hospital may have to wait for a long time on a waiting list for their treatment. If they pay for the treatment, they will probably get it quickly.Anyone who is very ill can call an ambulance(救护车) and get taken to hospital for free urgent medical treatment. Ambulances are a free service in Britain.Medicine in the USUnlike Britain, the US does not have a national health care service. The government does help pay for some medical care for people who are on low incomes and for old, but most people buy insurance to help pay for medical care. Some people cannot afford insurance but not poor enough to get government help. The cost of medical insurance and the problems of those who can not afford it are an important political subject.When people are ill, they usually go first to a general practitioner or internist. Unlike in Britain, however, people sometimes go straight to a specialist, without seeing their general practitioner first. Children are usually taken to a pediatrician (a doctor who is a specialist in the treatment of children). As in Britain, if a patient needs to see a specialist doctor, their general doctor will usually give them the name of one.Doctors don not go to people's homes when they are ill. People always make appointments to see the doctor in the doctor's office. In emergencies(急诊), people call for an ambulance. Hospital must treat all emergency patients, even if the patient does not have medical insurance. The government would then help pay for some of the cost of the medical care.Social Class in BritainBritish society is considered to be divided into three main groups of classes - the Upper Class, the Middle Class, and the Lower or Working Class. This is known as the Class system and it is important to know something about it if you want to understand British people and society. Most British people grow up with a deep knowledge and understanding of the class system even if they are not very conscious(意识到) of it. Most people know which class they belong to by the way they speak, their clothes, their interests or even the type of food they eat.Social class is not only about behavior and attitudes, For example, although many upper class people are rich and may own a lot of land, having a lot of money does not make a person upper class. It is also important to come from a particular kind of family, have friends who are considered suitable, have been to a certain type of private school and speak with the right kind of accent. There are people who are poor but who do not think of themselves as working class because their family background, education, political opinions, etc. are different to those of most working-class people. Many people do not like the class system but it is impossible to pretend that these differences do not exist or that British people do not sometimes form opinions in this way.Pubs in BritainPubs are an important part of British life. Even very small villages nearly always have a pub. People especially men, will often go to the pub for a drink in the evening and at weekends.A man will usually go to the same pub, one which is closed by and which is called the local: I'm just nipping down to the local for a print. Women now go to pubs more than they used to, but usually don not like to go to a pub on their own. Children under 16 are not usually allowed into pubs, although some pubs have a children's room or a garden where children can sit.Until 1988, pubs were only allowed to be open from 12:00 am to 2:00 pm alcoholic drink can be sold in a public place are called the licensing laws. Even though the law was changed so that alcohol can now be sold all day, many pubs still only pen at lunchtime and in the evening. When it is nearly time for the pub to close, the landlord or landlady shouts "last orders" and then "time".Pubs often sell food or snacks as well as drinks. Food that is considered typical pub food is scampi (kind of shellfish) and chips (fried potatoes), pie and chips, chicken and chips, and ploughman's lunch (bread with cheese).Pubs have names, e.g. The Angel, The Black Swan, The Crown, The King's Arms, The Red Lion, The White Horse, etc. and people usually refer to the pub by its name: Turn left at theRose and Crown. There is often a sing outside the pub showing the name with a picture. Many pubs have two or more different bars. The public bar is usually plainly furnished and often has a pool table and dartboard. It is the bar usually used by the local people. Thesaloon bar is comfortable and well-furnished(装修很好的) and is the bar that is usually used by men and woman drinking together.Sports in Britain and the USFootball in Britain and AmericaFootball(soccer AmE) is a very popular sport in Britain, played between August and May (the football season) Many people, esp. men, support a particular team and may go to watch the games that their team plays. Professional football is controlled by two organizations, the Football League and the Football Association (the FA). In England and Wales, there 93 teams in the League, organized into four divisions(区）. In Scotland, there are 38 teams in the League, organized into three divisions. Teams play regularly against the other teams in their league or division according to a fixed programme. At the end of the season the team in the Premier League (or the Premier Division in Scotland) with the most points is the League Champion. This competition is called the League Championship. The other important competition is the FA Cup, often just called the cup. This is open to all armature football teams that belong to the FA as well as the 93 professional（专业）teams. The teams play against each other in a Knockout competition which starts in August and ends in May. The two teams left in the competition play in the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium in London. This is a very important national sporting occasion, watched by millions of people in television.Team names usu. include the name of the town or city where the team is based, e.g. Leeds United, Sheffield Wednesday, Wolverhamptom Wanderers (Wolves), Dundee United, etc. Football (American football BrE) is a very popular sport in the US. Many people, esp. men, support a particular team and watch the game that their team plays. Each team has a name, which usually includes the name of the town or city that the team is associated with, some examples of names are: New York Jets, Washington Redskins, New England Patriots, and Green Bay Packers.The season starts in early autumn and ends at the end of January with the Super Bowl, which is the NFL championship game. The two teams that play in the Super Bowl are determined by games within the divisions and conferences. The Super Bowl is only one game and at the end of the game, they have a sudden-death play-off, in which the first team to gain points wins the game. Professional football games are organized in the US inthe following way: National Football League are divided into two conferences: One is National Football Conference（国家足协）and the other is American Football Conference. Both of them have 14 teams and three divisions.Basket Ball and Base Ball in the U.SBasketball is a very popular sport in the US. Many people, esp., men support a particular team and watch the games that their team plays.Each team has a name, which usually includes the name of the town or city that the team is associated （有关）with. Some examples of names are: Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, and Los Angeles Lakers.The plying season runs from autumn to late spring. Teams with each division play against each other and against teams from the other divisions within the conferences. The best teams from each other (the NBA Championship). The first team to win four of these games is the NBA champion. Professional basketball games are organized in the US in the following way: National Basketball Association (NBA) has two conferences, Eastern conference and Western conference. The Eastern conference has two divisions, Atlantic division with 6 teams and Central division with 7 teams and Western conference has two divisions, Midwest division with 7 teams and Pacific division with 7 teams.Baseball is a very popular sport in the US where it is often called the National pastime（消遣）. Many people, esp., men support a particular team and watch the games that their team plays.Each team has a name, which usually includes the name of the town or city that the team is associated with. Some examples of names are: Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins, Chicago Cubs, and Houston Astros.The two leagues together are known as the major leagues. The plying season runs from late spring to October. The winning team in each league is called the pennant champion. In October, the two pennant champions play against each other in seven games call the World Series. The team that wins four games is the champion. Professional baseball games are organized in the US in the following way. There are two leagues, National League with 12 teams and American League with 14 teams. National League has Eastern division and Western division and American League also has Eastern division and Western division. Cricket（板球）and Rugby（橄榄球）in BritainCricket is a very popular sport in Britain, played mainly in the summer. Professional cricket is controlled by the MCC (the Marylebone Cricket Club). The main competition is the county championship, in which the 18 county cricket clubs play against one another during the season. Each match takes 3-4 days to complete.。

