自学考试英美国家概况191-206第十一章
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英美概况考试重点复习材料〔英国部分〕Chapter 1第一章Land and People 英国的国土与人民I. Different Names for Britain and its Parts 英国的不同名称与其各组成部分1.Geographical names: the British Isles, Great Britain and England. 地理名称:不列颠群岛,大不列颠和英格兰。
2.Official name: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 官方正式名称:大不列颠与北爱尔兰联合王国。
3.The British Isles are made up of two large islands-Great Britain (the larger one) and Ireland, and hundreds of small ones.不列颠群岛由两个大岛—大不列颠岛〔较大的一个〕和爱尔兰岛,与成千上万个小岛组成。
4.Three political divisions on the island of Great Britain: England, Scotland and Wale大不列颠岛上有三个政治区:英格兰、苏格兰和威尔士。
(1) England is in the southern part of Great Britain. It is the largest, most populous section.英格兰位于大不列颠岛南部,是最大,人口最稠密的地区。
(2) Scotland is in the north of Great Britain. It has three natural zones (the Highlands in the north; the Central lowlands; the south Uplands) Capital: Edinburgh 苏格兰位于大不列颠的北部。
英美国家概况答案英美国家概况答案【篇一:英语国家概况-谢福之-课后答案-简答题(美国部分)】er 81. how is the american population distributed?the distribution of the american population is rather uneven the most densely populated region is the northeastern part of the country. the great plains have a comparatively small population .the south also has a population of almost57.5million. the west is not densely populated ,except for some metropolitan centers like los angeles and san francisco . it has about 20% of the nation’s population.2. why was the immigration act of 1942 instituted ?the new immigrants in the united states , being poor and accustomed to poverty , were willing to work for very low wages .this made other workers afraid that the immigrants would ls and take jobs away from them . this opposition led to the immigration act of 1942.chapter 91. why did american change its policy and enter world war ii? because of the formation of the axis , the american government feared that the axis countries were wining the war and it might threaten america’s security and interests . it began to provide war equipment to the foreign nations resisting the aggression of the axis power . the japanese air raid on pearl harbor became the direct cause for america’s entrance into the war.2. what were nixon’s well-known contributions during his presidency?a) brought the vietnam war to a closeb)reestablishing u.s. relations with chinac) negotiating the firststrategic arms limitation treaty with the former soviet union .3. what were the contents of reagan’s economic program? reagan’s economic program called for reductions in income taxes and business taxes in order to encourage investment , and it also requested that many government regulations be eliminated so as to reduce the federal government’s role in the day-to-day operation of business.chapter 101. what are the two characteristics of the u.s. constitution? one is “checks and balances”, the other is that the power of the central government and the powers of state governments are specified.2. what are the qualifications for a senator and a representative respectively?a senator must be over 30 years old , a u.s. citizen for at least nine years, and a resident in the state which they represent . a representative should be at least 25 years old and a u.s. citizen for no less than seven years.3. what are the major powers of the supreme court?a) to interpret lawsb) to hear appeals from any federal court cases;c) to hear appeals from state court cases that involve the constitution or national lawsd) may declare a law unconstitutionale) may declare a presidential act unconstitutional.4. what is the difference between the democrats and the republicans in terms of political opinions?the democrats want the government to play an important role in the economy and emphasize full employment as a matter of national concern they favor civil rights laws , a strong social security system which gives enterprises a greater freedom and demand that the government control inflation. they stress the need for law and order, and oppose complete government social programs and free choice of abortion they also favor a strong military posture and assertive stand in international relations.chapter 111. what industry developments took place during the colonial period of america?during the colonial period ,the secondary industries developed as the colonies grew . a variety of specialized sawmills and gristmills appeared. colonists established shipyards to build fishing fleets and trading vessels . they alsobuilt small iron forges . by the 18th century , regional patterns of development in america had become clear.2. how did the civil war affect the american economy?after the civil war , the large southern cotton plantations became much less profitable . northern industries , which had expanded rapidly because of the demands of the war ,surged ahead.3. why does america try to reduce trade barriers?because the united states has increasingly realized that open bilateral trade will not only advance its own economic interests, but also enhance domestic stability and its peaceful relationship with other nations.chapter 121. how does an american university choose its applicants?a)their high school records;b) recommendations from their high school teachers;c) the impression they make during interviews at the university;d) their scores on the sat.2. what functions do american higher education institutions perform?higher education institutions in the united states have three functions: teaching , research and public service , and each has its own emphasis with regard to its function .3. what similarities do four famous university share?they all have a long history , they all have an excellent faculty , a large number of students and have made extensive academic achievements. some of their graduates are very successful or influential in some areas such as politics, arts and business.4. what are the origins of thanksgiving day?thanksgiving is associated with the time when europeans first came to the new world , in 1620,the mayflower arrived and brought about 150 pilgrims. life at the beginning was very hard and there was not enough food , so many of them died. during the following summer the native america helped them and then they had a bountiful harvest. so they held a big celebration to thank god and the native americans.