英语国家概况名词解释汇总

英语国家概况名词解释汇总

英国部分 1.The Thames River

The Thames River is the second largest and most important river in

Britain. It is 336 KM long, rising in southwest England and flowing

through England and out into the North Sea. It flows rather slowly,

which is very favorable for water transportation.

2.The High Landers

They are the Scots who live in the mountainous regions of the Highlands

in Northern Scotland. They are a proud, independent and hardy people who maintain their strong cultural identity. They mainly live by

farming sheep in mountain areas or fishing on the coasts and islands.

3.The British Commonwealth 英联邦 The British Empire was replaced by the British Commonwealth or the

Commonwealth of Nations in 1931.It is a free association of independent

countries that were once colonies of Britain. Member nations are joined

together economically and have certain trading arrangements. The

Commonwealth has no special powers. The decision to become a member of the Commonwealth is left to each member nation. At present there are 50

members counties within the commonwealth

(1991).是曾为英国殖民地，但现在已经独立构成的自由联合体。

4.Cockney伦敦佬

A cockney is a Londoner who is born within the sound of Bow Bells-the

Bells of the church of St. Mary-LeBow in east London

5.Eisteddfodau

festivals of song and dance and poetry celebrated by the welsh through

the year. By this way the welsh keep the welsh language and welsh

culture alive.

6.The Maritime Climate 海洋性气候

The type of climate when winter is mild, not too cold and summer is

cool, not too hot, and it has a steady reliable rainfall throughout the

whole year.

7.The English Channel

A Channel that separates Britain from the rest of France is quite narrow. A channel tunnel under this channel was built in 1994 to join

the two countries together.

8.The Chunnel英吉利海峡隧道 In 1985 the British government and French government decided to build a

channel tunnel, which is called ―Chunnel‖, under the Straits of

Dover so that England and France could be joined together by road. The

Chunnel was open to traffic in May 1994.

9. London smog----In 1952, the sulphur dioxide in the four-day London

smog, an unhealthy atmosphere formed by mixing smoke and dirt with fog.

It left 4000 people dead or dying. Since then most cities in Britain

have introduced ―clean air zones‖ whereby factories and households are only allowed to burn smokeless fuel.

10.British isles

The British Isles is made up of two large islands and hundreds of small ones. The two large islands are Great Britain and Ireland.

11.Stonehenge: 巨石阵

It is a circular group of large standing stones on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, regarded as one of the most important monuments纪念碑 of

its kind in Europe, and very popular with visitors.

12.Thomas Becket he was English churchman and statesman. he became Chancellor of England

under Henry II in 1155.he was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury in

1162.

13.Geoffrey Chaucer

He was an important English poet in the fourteenth century. His best

known is The Canterbury Tales, which describes a group of pilgrims

traveling to Canterbury to visit Thomas Becket’s tomb. Because he was

the first important English poet to write in English. He has been known as the ―Father of English Poetry‖.

14.Joan of arc:圣女贞德 she was a national heroine of France during the hundred year’s war,

she successfully led the France to drive the English out of France.

15.lollards:罗拉德派 they were poor priests and traveling preachers who were john wyclif’s

followers. They played an important role in the mental preparations for

the peasant uprising of 1381.they preaching the equality of men before

god.

16.The Puritans清教徒

The Puritans were wealthy, well-educated gentlemen. They wanted to

purify the Church of England and threatened with religious persecution,

the Puritans leaders saw the New world as the a refuge provided by God for those He meant to save.

17.Julius Caesar

He was a great Roman general. In 55BC and 54BC,he invaded Britain twice. Because of the resistance of the British people, he withdrew

with hostages and prisoners. That's the beginning of the Roman

invasion.

18.The Hardrian's Wall

It was one of two great walls built by the Romans to keep the Picts out

of the area they had conquered.

19.Heptarchy七王国

During the Anglo-Saxon's time, Britain was divided into many kingdoms,

among which there were seven principal kingdoms of Kent, Essex, Sussex,

Wessex, East Anglia, Mercia and Northumbria. They were given the name

of Heptarchy.

20.St.Augustine

In 597,Pope Gregory I sent St.Augustine to England to convert the

English People to Christianity.He was very successful in converting the king and the nobility. He was the first archbishop of Canterbury.