英语文化背景知识英语文化背景知识1.罗伯特沃波尔任期：1721年4月至1742年2月2.威尔明顿伯爵任期：1742年2月至1743年8月3.亨利佩勒姆任期：1743年8月至1756年11月4.德文郡公爵任期：1756年11月至1757年11月5.纽卡斯尔公爵1757年(纽卡斯尔公爵)任期：1757年11月至1762年5月6.布特伯爵任期：1762年5月至1763年4月7.乔治乔治格伦维尔任期：1763年4月至1765年7月8.罗金厄姆侯爵任期：1765年7月至1766年8月9.查塔姆伯爵任期：1766年8月至1767年12月10.格拉夫顿公爵1.腓特烈诺斯任期：1770年2月至1782年3月12.罗金厄姆侯爵任期：1782年3月至1782年7月13.谢尔本伯爵任期：1782年7月至1783年4月14.波特兰公爵任期：1783年4月至1783年12月15.小威廉皮特任期：1783年12月至1801年3月16.亨利阿丁顿任期：1801年3月至1804年5月17.小威廉皮特任期：1804年5月至1806年2月18.格伦维尔勋爵任期：1806年2月至1807年3月19.波特兰公爵任期：1807年3月至1809年12月20.斯潘塞帕西瓦尔(斯宾塞佩瑟瓦尔)任期：1809年12月至1812年6月21.利物浦伯爵(利物浦早期)2.乔治坎宁任期：1827年4月至1827年9月23.戈德里奇子爵(梅尔本子爵)任期：1827年9月至1828年1月24.惠灵顿公爵(威灵顿公爵)任期：1828年1月至1830年11月25.灰色伯爵任期：1830年11月至1834年7月26.墨尔本子爵任期：1834年7月至1834年12月27.罗伯特皮尔爵士任期：1834年12月至1835年3月28.墨尔本子爵任期：1835年3月至1841年9月29.罗伯特皮尔勋爵(罗伯特皮尔爵士)任期：1841年9月至1846年7月30.约翰拉塞尔勋爵任期：1846年7月至1848年2月31.德比伯爵任期：1848年2月至1952年12月32.阿伯丁伯爵33.帕默斯顿子爵任期：1855年2月至1858年2月34.德比伯爵任期：1858年2月至1859年6月35.帕默斯顿子爵任期：1859年6月至1865年11月36.拉塞尔伯爵任期：1865年11月至1866年7月37.德比伯爵任期：1866年7月至1868年2月38.本杰明迪斯雷利任期：1868年2月至1868年12月39.格莱斯顿任期：1868年12月至1874年2月40.本杰明迪斯雷利任期：1874年2月至1880年4月41.格莱斯顿任期：1880年4月至1886年8月42.索尔兹伯里侯爵任期：1886年8月至1892年8月43.格莱斯顿44.罗斯伯里伯爵任期：1894年3月至1895年7月45.索尔兹伯里侯爵任期：1895年7月至1902年7月46.阿瑟詹姆斯贝尔福任期：1902年7月至1905年12月47.坎贝尔班纳曼爵士任期：1905年12月至1908年4月48.阿斯奎斯阁下任期：1908年4月至1915年5月49.阿斯奎斯阁下任期：1915年5月至1916年12月50.劳埃德乔治任期：1916年12月至1922年10月51.博纳定律任期：1922年10月至1923年5月52.鲍德温任期：1923年5月至1924年1月53.J. R .麦克唐纳任期：1924年1月至1924年11月54.鲍德温5.J. R .麦克唐纳任期：1929年6月至1931年8月56.J. R .麦克唐纳任期：1931年8月至1935年6月57.鲍德温任期：1935年6月至1937年5月58.张伯伦任期：1937年5月至1940年5月59.温斯顿斯潘塞丘吉尔任期：1940年5月至1945年5月60.丘吉尔任期：1945年5月至1945年7月61.艾德礼任期：1945年7月至1951年10月62.温斯顿斯潘塞丘吉尔任期：1951年10月至1955年4月63.安东尼艾登爵士任期：1955年。

英美文化背景知识Newspapers in Britain and the USNewspapers in BritainNational and local papersIn Britain there are 11 national daily newspapers and most people read one of them every day. There are two kinds of newspaper. One is large in size and has many detailed articles about national and international events. These newspapers are called the serious papers or the quality papers. The other kind, called the tabloids is smaller in size, have more pictures, often in colour, and shorter articles, often about less important events or about the private lives of well-know people. Although some people disapprove(反对) of the tabloids(小报), more people buy them than buy the serious newspaper. The Sun, for example, which is a tabloid, is the biggest-selling newspaper in Britain. People who disapprove of the tabloids very strongly sometimes call them the Gutter Press.There are daily or weekly newspapers in all parts of Britain which cover local news as well as some national and international stories. Local papers give information aboutfilms, concerts, and other things that are happening in the local neighborhood, including, for example, information about local people who have been married or died recently. National papers generally give information about film, concerts and other events happening in London, In Scotland, many people read the Glasgow Herald or the Scotsman and there are Scottish Editions of the tabloids.There also many free local newspapers which are delivered to people’s homes whether they ask for them or not. These contain a lot of advertisements(广告) and also some news.PoliticsMost national newspapers in Britain express a political opinion and people choose the newspaper that they read according to their own political beliefs. Most of the newspapers are right-wing. These are the Daily Telegraph(serious newspaper), the Daily express, Daily Mail, Daily Star, the Sun and Today(all tabloids). Of the other serious newspapers, The Times, the oldest newspaper in Britain, did not formerly have one strong political view but itis now more right-wing. The Guardian is slightly left-wing, the Independent is centre and the Financial(金融) with political issues, but reports on business and financial news. The Daily Mirror(tabloid) is left-wing.Daily and Sunday newspapersDaily newspapers are published on every day of the week except Sunday. Sunday newspapers are larger than daily newspapers, often having 2 or 3 sections. There is also other a magazine, called the colour supplement(增刊). All the Sunday newspapers are national Serious newspapers include the Observer(which is slightly left-wing), the Sunday Times, the Sunday Telegraph and the Independent on Sunday, the Sunday Mirror, the Sunday Express, the News of the World and the Sunday Sport which is considered to lack much serious information.Newspapers in The USNational and local newspapersThere are more than 1500 daily newspapers in the US. Each one is usually sold only in one part of the country, e.g. in a city, but they cover national and international news. In larger cities there is often more than one newspaper and the different ones express different political opinions. Some newspapers are sold in nearly all parts of the US. E.g. USA today and the National edition of the New York Times. Two other newspapers, the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post are know and respected all over the US but cannot be bought everywhere. Other important newspapers are: the Boston Globe, sold in New England, the Chicago Tribune, sold in the Midwest, the Christian Science Monitor and USA Today, both sold nationally, and the Washington Post on the East Coast.There are also weekly newspapers in all parts of the US which cover local news, such as what is happening in the local neighborhood(地方). Fewer people read these than read the daily newspapers.Daily and Sunday newspapersDaily newspapers are published on every day of the week except Sunday. Sunday newspapers are very big, often having several separate parts. They contain many longer articles and a lot of advertisements. Each section deals with a different subject. E.g. national and international news, sport, travel, etc. One section, the classifieds(分类广告) has advertisements for jobs and things for sale. Another section is called the funnies. There is often also a magazine which is in color.Alternative newspapersIn the 1960s a group of newspapers began to appear that were later called in “alternative press”. They expressed extreme(极端的) political opinions, especially left-wing opinion. Many of the newspapers which were part of this movement, such as the Village Voice in New York or the Reader in Chicago, are less extreme today and more widely read.Law in Britain and the USIn both Britain and the US, when a person is accused of a rime it must be shown that they are guilty "beyond reasonable doubt". A person is always innocent(无罪) in the eyes of the law until they have been proved to be guilty by a court they can sometimes ask for permission to APPEAL(上诉) to a higher court in the hope that it will change this decision.Criminal law in England and WalesWhen someone is arrested (ARREST) by the police, a MAGISTRATE (=an official who judges cases in some types of courts) decides whether there is enough EVIDENCE(证据) against the person for the case to go to court. If there is enough evidence and the case is a serious one, the person accused(控告) of the crime (called 'the accused(被告)') is sent to a CROWN COURT for a TRIAL with a JUDGE and JURY (=12 members of the public who have to decide if the accused is guilty(有罪的), then the judge decides the SENTENCE(判决) (2) (=punishment). If there is enough evidence against the accused but the crime is not a seriousone (for example a traffic offence) then the case is heard in a MAGISTRATES COURT.If found guilty in the Crown Court the accused may apply to(请求) the COURT OF APPEAL (Criminal Division) where he or she will be heard by a judge. Sometimes a HIGH COURT judge from the Queen's Bench Division assists in dealing with criminal matters in the Court of Appeal or Crown Court.Criminal law in Northern IrelandIn Northern Ireland, as in England and Wales, someone accused of a crime may be tried in a Magistrates' Court or a Crown Court depending on how serious the crime is. Appeals from the Crown Court are heard in the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal.Criminal law in ScotlandScotland has a separate court system. After a person is arrested by the police, an official called the PROCURATOR FISCAL is in charge of deciding whether there is enoughevidence against the accused for a trial. If there is enough evidence and the crime is a very serious one, the accused is sent to the HIGH COURT OF JUSTICIARY where there is a judge and jury(陪审团) (in Scotland there are 15 people on a jury). If there is enough evidence but the crime is a less serious one, the case is heard in a SHERIFF COURT (The sheriff is a trained lawyer who acts as a judge). Appeals from the Sheriff Court go to the High Court of Justiciary.Criminal law in the USThe US has tow separate court systems. In general terms STATE COURTS are used when someone has done something against the laws of CONSTITUTION of a particular State. FEDERAL COURTS deal with cases to do with the laws and Constitution of the United States as whole. Federal courts also hear cases where the US Government is one of the sides involved(介入). Cases for crimes which are not serious are likely to be heard in state courts. Serious crimes may be tried in wither state courts of federal courts depending on the situation, for example cases where a crime has taken place in another state are often heard in federal courts.After a person has been arrested a magistrate(地方官员), or in some cases