第四大题chapter 81.why is the united states regarded as a”melting pot” anda ”salad bowl” ?the united states is not merely a nation,but a nation of nations.the immigrants came in waves,including the europeans,the africans and the asians.therefore,america isdescribed as amelting potwhere various racial and ethnic groups are assimilate into american culture.recently,america has been called asalad bowlin that people of difference races and ethnic groups mix harmoniously,but at the same time keep their distinct culture and customs.2. what do you think is the best way to help assimilation in a multicultural society?the best possible way to help assimilation in a multicultural society is to be open and tolerant toward differentcultures.people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds should respect each other.society should create opportunities to help immigrants become assimilated.at the same time the immigrants should keep their own language,customs and religion,contributing to the diversity of a multicultural society. chapter 91. what was the cause of the american civil war?the southern planters of america needed a large number of black african slaves to manage their plantations and they regarded the slaves as their property.in the north,with the development of industry,there was a growing demand for free labor.what’s more,t he northerners demanded a law to protect tariffs and asked the government to finance the building of railways and roads.but the southerners were against it and advocated free trade so as to purchase cheaper goods from foreign countries.the accumulating conflicts led to the division of the north and the south and finally the american civil war.2. what made the united states a powerful country by the end of world war ii?during the two world wars,america remained neutral in the early stage.however, americans continued their profitable tradewith the warring countries.therefore,they not only retained their military forces,but also accumulated great wealth.when america entered the wars,it was almost at the end of the wars.by sharing the fruit of victory with other allies,america greatly strengthened its power and became a powerful country by the end of world war ii.chapter 101. how is the american president voted into office? what are your ideas about the american election?each party holds its national convention every four years to choose a candidate for presidency.to win a presidential election,a candidate has to spend millions of dollars,travel all over the country to make speeches and debate on television with the rival.the general election is technically divided into two stages.during the first stage,presidential electors for each state will be chosen.in the second stage the electors meet and vote a president.since the second stage is only a kind offormality,everyone knows who will be the next president an soon as the first stage is over.i think the candidates spend too much money on the electoral campaigns.and, the election cannot solve the social and economic problems of the u.s. as some candidates do not keep their word after they become president.2. what was president eisenhowers foreign policy and what were the consequences ?president eisenhower made vigorous efforts to wage the cold war.he placed new emphasis on developing nuclear strength to prevent the outbreak of war.he also frequently authorized thecia to undertake secret interventions to overthrow unfriendly governments or protect reliable anti-communist leaders whose power was threatened.the cia helped topple the governments of iran and guatemala,but it suffered an embarrassing failure in indonesia.in addition,eisenhower used u.s.power and prestige to help create a non-communist government in south vietnam,which brought disastrous long-term consequences to the united states.chapter 111. how did the u.s constitution lay the groundwork for american’s economic development ?the u.s.constitution,as an economic charter,established that the entire nation was a unified or commonmarket.there were no tariffs or taxes on interstate commerce.it provided that the federal government could regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the states,establish uniform bankruptcy laws,create money and regulate its value,fix standards of weights and measures,establish post office and roads,and fix rules governing patents and copyrights.the last-mentioned clause was an early recognition of the importance of intellectual property,a matter that began assuming great importance in trade negotiations since the late 20thcentury.2. cite examples to illustrate the role of government intervention in americas economic development.the government has always played an active and important role in america’s economic development.in the early 1930s,thr united states suffered the worst economic depression in american history.president roosevelt introduced the new deal to tackle the financial crisis.besides,he set up the new york stateemergency relief commission to help those in desperate need and tried to relieve the serious problems of the jobless.at the end of 1970s, the american economy again suffered a recession.the reagan administration combated inflation by controlling government spending deficit,cutting taxes and raising interest rates.both policies mentioned above helped to set the country’s economic development on its right course,in all,the intervention of the government has ensured that economic opportunities are fair and accessible to the people.it has prevented flagrant abuses of the system,dampened the effects of inflation and stimulated economic growth.chapter 121. what are the ideals that guide the american educational system?the first ideal is that as many people as possible should receive as much education as possible .the second ideal is that of ptoducing a society that is totally literate and of local control . the third ideal is that scholars and students should work to discover new information or conceive new ways to understand what is already known .2. how does america carry out multicultural education?american schools routinely teach the experiences and values of many ethnic cultures.current textbooks incorporate a variety of ethnic individuals who have achieved success.struggle for equality are vividly depicted,and past racism is bluntly acknowledged.cultural pluralism is now generally recognized as the organizing principle of education.schools at all levels offer students opportunities to learn about different cultures.【篇二:2016年春《英美国家概况》在线作业及答案】the usschool systems, which of the following divisions is true?a.elementary school, grammar school.b.elementary school, junior high school.c.elementary school, secondary school.d.junior high school, senior high school. 您的答案:c题目分数:2.0此题得分:2.02.第2题to get a bachelor’s degree, an american undergraduatestudent is required to do the following except ____.a.attending lectures and complete assignmentsb.passing examinationsc.taking certain subjects such as history, language and philosophyd.earning a certain number of credits at the end of the four years at college您的答案:c题目分数:2.0此题得分:2.03.第3题which of the following is not guaranteed in the bill of rights?a.the freedom of religion.b.the freedom of searching a person’s home by police.c.the freedom of speech and of the press.d.the right to own weapons if one wishes. 您的答案:b题目分数:2.0此题得分:2.04.第4题the reason why many american young people were involved in the social movements of the 1960s wasthat ____.a.they resented traditional white male values in us society.b.they love america so much.c.they thought they knew better than their teachers.d.they viewed the adult world with grave doubt. 您的答案:a题目分数:2.0此题得分:2.05.第5题which of the following institutions isresponsible for the making of the internet?a.the us military.b.the us entertainment industry.c.the us film industry.d.the us education sector.您的答案:a题目分数:2.0此题得分:2.06.第6题which of the following is not a power of the president?a.the president can veto any bill passed by congress.b.the president has the authority to appoint federal judges when vacancies occur.c.the president can make laws.d.the president has broad powers, with the executive branch, to issue regulations and directives regarding the work of the federal departments.您的答案:c题目分数:2.0此题得分:2.07.第7题if a student wants to go to university in britain, he will take the examination called ____.a.general certificate of education – advanced.b.general certificate of secondary education.c.the common entrance examination.d.general national vocational qualifications. 您的答案:a题目分数:2.0此题得分:2.08.第8题where are international tennis championships held in the uk?a.wembley.b.wimbledonc.london.d.edinburgh您的答案:b题目分数:2.0此题得分:2.09.第9题a free press is considered very important to the functioning of parliamentary democracy because _____.a.it plays a watchdog function, keeping an eye on the government.b.it informs people of current affairs in the world.c.it provides people with subjective reports.d.it publishes short pamphlets for parliament. 您的答案:b题目分数:2.0此题得分:0.010.第10题which city is the capital in scotland?a.cardiffb.edinburghc.glasgowd.manchester您的答案:b题目分数:2.0此题得分:2.011.第11题how many counties are there in northern ireland?a.26b.6c.32d.20您的答案:b题目分数:1.0此题得分:1.012.第12题when did scotland join the union by agreement of the english and scottish parliaments?a.in 1715b.in 1688c.in 1745d.in 1707您的答案:d题目分数:1.0此题得分:1.013.第13题what happened in 1215?a.it was the year of norman conquest in british history.b.forced by barons, king john signed the magna carta.c.hey iv granted the commons the power to review moneygrants.d.king egbert united england under his rule. 您的答案:b题目分数:1.0此题得分:1.014.第14题which of the following is not a true description of the queen’s role?a.the queen selects the prime minister and the cabinet.b.the queen symbolises the tradition and unity of the british state.c.the queen acts as a confidante to the primeminister.d.the queen is the temporal head of the church of england.您的答案:a题目分数:1.0此题得分:1.015.第15题which of the following sports was not invented in britain?a.football.b.tennis.c.basketballd.cricket.您的答案:c题目分数:1.0此题得分:1.016.第16题easter commemorates ____.a.the birth of jesus christ.b.the crucifixion of jesus christ.c.the coming of spring.d.the crucifixion and resurrection of jesus christ.您的答案:d题目分数:1.0此题得分:1.017.第17题in the examination called “the 11 plus”, students with academic potential go to ____.a.grammar schools.c.public schools.d.technical schools.您的答案:a题目分数:1.0此题得分:1.018.