a GRAND JURY made up of between 16 and 23 citizens, decides whether they should go to trial. If there is enough evidence for a trial the accused goes to court and has to state whether he/she is guilty or not guilty of the crime. If they say they are not guilty they are sent to trial with a judge and jury (of 16 or 20 citizens) in either a State or COUNTY COURT or, in federal cases, a DISTRICT COURT. If the accused is found guilty they may have the fight to appeal to a higher court, as shown below.The final court of appeal in the US federal system and for some cases in the state courts is the US SUPREME COURT. It is made up of a CHIEF JUSTICE and eight ASSOCIATES. The accused does not have the fight to be heard by the Supremes Court, but the Supreme Court decides which cases it will hear.Holiday in Britain and the USPaid HolidayPeople in the US get 2 weeks a year paid vacation (holiday) form their job. Most British people have four or five weeks paid holiday a year. Americans often complain that tow weeks is not enough holiday, especially when they hear about the longer holidays that Europeans get. In addition, there are 8 days in each country, which are public holidays (the British call Bank Holiday) and many of these fall on a Monday giving people a long weekend. In Britain, so many people drive to another part of the country, especially the coast, on Bank Holiday weekends that there are serious traffic jams, which may stretch(长达) for many miles.Popular Holiday PlacesWith the US, outdoor vacations are popular, for example at the Grand Canyon or Yosemite or Yellowstone or the national parks or forests. Yong people may go walking or camping in the mountains. Many people have capers or small trailer(拖车) in which to travel, or if they are in a car, they may stay at Motels on the journey Disneyland and Disneyworld are also popular and people can to skiing in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Wyoming and Montana.。

《新概念英语》第二册文化背景知识Cultural in Britain and the USEducation in Britain and the USIn Britain all children have to go to school between the ages of 5 and 16. In the US childrenmust go to school from the age of 6 to between the ages of 14 and 16, depending on thestate they live in.SubjectIn England and Wales the subjects taught in schools are laid down by the National Curriculum( 课程), which was introduced in 1988 and sets out( 制定) in detail the subjects that children should study and the levels of achievement they should reach by the ages of7, 11, 14 and 16, when they are tested. The National Curriculum does not apply in Scotland,where each school decides what subjects it will teach.In the US the subjects taught are decided by national and local governments. WhereasBritish schools usually have prayers( 祈祷) and religious( 宗教的) instruction, American schools are not allowed to include prayers or to teach particular religious beliefs( 信仰).ExaminationsAt 16 students in England and Wales take GCSE examinations. These examinations aretaken by students of all levels of ability in any of a range of subjects and may involve a final examination, an assessment( 评价) of work done during the two year course, or both ofthese things. At 18 some students have taken A-level examinations, usually in not morethan 3 subjects. It is necessary to have A-levels in order to go to a university or polytechnic( 综合技术大学).In Scotland students take the SCE examinations. A year later , they can take examinations called HIGHS, after which they can either go straight to a university or spend a further yearat school and take the Certificate( 证书) of Sixth Year Studies. In Scotland the university system is different to that in England and Wales. Courses usually last four years rather thanthree and students study a larger number of subjects as part of their degree.In the US school examinations are not as important as they are in Britain. Students in HighSchools do have exams at the end of their last two years, but these final exams are considered along with the work that the students have done during the school years.Social Events and Ceremonies (仪式)In American high schools there is a formal ceremony for Graduation (=completion of highschool). Students wear a special cap and gown and receive a diploma( 文凭) from the headof the school. Students often buy a class ring to ear , and a yearbook, containing pictures oftheir friends and teachers. There are also special social events at American schools. Sportsevents are popular , and cheer leaders lead the school in supporting the school team andsinging the school song. At the end of their junior year , at age 17 or 18, students held inthe evening. The girls wear long evening dresses and the boys wear TUXEDOS.In Britain, there are no formal dances or social occasions( 场合) associated( 和...有关) withschool life. Some schools have SPEECH DAY at the end of the school year when prizes aregiven to the best students and speeches are made by the head teacher and sometimes aninvited guest. However , in many British schools students and teachers organize( 组织)informal dances for the older students.Government in Britain and the USGovernment in BritainNational governmentThe center of government in Britain is PARLIAMENT( 国会), which makes all the importantlaws for the country about crimes and punishment, taxation( 犯罪), etc. Parliament is madeup of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the monarch( 贵族). The Houses ofParliament are in Westminster in London and sometimes “Westminster ”itself is used to mean Parliament.The House of Commons (or the Commons) is the lower but more powerful of the twoHouses. It has 650 elected members, called Members of Parliament or MPs, eachrepresenting people in a particular area or constituency. The House of Lords (the Lords) isthe higher but less powerful of the two Houses. It has over 1,000 members, none of whomis elected. These members include: people who have titles like Lord or Viscount( 子爵)which have been passed down to them on the death of their father (hereditary peers( 世袭贵族)); people who are given titles as a reward for their long service in public life, butwhose children do not INHERIT( 继承) their title (life peers); and some important leaders ofthe Church of England (Archbishops( 大主教) and Bishops( 主教)).The government brings BILL (=suggested laws) to the House of Commons, which arediscussed by MPs. The bills then go to the House of Lords to be discussed. The House ofLords can suggest changes to a bill, but does not have the power to reject it (=refusepermission for it to be passed). When bills come back to the Commons, MPs vote on themand if they are passed they are signed by the monarch and become Acts of ParliamentAt present England, Scotland, Wales, and N Ireland are all governed by Parliament in Westminster . In N Ireland the political parties are different but their MPs still go to theHouse of Commons. In Scotland there is a lot of discussion about whether Scotland shouldhave some separate or partly separate form of government. The same is true in WalesLocal governmentLocal government is Britain, also known as Councils, can make small laws (bylaws) whichonly apply in their area, but these are usually about small, local matters. For instance, theymay be about fines that will be made for people who park in certain streets.Councils are paid for by local taxes and also by an amount of money given to them eachyear by the national government. Their main job is the organizing and providing of localservices, e.g. hospitals, school, libraries, public transport, street-cleaning, etc. They arealso responsible for setting the amount of local tax that people must pay and for collectingthis tax.Local councils( 议会) are elected by people within each town, city, or country area. Thepeople who are elected, known as councilors, usually represent one of the national politicalparties, but are often elected because of their policies on local issues( 问题) rather than the national policies of their party.Government in the USAll levels of government in the US (federal( 联邦), state, and local) are elected by the people of the country.Federal governmentThe constitution of the US specifically limits the power of the federal (=national) government mainly to defence ( 国防), foreign affairs, printing money, controlling trade and relations between the states, and protecting human rights. The federal government is make up of the CONGRESS( 国会), the President, and the Supreme Count( 最高法院).CongressCongress, the central law-making body in the US, is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives is the lower but more important of the two houses of Congress. It has 435 members, called Representatives or Congressmen/Congresswomen elected by their state. The member of Representative( 代表) for each state depends on the size of the population of the state, with each state having atleast one Representative. The Senate is the higher but less powerful of the two houses of Congress. It has 100 members, called Senators( 参议院), elected by their state. Each statehas two Senators.Congress decides whether a BILL (suggested law) becomes law. If the Senate and theHouse of Representative both agree to a bill, the President is asked to agree.The President can veto(=say no to) the bill( 议案), but Congress can still make it a law if2/3 of the members of each house agree to it.State governmentState government has the greatest influence in people ’s daily lives. Each state has its own written Constitution( 宪法) (set of fixed law), and among the state there are sometimesgreat differences in law on matters such as property, crime, health, and education. Thehighest elected official of each state is the Governor . Each state also has one or two electedlawmaking bodies (state Legislature) whose members represent the various parts of thestate.Local governmentLocal government concerns laws made at the town, city or county level. These laws areusually limited to a small area and concern such thing as traffic, where and when alcoholicdrinks can be sold, or keeping animals. The highest elected official of a town or city Council.Every law at every level of government must be in agreement with( 一致) the United Statesconstitution. Any citizen who thinks he or she has not been given their rights under the lawmay argue their case through all the courts up to the Supreme Court (the final Court ofAppeal in the US) if necessary, and any law which is found not in agreement with theconstitution (unconstitutional) cannot be kept in forceNewspapers in Britain and the USNewspapers in BritainNational and local papersIn Britain there are 11 national daily newspapers and most people read one of them everyday. There are two kinds of newspaper . One is large in size and has many detailed articlesabout national and international events. These newspapers are called the serious papers orthe quality papers. The other kind, called the tabloids is smaller in size, have more pictures,often in colour , and shorter articles, often about less important events or about the privatelives of well-know people. Although some people disapprove( 反对) of the tabloids( 小报),more people buy them than buy the serious newspaper . The Sun, for example, which is atabloid, is the biggest-selling newspaper in Britain. People who disapprove of the tabloidsvery strongly sometimes call them the Gutter Press.There are daily or weekly newspapers in all parts of Britain which cover local news as wellas some national and international stories. Local papers give information about films,concerts, and other things that are happening in the local neighborhood, including, forexample, information about local people who have been married or died recently. Nationalpapers generally give information about film, concerts and other events happening inLondon, In Scotland, many people read the Glasgow Herald or the Scotsman and there areScottish Editions of the tabloids.There also many free local newspapers which are delivered to people ’s homes whether they ask for them or not. These contain a lot of advertisements( 广告) and also some news.PoliticsMost national newspapers in Britain express a political opinion and people choose thenewspaper that they read according to their own political beliefs. Most of the newspapersare right-wing. These are the Daily Telegraph (serious newspaper), the Daily express, DailyMail, Daily Star , the Sun and Today (all tabloids). Of the other serious newspapers, TheTimes, the oldest newspaper in Britain, did not formerly have one strong political view butit is now more right-wing. The Guardian is slightly left-wing, the Independent is centre andthe Financial( 金融) with political issues, but reports on business and financial news. TheDaily Mirror (tabloid) is left-wing.Daily and Sunday newspapersDaily newspapers are published on every day of the week except Sunday. Sundaynewspapers are larger than daily newspapers, often having 2 or 3 sections. There is alsoother a magazine, called the colour supplement( 增刊). All the Sunday newspapers arenational Serious newspapers include the Observer(which is slightly left-wing), the SundayTimes, the Sunday Telegraph and the Independent on Sunday, the Sunday Mirror , theSunday Express, the News of the World and the Sunday Sport which is considered to lackmuch serious information.Newspapers in the USNational and local newspapersThere are more than 1500 daily newspapers in the US. Each one is usually sold only in onepart of the country, e.g. in a city, but they cover national and international news. In largercities there is often more than one newspaper and the different ones express differentpolitical opinions. Some newspapers are sold in nearly all parts of the US. E.g. USA todayand the National edition of the New York Times. Two other newspapers, the Los AngelesTimes and the Washington Post are known and respected all over the US but cannot bebought everywhere. Other important newspapers are: the Boston Globe, sold in New England, the Chicago Tribune, sold in the Midwest, the Christian Science Monitor and USA Today, both sold nationally, and the Washington Post on the East Coast.There are also weekly newspapers in all parts of the US which cover local news, such aswhat is happening in the local neighborhood( 地方). Fewer people read these than read the daily newspapers.Daily and Sunday newspapersDaily newspapers are published on every day of the week except Sunday. Sunday newspapers are very big, often having several separate parts. They contain many longerarticles and a lot of advertisements. Each section deals with a different subject. E.g. national and international news, sport, travel, etc. One section, the classifieds( 分类广告) has advertisements for jobs and things for sale. Another section is called the funnies. Thereis often also a magazine which is in color .Alternative newspapersIn the 1960s a group of newspapers began to appear that were later called in ve “apress ”Th.ey expressed extreme( 极端的) political opinions, especially left-wing opinion. Many of the newspapers which were part of this movement, such as the Village Voice inNew York or the Reader in Chicago, are less extreme today and more widely read.Law in Britain and the USIn both Britain and the US, when a person is accused of a crime it must be shown that theyare guilty "beyond reasonable doubt". A person is always innocent( 无罪) in the eyes of the law until they have been proved to be guilty by a court they can sometimes ask for permission to APPEAL( 上诉) to a higher court in the hope that it will change this decision.Criminal law in England and WalesWhen someone is arrested (ARREST) by the police, a MAGISTRATE (=an official who judges cases in some types of courts) decides whether there is enough EVIDENCE( 证据) against the person for the case to go to court. If there is enough evidence and the case isa serious one, the person accused( 控告) of the crime (called 'the accused( 被告)') is sent to a CROWN COURT for a TRIAL with a JUDGE and JURY (=12 members of the public whohave to decide if the accused is guilty( 有罪的), then the judge decides the SENTENCE( 判决) (2) (=punishment). If there is enough evidence against the accused but the crime isnot a serious one (for example a traffic offence) then the case is heard in a MAGISTRATES COURT.If found guilty in the Crown Court the accused may apply to( 请求) the COURT OF APPEAL (Criminal Division) where he or she will be heard by a judge. Sometimes a HIGH COURTjudge from the Queen's Bench Division assists in dealing with criminal matters in the Courtof Appeal or Crown Court.Criminal law in Northern IrelandIn Northern Ireland, as in England and Wales, someone accused of a crime may be tried ina Magistrates' Court or a Crown Court depending on how serious the crime is. Appeals fromthe Crown Court are heard in the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal.Criminal law in ScotlandScotland has a separate court system. After a person is arrested by the police, an officialcalled the PROCURATOR FISCAL is in charge of deciding whether there is enough evidence against the accused for a trial. If there is enough evidence and the crime is a very seriousone, the accused is sent to the HIGH COURT OF JUSTICIARY where there is a judge andjury( 陪审团) (in Scotland there are 15 people on a jury). If there is enough evidence butthe crime is a less serious one, the case is heard in a SHERIFF COURT (The sheriff is atrained lawyer who acts as a judge). Appeals from the Sheriff Court go to the High Court of Justiciary.Criminal law in the USThe US has tow separate court systems. In general terms STATE COURTS are used when someone has done something against the laws of CONSTITUTION of a particular State. FEDERAL COURTS deal with cases to do with the laws and Constitution of the United Statesas whole. Federal courts also hear cases where the US Government is one of the sidesinvolved( 介入). Cases for crimes which are not serious are likely to be heard in state courts. Serious crimes may be tried in wither state courts of federal courts depending on the situation, for example cases where a crime has taken place in another state are often heard in federal courts.After a person has been arrested a magistrate( 地方官员), or in some cases a GRAND JURY made up of between 16 and 23 citizens, decides whether they should go to trial. If there isenough evidence for a trial the accused goes to court and has to state whether he/she isguilty or not guilty of the crime. If they say they are not guilty they are sent to trial with ajudge and jury (of 16 or 20 citizens) in either a State or COUNTY COURT or , in federal cases, a DISTRICT COURT . If the accused is found guilty they may have the fight to appeal to ahigher court, as shown below.The final court of appeal in the US federal system and for some cases in the state courts isthe US SUPREME COURT . It is made up of a CHIEF JUSTICE and eight ASSOCIATES. The accused does not have the fight to be heard by the Supremes Court, but the SupremeCourt decides which