第18题which of the following description about the【篇三:英语国家概况英国--课后问答题[1]】ass=txt>chapter 1questions for thought:1. what was the british empire? what do you know about it? in what way is the ―empire‖ still felt in britainand in the international field? key points:3. a system of monarchy was observed still on today’s britain, which went through the history. the queen is still the head of the commonwealth.4. the ―empire‖ still can be felt in the following ways:a. there are still close relationships between the uk and the fifty or more countries which used to be its former colonies, and which maintain links through a loose organization called the commonwealth of nations.b. it became one member of the european union since 1973.c. the effect also lies in the makeup of the british population itself. newly immigrants mainly came from the former colonies, specially from india and caribbean area.d. today the monarchrepresents the country in many occasions. e. class exists and lords and peers are obvious evident of the imperial past.2. why does the author say that it is not possible to sum up the british people with a few simple phrases? key points: reasons: 1. regional differences---england, scotland, wales, northern ireland 2. racial differences3. class differences4. cultural differences---highland vs lowland5. religious differences---protestants vs catholics (main in northern ireland) 3. ―british history has been a history of invasion‖. please illustrate this point with the examples from the text.how did each of the invasions influence english culture? key points:4. what are some general characteristics of scotland? how did scotland become part of the union of greatbritain? key points:1. the celts originally lived on scotland, they kept their own culture and language—the gealic.2. around the ad 6th c, people from northern ireland invaded the south-west --- the lowland zone. they were called scots and gave the modern country of scotland its name.3. the scottish people have a strong sense of nationality and desire for cultural independence. they observed some old customs and tradition, like the highland tradition. today, bagpipe, and tartan are considered as the souvenir of the scottish history.4. the division between highland and lowland scotland remains a cultural divide today, in much the same way as northand south england see themselves as different from each other.5. scotland has a great tradition of innovation in the arts, philosophy and science.robert louis stevenson’s famous novel dr jekyll and mr hyde 《吉基尔医生与海德先生》shows that: scotland was superficially fully integrated into the uk, but concealed beneath this is a still-strong scottish identity. union with england in 17071. in 1603, queen elizabeth i of england died. james the 6th of scotland took the throne, called james the first of england; uniting the two thrones2. scotland maintained its separate political identity.3. in 1707, scotland joined the union by agreement of the english and scottish parliaments4. scotland sends 72 representatives to the london parliament.5. describe characteristics of wales and wales’ unification with great britain. characteristics:1.capital: cardiff, on the south coast2.rich coal deposits3.attract foreign investment from japan and u.s, etc. -- new industries to replace coal and steel4.smallest on the british mainland; close to central england; hilly and rugged5.retains a powerful sense of difference from england6.retains its own language; 19% population speaking gaelic unification with great britainacknowledge him as prince of wales by a military campaign, and unified wales as an independent nation. 2.1282, he was killed. the english king edward i named his son the prince of wales, trying to bring wales into the british nation.6. are there any differences between england, scotland and wales in terms of cultural tradition?chapter 2 northern ireland questions for thought:1. why is northern ireland so significant in the uk? what is the political problem there? keys:1. it is significant because of the political troubles there.2. the political troubleoriginal inhabitants were mainly descents of celts; they believed in catholics. the immigrants from scotland and north england in the 17th c, sent by the english king for the sake of better control over ireland, were mainly protestants. their arrival aroused local people’s hostility. they were pressured.in 1921 the ireland got independence while in northern ireland, the majority was protestant and loyalists to the british government, wanted to be separated from the rest parts of ireland.now in northern ireland, the minority—the catholics found it difficult for them to find job. the conflicts between protestants and catholics got increased.to protect the local catholics, the british soldiers stationed northern ireland in 1969, which later accelerated the conflicts between the local people and the british government.2. what are some of the factors in irish and english history that affect the situation in northern ireland today? keys:1. racial,2. religious3. immigration in 17th c.4. the british solders’ station in 1969chapter 3 the government of the united kingdom questions for thought:1. what are some of the characteristics of the british constitutional monarchy? how has the english monarchy evolved gradually to the present constitutional monarchy? 