cases it will hear .Holiday in Britain and the US Paid HolidayPeople in the US get 2 weeks a year paid vacation (holiday) form their job. Most Britishpeople have four or five weeks paid holiday a year . Americans often complain that two weeks is not enough holiday, especially when they hear about the longer holidays thatEuropeans get. In addition, there are 8 days in each country, which are public holidays (theBritish call Bank Holiday) and many of these fall on a Monday giving people a long weekend.In Britain, so many people drive to another part of the country, especially the coast, onBank Holiday weekends that there are serious traffic jams, which may stretch( 长达) for many miles.Popular Holiday PlacesWith the US, outdoor vacations are popular , for example at the Grand Canyon or Yosemiteor Yellowstone or the national parks or forests. Yong people may go walking or camping inthe mountains. Many people have capers or small trailer( 拖车) in which to travel, or if theyare in a car , they may stay at Motels on the journey Disneyland and Disneyworld are alsopopular and people can to skiing in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Wyoming and Montana.It is also very common to use vacations to visit relatives who may live in states a longdistance away. Some children go to summer camp for a holiday during the summer vacation form school, where they do special activities, such as sports or crafts.When Americans want a holiday for sun and rest, they usually go to Florida, Hawaii, Mexicoor the Caribbean. They may go to Europe for culture, for example, to see art, plays, andplaces of historic interest.In Britain, many people like to go to the seaside for holidays. There are places near the sea,such as Black pool, Scarborough and Bournemouth, where there is plenty to do even if itrains. In a traditional British seaside holiday, the children can watch a Punch and JudyShow, eat candy floss and rock (=sweet) and make sandcastles, while older people canhire a deckchair to sit on the beach. People also like to go to go the country, especially towalk, in places like Scotland, Wales and the Lake District.When the British go abroad they usually want to go somewhere warm. Spain and 'Spanishislands of Majorca and Ibiza are popular as are other places in southern Europe. For skiing,people often go to the Alps.Medicine in Britain and AmericanMedicine in BritainIn Britain there is a National Health Service (NHS) which is paid for by taxes and National Insurance( 保险), and in general people do not have to pay for medical treatment. Everyperson is registered with a doctor in their local area; know as general practitioner or GP . This means that their name is on the GP's list, and they may make an appointment to seethe doctor or may call the doctor out to visit them if they are ill. People do sometimes haveto pay part of the cost of drugs that the doctor prescribes( 开处方). GPs are trained in general medicine but are not specialists in any particular subject. If a patient needs to seea specialist doctor , they must first go to their GP and then the GP will make an appointment( 预约) for the patient to see a specialist at a hospital or clinic.Although everyone in Britain can have free treatment under the National Health Service. Itis also possible to have treatment done privately, for which one has to pay; some peoplehave private health insurance to help them pay for private treatment. Under the NHS, people who need to go to hospital may have to wait for a long time on a waiting list fortheir treatment. If they pay for the treatment, they will probably get it quickly.Anyone who is very ill can call an ambulance( 救护车) and get taken to hospital for free urgent medical treatment. Ambulances are a free service in Britain.Medicine in the USUnlike Britain, the US does not have a national health care service. The government doeshelp pay for some medical care for people who are on low incomes and for old, but mostpeople buy insurance to help pay for medical care. Some people cannot afford insurancebut not poor enough to get government help. The cost of medical insurance and the problems of those who can not afford it are an important political subject.When people are ill, they usually go first to a general practitioner or internist. Unlike inBritain, however , people sometimes go straight to a specialist, without seeing their general practitioner first. Children are usually taken to a pediatrician (a doctor who is a specialist inthe treatment of children). As in Britain, if a patient needs to see a specialist doctor , their general doctor will usually give them the name of one.Doctors don not go to people's homes when they are ill. People always make appointmentsto see the doctor in the doctor's office. In emergencies( 急诊), people call for an ambulance. Hospital must treat all emergency patients, even if the patient does not have medical insurance. The government would then help pay for some of the cost of the medical care.Social Class in BritainBritish society is considered to be divided into three main groups of classes - the UpperClass, the Middle Class, and the Lower or Working Class. This is known as the Class systemand it is important to know something about it if you want to understand British people and society. Most British people grow up with a deep knowledge and understanding of the classsystem even if they are not very conscious( 意识到) of it. Most people know which classthey belong to by the way they speak, their clothes, their interests or even the type of foodthey eat.Social class is not only about behavior and attitudes, For example, although many upperclass people are rich and may own a lot of land, having a lot of money does not make aperson upper class. It is also important to come from a particular kind of family, have friends who are considered suitable, have been to a certain type of private school andspeak with the right kind of accent. There are people who are poor but who do not think of themselves as working class because their family background, education, political opinions,etc. are different to those of most working-class people. Many people do not like the classsystem but it is impossible to pretend that these differences do not exist or that Britishpeople do not sometimes form opinions in this way.Pubs in BritainPubs are an important part of British life. Even very small villages nearly always have a pub.People especially men, will often go to the pub for a drink in the evening and at weekends.A man will usually go to the same pub, one which is closed by and which is called the local:I'm just nipping down to the local for a print. Women now go to pubs more than they usedto, but usually don not like to go to a pub on their own. Children under 16 are not usuallyallowed into pubs, although some pubs have a children's room or a garden where childrencan sit.Until 1988, pubs were only allowed to be open from 12:00 am to 2:00 pm alcoholic drinkcan be sold in a public place are called the licensing laws. Even though the law was changed so that alcohol can now be sold all day, many pubs still only pen at lunchtime andin the evening. When it is nearly time for the pub to close, the landlord or landlady shouts"last orders" and then "time".Pubs often sell food or snacks as well as drinks. Food that is considered typical pub food isscampi (kind of shellfish) and chips (fried potatoes), pie and chips, chicken and chips, and ploughman's lunch (bread with cheese).Pubs have names, e.g. The Angel, The Black Swan, The Crown, The King's Arms, The RedLion, The White Horse, etc. and people usually refer to the pub by its name: Turn left at theRose and Crown. There is often a sing outside the pub showing the name with a picture.Many pubs have two or more different bars. The public bar is usually plainly furnished andoften has a pool table and dartboard. It is the bar usually used by the local people. Thesaloon bar is comfortable and well-furnished( 装修很好的) and is the bar that is usually used by men and woman drinking together .Sports in Britain and the USFootball in Britain and AmericaFootball(soccer AmE) is a very popular sport in Britain, played between August and May(the football season) Many people, esp. men, support a particular team and may go towatch the games that their team plays. Professional football is controlled by two organizations, the Football League and the Football Association (the FA). In England andWales, there 93 teams in the League, organized into four divisions( 区）. In Scotland, there are 38 teams in the League, organized into three divisions. Teams play regularly againstthe other teams in their league or division according to a fixed programme. At the end ofthe season the team in the Premier League (or the Premier Division in Scotland) with themost points is the League Champion. This competition is called the League Championship.The other important competition is the FA Cup, often just called the cup. This is open to all armature football teams that belong to the FA as well as the 93 professional （专业）teams. The teams play against each other in a Knockout competition which starts in August andends in May. The two teams left in the competition play in the FA Cup Final at WembleyStadium in London. This is a very important national sporting occasion, watched by millionsof people in television.Team names usu. include the name of the town or city where the team is based, e.g. Leeds United, Sheffield Wednesday, Wolverhamptom Wanderers (Wolves), Dundee United, etc.Football (American football BrE) is a very popular sport in the US. Many people, esp. men,support a particular team and watch the game that their team plays. Each team has a name, which usually includes the name of the town or city that the team is associated with,some examples of names are: New York Jets, Washington Redskins, New England Patriots,and Green Bay Packers.The season starts in early autumn and ends at the end of January with the Super Bowl,which is the NFL championship game. The two teams that play in the Super Bowl are determined by games within the divisions and conferences. The Super Bowl is only onegame and at the end of the game, they have a sudden-death play-off, in which the firstteam to gain points wins the game. Professional football games are organized in the US in。

Education in Britain and the USIn Britain all children have to go to school between the ages of 5 and 16. In the US children must go to school from the age of 6 to between the ages of 14 and 16, depending on the state they live in.SubjectIn England and Wales the subjects taught in schools are laid down by the National Curriculum(课程), which was introduced in 1988 and sets out(制定) in detail the subjects that children should study and the levels of achievement they should reach by the ages of 7, 11, 14 and 16, when they are tested. The National Curriculum does not apply in Scotland, where each school decides what subjects it will teach.In the US the subjects taught are decided by national and local governments. Whereas British schools usually have prayers(祈祷) and religious(宗教的) instruction, American schools are not allowed to include prayers or to teach particular religious beliefs(信仰).ExaminationsAt 16 students in England and Wales take GCSE examinations. These examinations are taken by students of all levels of ability in any of a range of subjects and may involve a final examination, an assessment(评价) of work done during the two year course, or both of these things. At 18 some students taken A-level examinations, usually in not more than 3 subjects. It is necessary to have A-levels in order to go to a university or polytechnic(综合技术大学).In Scotland students take the SCE examinations. A year later, they can take examinations called HIGHS, after which they can either go straight to a university or spend a further year at school and take the Certificate(证书) of Sixth Year Studies. In Scotland the university system is different to that in England and Wales. Courses usually last four years rather than three and students study a larger number of subjects as part of their degree.In the US school examinations are not as important as they are in Britain. Students in High Schools do have exams at the end oftheir last two years, but these final exams are considered along with the work that the students have done during the school years.Social Events and Ceremonies(仪式)In American high schools there is a formal ceremony for Graduation (=completion of high school). Students wear a special cap and gown and receive a diploma(文凭) from the head of the school. Students often buy a class ring to ear, and a yearbook, containing pictures of their friends and teachers. There are also special social events at American schools. Sports events are popular, and cheer leaders lead the school in supporting the school team and singing the school song. At the end of their junior year, at age 17 or 18, students held in the evening. The girls wear long evening dresses and the boys wear TUXEDOS.In Britain, there are no formal dances or social occasions(场合) associated(和...有关) with school life. Some schools have SPEECH DAY at the end of the school year when prizes are given to the best students and speeches are made by the head teacher and sometimes an invited guest. However, in manyBritish schools students and teachers organize(组织) informal dances for the older students.Government in Britain and the USGovernment in BritainNational governmentThe center of government in Britain is PARLIAMENT(国会), which makes all the important laws for the country about crimes and punishment, taxation(犯罪), etc. Parliament is made up of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the monarch(贵族). The Houses of Parliament are in Westminster in London and sometimes “Westminster” itself is used to mean Parliament.The House of commons (or the Commons) is the lower but more powerful of the two Houses. It has 650 elected members, called Members of Parliament or MPs, each representing people in a particular area or constituency. The House of Lords (the Lords)is the higher but less powerful of the two Houses. It has over 1,000 members, none of whom is elected. These members include: people who have titles like Lord or Viscount(子爵) which have been passed down to them on the death of their father (hereditary peers(世袭贵族)); people who are given titles as a reward for their long service in public life, but whose children do not INHERIT(继承) their title (life peers); and some important leaders of the Church of England (Archbishops(大主教) and Bishops(主教)).The government brings BILL (=suggested laws) to the House of Commons, which are discussed by MPs. The bills then go to the House of Lords to be discussed. The House of Lords can suggest changes to a bill, but does not have the power to reject it (=refuse permission for it to be passed). When bills come back to the Commons, MPs vote on them and if they are passed they are signed by the monarch and become Acts of ParliamentAt present England, Scotland, Wales, and N Ireland are all governed by Parliament in Westminster. In N Ireland the political parties are different but their MPs still go to the House of Commons. In Scotland there is a lot of discussion aboutwhether Scotland should have some separate or partly separate form of government. The same is true in WalesLocal governmentLocal government is Britain, also known as Councils, can make small laws (bylaws) which only apply in their area, but these are usually about small, local matters. For instance, they may be about fines that will be made for people who park in certain streets.Councils are paid for by local taxes and also by an amount of money given to them each year by the national government. Their main job is the organizing and providing of local services, e.g. hospitals, school, libraries, public transport, street-cleaning, etc. They are also responsible for setting the amount of local tax that people must pay and for collecting this tax.Local councils(议会) are elected by people within each town, city, or country area. The people who are elected, known as councilors, usually represent one of the national political parties, but are often elected because of their policies on local issues(问题) rather than the national policies of their party.Government in the USAll levels of government in the US (federal(联邦), state, and local) are elected by the people of the country.Federal governmentThe constitution of the US specifically limits the power of the federal (=national) government mainly to defence(国防), foreign affairs, printing money, controlling trade and relations between the states, and protecting human rights. The federal government is make up of the CONGRESS(国会), the President, and the Supreme Count(最高法院).CongressCongress, the central law-making body in the US, is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives is the lower but more important of the two houses of Congress. It has 435 members, called Representatives or Congressmen/Congresswomen elected by their state. Themember of Representative(代表) for each state depends on the size of the population of the state, with each state having at least one Representative. The Senate is the higher but less powerful of the two houses of Congress. It has 100 members, called Senators(参议院), elected by their state. Each state has two Senators.Congress decides whether a BILL (suggested law) becomes law. If the Senate and the House of Representative both agree to a bill, the President is asked to agree.The President can veto(=say no to) the bill(议案), but Congress can still make it a law if 2/3 of the members of each house agree to it.State governmentState government has the greatest influence in people’s daily lives. Each state has its own written Constitution(宪法) (set of fixed law), and among the state there are sometimes great differences in law on matters such as property, crime, health, and education. The highest elected official of each state is theGovernor. Each state also has one or two elected lawmaking bodies (state Legislature) whose members represent the various parts of the state.Local governmentLocal government concerns laws made at the town, city or county level. These laws are usually limited to a small area and concern such thing as traffic, where and when alcoholic drinks can be sold, or keeping animals. The highest elected official of a town or city Council.Every law at every level of government must be in agreement with(一致) the United States constitution. Any citizen who thinks he or she has not been given their rights under the law may argue their case through all the courts up to the Supreme Court (the final Court of Appeal in the US) if necessary, and any law which is found not in agreement with the constitution (unconstitutional) cannot be kept in force.Newspapers in Britain and the USNewspapers in BritainNational and local papersIn Britain there are 11 national daily newspapers and most people read one of them every