1. the oldest institution of government2. king egbert (埃格伯特国王): the ancestor of the present queen elizabeth ii. united england under his rule in 829.3. divine right of kings (君权神授)---the ancient doctrine held that the sovereign derived his authority from god, not from his subjects. this was used by the kings as an excuse for abusing power. and the dispute over the power of the king and the parliament led to the civil war.4. the civil war set the rights of the parliament. the monarch was kept but his power was limited. the constitution was set up to guarantee rights of people. monarch became a symbol of the country.2. how did the doctrin e of the ―divine right of kings‖, according to the author, lead to the english civil war?what do you know about the causes of the english revolution in the 17th century?king james i believed the divine right of kings, so did his descent---charles i. charles i called his t parliament only when he needed to collect money.the civil war was caused by a dispute over the power of the king against parliament in the 17th c. therepublican ―roundheads‖, led by oliver cromwell, wanted to abolish the monarchy and to reassert the rights of parliament. in 1642, the royalists were defeated and king charles i was executed in 1649.the english civil war not only overthrew feudal in england but also shook the foundation of the feudal rule in europe. it isgenerally regarded as the beginning of modern world history. the civil war was in essence a capitalist revolution because capitalism paved its way of development after the war.3. what is the history of english parliament? what role did the parliament play in the civil war?in medieval times, a group of leading, wealthy barons who were summoned by the king several times a year to give the king some extra money. this was the great council. by the 13th c., representatives of counties, towns and cities were also included in order to raise more money. this was the beginning of what we know as parliament today.in the civil war, the parliament was opposite to the monarchy in their dispute over the power. the republican ―roundheads‖, led by oliver cromwell, wanted to abolish the monarchy and to reassert the rights of parliament.4. discuss the major characteristics and the main content of the british constitution.britain, like israel, has no written constitution. the foundations of the british state are laid out in statute law(成文法), which are laws passed by parliament; the common laws(普通法,判例法), which are laws established through common practice in the courts; and conventions(习惯法), which are rules and practices not existing legally, but regarded as vital to the workings of government.5. why the parliament is supreme in the british sate? what function does parliament have? what role does the queen and the prime minister play in british government?parliament is supreme in the british state because it alone had the power to change the terms of the constitution. there are no legal restraints upon parliament. it can make or change laws,functions: 1) passes laws2) provides the means of carrying on the work of government by voting for taxation3) scrutinize government policy, administration and expenditure and to debate the major issues of the day. the roles of the queen/king1.symbolize the tradition and unity of the british state2.legally head of the executive, (行政部)3.an integral part of the legislature(立法机关)4.head of the judiciary(司法部)2. set standards of good citizenship and family life3. a confidante(知己的女友) to the prime minister, offering valuable observations on the running of government role of the prime ministerking george i was ―imported‖ from germany in 1714 and was not interested in politics, so he left the job of chairing cabinet meetings to one of his cabinet ministers, called the prime minister. later in 1832, elections replaced appointment. the party with the most supporters in the commons forms the government and the leader of that party becomes prime minister.today prime minister and his cabinet compose of the entity of the government.6. what kind of institution is the house of lords? what role does it play in british government?it’s one house of the parliament, but the power of making law and collecting taxes mainly resides on the house of commons. the house of lords consists of the lords spiritual(上议院的神职议员), who are the archbishops and most prominent bishops of the church of england; and the lords temporal(上议院的世俗议员), which refers to those lords who either have inherited the seatfrom their forefathers(called hereditary peers) or they have been appointed(by the sovereign, at the suggestion of the prime minister and were called life peers(终身贵族). the lords mainly represent themselves instead of the interests of the public chapter 4 politics questions for thought:1. who can stand for election as an mp in the uk? why are small parties and independent candidates powerless in the election campaign for the formation of a government?anyone who is eligible to vote can stand as an mp. it is necessary only to make a deposit of 500 pounds which is lost if the candidate does not receive at least 5% of the vote.because even they were to win the seat they would be powerless in parliament against the big parties’ representatives (p54, para1)2. what are three big parties in the uk? what are some of the similarities and dissimilarities between the threeparties?they are the labor party, the conservative party and the liberal democratic party.the labour party--- one of the 2 biggest parties in the uk. it is also the newest party, created by the trade union movement at the end of the 19th century. it is a socialist party, believing that a society should be relatively equal in economic terms, and that the government should redistribute the wealth between the rich and the poor. it also thinks that the government should provide a range of public services for all the people.the conservative party --- one of the 2 biggest parties in the uk. it is basically the party of the individual, protecting the individual’ s right to acquire wealth and to spend i t as he/she wants. it advocates economic policies which are favourable to。