day. There are two kinds of newspaper. One is large in size and has many detailed articles about national and international events. These newspapers are called the serious papers or the quality papers. The other kind, called the tabloids is smaller in size, have more pictures, often in colour, and shorter articles, often about less important events or about the private lives of well-know people. Although some people disapprove(反对) of the tabloids(小报), more people buy them than buy the serious newspaper. The Sun, for example, which is a tabloid, is the biggest-selling newspaper in Britain. People who disapprove of the tabloids very strongly sometimes call them the Gutter Press.There are daily or weekly newspapers in all parts of Britain which cover local news as well as some national andinternational stories. Local papers give information about films, concerts, and other things that are happening in the local neighborhood, including, for example, information about local people who have been married or died recently. National papers generally give information about film, concerts and other events happening in London, In Scotland, many people read the Glasgow Herald or the Scotsman and there are Scottish Editions of the tabloids.There also many free local newspapers which are delivered to people’s homes whether they ask for them or not. These contain a lot of advertisements(广告) and also some news.PoliticsMost national newspapers in Britain express a political opinion and people choose the newspaper that they read according to their own political beliefs. Most of the newspapers are right-wing. These are the Daily Telegraph(serious newspaper), the Daily express, Daily Mail, Daily Star, the Sun and Today(all tabloids). Of the other serious newspapers, The Times, the oldest newspaper in Britain, did not formerly have one strong politicalview but it is now more right-wing. The Guardian is slightly left-wing, the Independent is centre and the Financial(金融) with political issues, but reports on business and financial news. The Daily Mirror(tabloid) is left-wing.Daily and Sunday newspapersDaily newspapers are published on every day of the week except Sunday. Sunday newspapers are larger than daily newspapers, often having 2 or 3 sections. There is also other a magazine, called the colour supplement(增刊). All the Sunday newspapers are national Serious newspapers include the Observer(which is slightly left-wing), the Sunday Times, the Sunday Telegraph and the Independent on Sunday, the Sunday Mirror, the Sunday Express, the News of the World and the Sunday Sport which is considered to lack much serious information.Newspapers in The USNational and local newspapersThere are more than 1500 daily newspapers in the US. Each oneis usually sold only in one part of the country, e.g. in a city, but they cover national and international news. In larger cities there is often more than one newspaper and the different ones express different political opinions. Some newspapers are sold in nearly all parts of the US. E.g. USA today and the National edition of the New York Times. Two other newspapers, the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post are know and respected all over the US but cannot be bought everywhere. Other important newspapers are: the Boston Globe, sold in New England, the Chicago Tribune, sold in the Midwest, the Christian Science Monitor and USA Today, both sold nationally, and the Washington Post on the East Coast.There are also weekly newspapers in all parts of the US which cover local news, such as what is happening in the local neighborhood(地方). Fewer people read these than read the daily newspapers.Daily and Sunday newspapersDaily newspapers are published on every day of the week except Sunday. Sunday newspapers are very big, often having severalseparate parts. They contain many longer articles and a lot of advertisements. Each section deals with a different subject. E.g. national and international news, sport, travel, etc. One section, the classifieds(分类广告) has advertisements for jobs and things for sale. Another section is called the funnies. There is often also a magazine which is in color.Alternative newspapersIn the 1960s a group of newspapers began to appear that were later called in “alternative press”. They expressed extreme(极端的) political opinions, especially left-wing opinion. Many of the newspapers which were part of this movement, such as the Village V oice in New York or the Reader in Chicago, are less extreme today and more widely read.Law in Britain and the USIn both Britain and the US, when a person is accused of a rime it must be shown that they are guilty "beyond reasonable doubt". A person is always innocent(无罪) in the eyes of the law until theyhave been proved to be guilty by a court they can sometimes ask for permission to APPEAL(上诉) to a higher court in the hope that it will change this decision.Criminal law in England and WalesWhen someone is arrested (ARREST) by the police, a MAGISTRATE (=an official who judges cases in some types of courts) decides whether there is enough EVIDENCE(证据) against the person for the case to go to court. If there is enough evidence and the case is a serious one, the person accused(控告) of the crime (called 'the accused(被告)') is sent to a CROWN COURT for a TRIAL with a JUDGE and JURY (=12 members of the public who have to decide if the accused is guilty(有罪的), then the judge decides the SENTENCE(判决) (2) (=punishment). If there is enough evidence against the accused but the crime is not a serious one (for example a traffic offence) then the case is heard in a MAGISTRATES COURT.If found guilty in the Crown Court the accused may apply to(请求) the COURT OF APPEAL (Criminal Division) where he or she will be heard by a judge. Sometimes a HIGH COURT judgefrom the Queen's Bench Division assists in dealing with criminal matters in the Court of Appeal or Crown Court.Criminal law in Northern IrelandIn Northern Ireland, as in England and Wales, someone accused of a crime may be tried in a Magistrates' Court or a Crown Court depending on how serious the crime is. Appeals from the Crown Court are heard in the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal.Criminal law in ScotlandScotland has a separate court system. After a person is arrested by the police, an official called the PROCURATOR FISCAL is in charge of deciding whether there is enough evidence against the accused for a trial. If there is enough evidence and the crime is a very serious one, the accused is sent to the HIGH COURT OF JUSTICIARY where there is a judge and jury(陪审团) (in Scotland there are 15 people on a jury). If there is enough evidence but the crime is a less serious one, the case is heard in a SHERIFF COURT (The sheriff is a trained lawyer who acts as a judge). Appeals from the Sheriff Court go to the High Court ofJusticiary.Criminal law in the USThe US has tow separate court systems. In general terms STATE COURTS are used when someone has done something against the laws of CONSTITUTION of a particular State. FEDERAL COURTS deal with cases to do with the laws and Constitution of the United States as whole. Federal courts also hear cases where the US Government is one of the sides involved(介入). Cases for crimes which are not serious are likely to be heard in state courts. Serious crimes may be tried in wither state courts of federal courts depending on the situation, for example cases where a crime has taken place in another state are often heard in federal courts.After a person has been arrested a magistrate(地方官员), or in some cases a GRAND JURY made up of between 16 and 23 citizens, decides whether they should go to trial. If there is enough evidence for a trial the accused goes to court and has to state whether he/she is guilty or not guilty of the crime. If they say they are not guilty they are sent to trial with a judge and jury (of 16 or 20 citizens) in either a State or COUNTY COURT or,in federal cases, a DISTRICT COURT. If the accused is found guilty they may have the fight to appeal to a higher court, as shown below.The final court of appeal in the US federal system and for some cases in the state courts is the US SUPREME COURT. It is made up of a CHIEF JUSTICE and eight ASSOCIATES. The accused does not have the fight to be heard by the Supremes Court, but the Supreme Court decides which cases it will hear.Holiday in Britain and the USPaid HolidayPeople in the US get 2 weeks a year paid vacation (holiday) form their job. Most British people have four or five weeks paid holiday a year. Americans often complain that tow weeks is not enough holiday, especially when they hear about the longer holidays that Europeans get. In addition, there are 8 days in each country, which are public holidays (the British call Bank Holiday) and many of these fall on a Monday giving people along weekend. In Britain, so many people drive to another part of the country, especially the coast, on Bank Holiday weekends that there are serious traffic jams, which may stretch(长达) for many miles.Popular Holiday PlacesWith the US, outdoor vacations are popular, for example at the Grand Canyon or Yosemite or Yellowstone or the national parks or forests. Yong people may go walking or camping in the mountains. Many people have capers or small trailer(拖车) in which to travel, or if they are in a car, they may stay at Motels on the journey Disneyland and Disneyworld are also popular and people can to skiing