《英美国家概况》课程教学大纲一、课程大体信息课程代码:080355课程名称:英美国家概况英文名称:An Introduction to the Society and Culture of Major English-Speaking Countries课程类别:选修课学时:36学分:适用对象: 英语专业学生考核方式:考试先修课程:基础英语,英语语法,英语泛读等二、课程简介英美国家概况是一门集英语国家背景知识和英语语言知识为一体的英语专业限选课,旨在向学生介绍所学语言国家的社会和文化等背景知识,拓宽其知识面,帮忙学生了解要紧英语国家的社会与文化概貌,使其从文化和社会的角度加倍深刻地明白得和把握所学语言知识和技术。
This is an English Major elective which, mingling together the background information of English-speaking countries and knowledge of the English language, aims at introducing to students information on the society and culture of major English-speaking countries, thus enlarging their sphere of knowledge and enhancing their power to better understand and manipulate the knowledge and skills they have acquired.三、课程性质与教学目的1.课程性质英美国家概况是一门集英语国家背景知识和英语语言知识为一体的英语专业限选课。
2.课程目的本课程旨在向学生介绍所学语言国家的社会和文化等背景知识,拓宽其知识面,帮忙学生了解要紧英语国家的社会与文化概貌,如地理、历史、政治、经济、社会生活和文化传统等方面的大体知识,使其从文化和社会的角度加倍深刻地明白得和把握所学语言知识和技术,为从事以后的工作打下较为坚实的基础。
《英美国家概况》I. Multiple Choices: Choose one right answer from the four choices:1. The highest mountain in Britain is ____.A. ScafellB. Ben NevisC. the CotswoldsD. the Forth2. The longest river in Britain is _____.A. the ClydeB. the MerseyC. the SevernD. the Thames3. The largest lake in Britain is _____.A. the Lough NeageB. Windermere WaterC. Coniston WaterD. the Lake District4. Which part of Britain is always fighting?A. EnglandB. ScotlandC. WalesD. Northem Ireland5. The immigrants coming to Britain are mainly from _____.A. EuropeB. the United StatesC. AfricaD. the West Indies,6. The first inhabitants in Britain were _____.A. the NormansB. the CeltsC. the IberiansD. the Anglo-Saxons7. British Recorded history began with _____.A.Roman invasionB. the Norman ConquestC. the Viking and Danish invasionD. the Anglo-Saxons invasion8. In 829, _____ actually became the overlord of all the English.A. JohnB. James IC. EgbertD. Henry I9. Christmas Day ____, Duke William was crowned in Westminster Abbey.A. 1056B. 1066C. 1006D. 106010. Henry II was the first king of the _____ dynasty.A. WindsorB. TudorC. MalcolmD. Plantagenet11. In 1265 ____ summoned the Great Council, which has been seen as the earliest parliament.A. Henry IIIB. the PopeC. BaronsD. Simon de Montfort12. The Hundred Years’ war started in ____ and ended in ____, in which the English had lost all the territories of France except the French port of ____.A. 1337, 1453, FlandersB. 1337, 1453, CalaisC. 1346, 1453, ArgencourtD. 1346, 1453, Brest13. The Wars of Roses lasted for _____ years and king _____ was replaced by king _____.A.30, Richard III, Henry TudorB. 50, Richard III, Henry TudorB. C. 30, Richard I, Henry Tudor D. 50, Richard I, Henry Tudor14. The Renaissance began in ____ in the early ____ century.A. England, 14B. England, 15C. Italy, 14D. Italy, 1515. The English Civil War is also called _____.A. the Glorious RevolutionB. the Bloody RevolutionC. the Catholic RevolutionD. the Puritan Revolution16. In _____, a small group of Puritans sailed from _____ in the Mayflower to be the first settlers in the North America.A. 1620, LondonB. 1620, PlymouthC. 1720, LondonD. 1720, Plymouth17. In the 18th century, there appeared ____ in England, which owed a great deal to the invention of machines.A. the Industrial RevolutionB. the Bourgeois RevolutionC. the Wars of the RosesD. the Religious Reformation18. English colonial expansion began with the colonization of _____ in 1583.A. CanadaB. AustraliaC. IndiaD. Newfoundland19. _____ was famous for his abdication because of his marriage with a divorced American:A. Edward VIIIB. Edward VIIC. George VID. George VII20. In January _____ Britain became a member of the European Economic Community.A. 1957B. 1967C. 1973D. 197921. soon after _____, Britain not only gave up its econmic hegemony but also suffered a deep loss of its position of industrial leadership.A. 1900B. the First World WarC. the Second World WarD. 196022. In the 1970s among the developed countries, Britain maintained the lowest _____ rate and the highest _____ rate.A. inflation, growthB. growth, inflationC. growth, divorceD. growth, birth23. The following are all reasons of British decline of coal industry except _____.A.the exhaustion of old minesB. costly extractionB. C. little money being invested D. the labour shortage24. Britain’s foreign trade is mainly with _____.A. developing countriesB. other Commonwealth countriesC. other developed countriesD. EC25. The House of Lords is presided over by _____.A. the Lord ChancellorB. the QueenC. the Archbishop of CanterburyD. the Prime Minister26. A General Election is held every _____ years and there are _____ members of Parliaments are elected.A. five, 600B. five, 650C. five, 651D. four, 65127. The Prime Minister is appointed by _____ and he or she always sits in _____.A. the Archbishop of Canterbury, the House of CommonsB. the Archbishop of Canterbury, the House of LordsC. the Queen, the House of CommonsD. the Queen, the House of Lords28. The ultimate authority for law-making resides in _____.A. the QueenB. the CabinetC. the House of LordsD. the House of Commons29. The sources of British law include _____.A. statutes, common law, equity law and European Community lawB. statutes, common law and equity lawC. statutes, common law and European Community lawD. a complete code and statutes30. In criminal trials by jury, _____ passes sentenced and _____ decide the issue of guilt or innocence.A. the judge, the juryB. the judge, the judgeC. the jury, the juryD. the Lord Chancellor, the jury答案I. Multiple Choices: Choose one right answer from the four choices.1. B2. C3. A4. D5. D6. C7. A8. C9. B 10. D11. D 12. B 13. A 14. C 15. D16. B 17. A 18. D 19. A 20. CII. Fill in the blanks:1. Ceographically speaking, the north and west of Britain are _______, while the east and south-east are mostly______.2. Welsh is located in the ______ of Great Britain.3. The ancestors of the English ______, while the Scots, Welsh and Irish the ______.4. In the mid-5th century, three Teuronic tribes ______, _____, and _____ invaded Britain. Among them, the _____ gave their name to English people.5. The battle of _______ witnessed the death of Harold in October, 1066.6. Under William, the ______ system in England was completely established.7. The property record in William’s time is kno wn as ______, which was compiled in _____.8. _____’s grave became a place of pilgrimage in and beyond chaucer’s time after he was murdered.9. ______ was the deadly bubonic plague, which reduced England’s population from four million to ______ million b y the end of the 14th century.10. One of the consequences of the Uprising of 1381 was the emergence of a new class of ______ farmers.11. James I and his son Charles I both believed firmly in ______.12. During the Civil War, the Cavaliers supported ________, while the Roundheads supported _______.13. After the Civil War, Oliver Cromwell declared England a ______, later, he became _________.14. In 1707, the Act of _______ united England and ______.15. The two parties originated with the Glorious Revolution were _____ and _______. The former were the forerunners of the ______ Party, the latter were of the ______ party.16. In 1765, the Scottish inventor _____ produced a very efficient _____ that could be applied to textile and other machinery.17. After the Industrial Revolution, Britain became the “______” of the world.18. During the Second World War ________ led Britain to final victory in 1945.19. In 1974 and 1977, the two ______ shock caused inflation to rise dramatically.20. Natural gas was discovered in 1965 and oil in 1970 under _______.II. Fill in the blanks:1.highlands, lowlands2. west3. Anglo-Saxons, Celts4. Jutes, Saxons, Angles, Angles5. Hastings6. feudal7. Domesday Book, 10868. Thomas Becket9. Black Death, two 10. yeomen 11. the Divine Right of Kings 12. the king, the Parliament 13. Commonwealth, Lord Protector 14. Union, Scotland 15. Whigs Tories Liberal Conservative 16. James Watt steam engine 17. workship 18. Winston Churchill19. oil 20. the North SeaIII. Explain the following terms.1. the Hardian’s Wall: It was one of the two great walls built by the Romans to keep the Picts out of the area they had conquered.2. Alfred the Great Alfred was a strong king of the wisemen. It was created by the Anglo-Saxons to advis e the king. It’s the basis of the Privy Council which still exists today.3. William the Conqueror William was Duke of Normandy. He landed his army in Oct, 1066 and defeated king Harold. Then he was crowned king of England on Christams Day the same year. He established a strong Norman government and the feudal system in England.4. the battle of Hastings In 1066, King Edward died with no heir, the Witan chose Harold as king. William, Duke of Normandy, invaded England. On October 14, the two armies met nea r Hasting. After a day’s battle, Harold was killed and his army completely defeated. So this battle was very important on the way of the Roman conquest.5. Domesday Book Under William, the feudal system was established. William sent officials to compile a property record known as Domesday Book, which completed in 1086. It was the result of a general survey of England made in 1085. It stated the extent, value, the population, state of cultivation, and ownership of the land. It seemed to the English like the Book of doom on Judgement Day.6. the Great Charter King John’s reign caused much discontent among the barons. In 1215, he was forced to sign a document, known as Mangna Cara, or the Great Charter. It has 63 clauses. Though it has long been regarded as the foundation of English liberities, its spirit was the limitation of the king’s powers, keeping them within the bounds of the feudal law of the land.7. the Hundred Years’ War It referred to the intermittent war between France and England that last from 1337 to 1453. The causes were partly territorial and partly economic. When Edward III claimed the French Crown but the Frenchrefused to recognize, the war broke out. At first the English were successful, but in the end, they were defeated and lost almost all their possessions in France. The expelling of the English was a blessing for both countries.8. Joan of Arc She was a national heroine of France during the Hundred Years’ War. She successfully led the French to drive the English out of France.9. the Black Death It was the deadly bubonic plague who spread through Europe in the 14th century. It swept through England without warning and any cure, and sparing no victims. It killed between half and one-third of the population of England. Thus, much land was left untended and labour was short. It caused far-reaching economic consequences.10. the Wars of Roses They referred to the battles between the House of Lancaster and the House of York between 1455 and 1485. The former was symbolized by the red rose, and the latter by the white one. After the wars, feudalism received its death blow and the king’s power became