in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Wyoming and Montana.It is also very common to use vacations to visit relatives who may live in states a long distance away. Some children go to summer camp for a holiday during the summer vacation form school, where they do special activities, such as sports or crafts.When Americans want a holiday for sun and rest, they usuallygo to Florida, Hawaii, Mexico or the Caribbean. They may go to Europe for culture, for example, to see art, plays, and places of historic interest.In Britain, many people like to go to the seaside for holidays. There are places near the sea, such as Blackpool, Scarborough and Bournemouth, where there is plenty to do even if it rains. In a traditional British seaside holiday, the children can watch a Punch and Judy Show, eat candy floss and rock (=sweet) and make sandcastles, while older people can hire a deckchair to sit on the beach. People also like to go to go the country, especially to walk, in places like Scotland, Wales and the Lake District.When the British go abroad they usually want to go somewhere warm. Spain and 'Spanish islands of Majorca and Ibiza are popular as are other places in southern Europe. For skiing, people often go to the Alps.Medicine in Britain and AmericanMedicine in BritainIn Britain there is a National Health Service (NHS) which is paid for by taxes and National Insurance(保险), and in general people do not have to pay for medical treatment. Every person is registered with a doctor in their local area, know as general practitioner or GP. This means that their name is on the GP's list, and they may make an appointment to see the doctor or may call the doctor out to visit them if they are ill. People do sometimes have to pay part of the cost of drugs that the doctor prescribes(开处方). GPs are trained in general medicine but are not specialists in any particular subject. If a patient needs to see a specialist doctor, they must first go to their GP and then the GP will make an appointment(预约) for the patient to see a specialist at a hospital or clinic.Although everyone in Britain can have free treatment under the National Health Service. It is also possible to have treatment done privately, for which one has to pay, Some people have private health insurance to help them pay for private treatment. Under the NHS, people who need to go to hospital may have to wait for a long time on a waiting list for their treatment. If theypay for the treatment, they will probably get it quickly.Anyone who is very ill can call an ambulance(救护车) and get taken to hospital for free urgent medical treatment. Ambulances are a free service in Britain.Medicine in the USUnlike Britain, the US does not have a national health care service. The government does help pay for some medical care for people who are on low incomes and for old, but most people buy insurance to help pay for medical care. Some people cannot afford insurance but not poor enough to get government help. The cost of medical insurance and the problems of those who can not afford it are an important political subject.When people are ill, they usually go first to a general practitioner or internist. Unlike in Britain, however, people sometimes go straight to a specialist, without seeing their general practitioner first. Children are usually taken to a pediatrician (a doctor who is a specialist in the treatment of children). As in Britain, if a patient needs to see a specialistdoctor, their general doctor will usually give them the name of one.Doctors don not go to people's homes when they are ill. People always make appointments to see the doctor in the doctor's office. In emergencies(急诊), people call for an ambulance. Hospital must treat all emergency patients, even if the patient does not have medical insurance. The government would then help pay for some of the cost of the medical care.Social Class in BritainBritish society is considered to be divided into three main groups of classes - the Upper Class, the Middle Class, and the Lower or Working Class. This is known as the Class system and it is important to know something about it if you want to understand British people and society. Most British people grow up with a deep knowledge and understanding of the class system even if they are not very conscious(意识到) of it. Most people know which class they belong to by the way they speak, their clothes, their interests or even the type of food they eat.Social class is not only about behavior and attitudes, For example, although many upper class people are rich and may own a lot of land, having a lot of money does not make a person upper class. It is also important to come from a particular kindof family, have friends who are considered suitable, have beento a certain type of private school and speak with the right kind of accent. There are people who are poor but who do not thinkof themselves as working class because their family background, education, political opinions, etc. are different to those of most working-class people. Many people do not like the class system but it is impossible to pretend that these differences do not exist or that British people do not sometimes form opinions in this way.Pubs in BritainPubs are an important part of British life. Even very small villages nearly always have a pub. People especially men, will often go to the pub for a drink in the evening and at weekends.A man will usually go to the same pub, one which is closed by and which is called the local: I'm just nipping down to the local for a print. Women now go to pubs more than they used to, but usually don not like to go to a pub on their own. Children under 16 are not usually allowed into pubs, although some pubs have a children's room or a garden where children can sit.Until 1988, pubs were only allowed to be open from 12:00 am to 2:00 pm alcoholic drink can be sold in a public place are called the licensing laws. Even though the law was changed so that alcohol can now be sold all day, many pubs still only pen at lunchtime and in the evening. When it is nearly time for the pub to close, the landlord or landlady shouts "last orders" and then "time".Pubs often sell food or snacks as well as drinks. Food that is considered typical pub food is scampi (kind of shellfish) and chips (fried potatoes), pie and chips, chicken and chips, and ploughman's lunch (bread with cheese).Pubs have names, e.g. The Angel, The Black Swan, The Crown, The King's Arms, The Red Lion, The White Horse, etc. andpeople usually refer to the pub by its name: Turn left at the Rose and Crown. There is often a sing outside the pub showing the name with a picture.Many pubs have two or more different bars. The public bar is usually plainly furnished and often has a pool table and dartboard. It is the bar usually used by the local people. The saloon bar is comfortable and well-furnished(装修很好的) and is the bar that is usually used by men and woman drinking together.Sports in Britain and the USFootball in Britain and AmericaFootball(soccer AmE) is a very popular sport in Britain, played between August and May (the football season) Many people, esp. men, support a particular team and may go to watch the games that their team plays. Professional football is controlled by two organizations, the Football League and the FootballAssociation (the FA). In England and Wales, there 93 teams in the League, organized into four divisions(区）. In Scotland, there are 38 teams in the League, organized into three divisions. Teams play regularly against the other teams in their league or division according to a fixed programme. At the end of the season the team in the Premier League (or the Premier Division in Scotland) with the most points is the League Champion. This competition is called the League Championship.The other important competition is the FA Cup, often just called the cup.This is open to all armature football teams that belong to the FA as well as the 93 professional（专业）teams. The teams play against each other in a Knockout competition which starts in August and ends in May. The two teams left in the competition play in the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium in London. This is a very important national sporting occasion, watched by millions of people in television.Team names usu. include the name of the town or city where the team is based, e.g. Leeds United, Sheffield Wednesday, Wolverhamptom Wanderers (Wolves), Dundee United, etc.Football(American football BrE) is a very popular sport in the US. Many people, esp. men, support a particular team and watch the game that their team plays. Each team has a name, which usually includes the name of the town or city that the team is associated with, Some examples of names are: New York Jets, Washington Redskins, New England Patriots, and Green Bay Packers.The season starts in early autumn and ends at the end of January with the Super Bowl, which is the NFL championship game. The two teams that play in the Super Bowl are determined by games within the divisions and conferences. The Super Bowl is only one game and at the end of the game, they have asudden-death play-off, in which the first team to gain points wins the game. Professional football games are organized in the US in the following way: National Football League are divided into two conferences: One is National Football Conference（国家足协）and the other is American Football Conference. Both of them have 14 teams and three divisions.Basket Ball and Base Ball in The U.S。