supreme. Thdor monarchs ruled England and Wales for over two hundred years.11. Bloody Mary Henry VIII’s daughter and a devout Catholic. When sh e became Queen, she persecuted and burnt many Protestants. So she was given the nickname “Bloody Mary”. Mary is also remembered as the monarch who lost the French port of Calais.12. Elizabeth I One of the greatest monarchs in British history. She reigned England, Wales and Ireland for 45 years and remained single. Her reign was a time of confident English nationalism and of great achievements in literature and other arts, in exploration and in battle.13. Oliver Cromwell The leader during the Civil War who led the New Model Army to defeat the king and condemned him to death. Then he declared England a Commonwealth and made himself Lord of Protector. He ruled England till the restoration of charles II in 1660.14. the Bill of Rights In 1689, William and Mary accepted the Bill of Rights to be crowned jointly. The bill excluded any Roman Catholic from the succession, confirmed the principle of parliamentary supremacy and guaranteed free speech within both the two Houses. Thus the age of constitutional monarchy began.15. Whigs and Tories It referred to the two party names which originated with the Glorious Revolution of 1688. The Whigs were those who opposed absolute monarchy and supported the right to religious freedom for Noncomformists. The Tories were those who supported hereditary monarchy and were reluctant to remove kings. The Whigs formed a coalition with dissident Tories and became the Liberal Party. The Tories were the forerunners of the Conservative Party.16. James Watt The Scottish inventor who produced an efficient steam engine with rotary motion that could be applied to textile and other machinery.17. Winston Churchill Prime Minister of Britain during the Second World War. He took over Chamberlain in 1940 and received massive popular support. He led his country to final victory in 1945. He was defeated in the general election of 1945, but returned to power in 1951.18. Agribusiness It refers to the new farming in Britain, because it’s equipped and managed like an industrial business with a set of inputs into the farm of processes which occur on the farm, and outputs or products which leave the farm. The emphasis is upon intensive farming, designes to give the maximum output of crops and animals.19. the British Constitution There is no written constitution in the United Kingdom. The British Constitution is not set out in any single document, but made up of statute law, common law and conventions. The Judiciary determines common law and interpret statues.20. Queen Elizabeth II The present Sovereign, born in 1926, came to the throne in 1952 and was crowned in 1953. The Queen is the symbol of the whole nation, the center of many national ceremonies and the leader of society.IVRead the following statements carefully and decide if each of them is True or False: ( 20 points )( ) 1. The Bill of Rights is the term for the first twelve amendments to the Constitution.( ) 2. The stock market crash in 1929 was the beginning of a long economic depression in the U. S.( ) 3. George Washington was the first president of the United States.( ) 4. The system of the parliamentary government of the U.K. is based on a written constitution.( ) 5. Benjamin Franklin alone drafted the Declaration of Independence, and on July 4, 1776, the Congress adopted the declaration.( ) 6. Britain was the first country to start the Industrial Revolution which contributed to the establishment of the British Empire.( ) 7. The word English means “the language that belongs to the Angles.”( ) 8. The Pennines are known as the “Backbone of England”.( ) 9. The largest lake in Britain is the Lough Neagh Lake in Wales which covers an area of 397 square kilometers. ( ) 10. Both the First Continental Congress and the Second Continental Congress were held in Boston.( ) 11. The American Constitution founded feudalism and introduced checks and balances.( ) 12. The national church in Scotland is also the Church of England.( ) 13.Of all the English university Oxford and Cambridge are the most prestigious( ) 14. The House of Lords is now made up of two kinds of Lords: the Lords Spiritual and the Lords Temporal.( ) 15. William, Duke of Normandy, founded a strong fleet which first beat the Danes at sea and he became known as “Father of the British Navy.”( ) 16. Anglo-Saxons in Britain are believed to be ancestors of the Highland Scots, the Irish and the Welsh people. ( ) 17. After Margaret Thatcher was elected Britain’s first ever woman prime minister in 1979, she adopted a new program to cure the “British disease”.( ) 18. America Vespucci proved that the land discovered by Columbus was not Indian, but a new continent. As a result, the new continent was named after him and became known as America.( ) 19. Declaration of Independence was formally adopted by the Continental Congress on July 14, 1776, a day which has been celebrated each year as Independence Day of the United States.( ) 20. When the news of American victory at Yorktown reached London, the Parliament voted to end the War and peace negotiation began in 1782.1~5 FTTFF 6~10 TTTFF 11~15 FFTTTIIV Give an one-sentence answer to each of the following questions.1. What is the longest river in Britain?The longest river in Britain is Severn river.2. How long did the Wars of the Roses go on?The War of the Roses went on for 30 years.3. When did American Civil War break out?. American Civil War began in 1861.4. What were the mainstream Americans called?The mainstream Americans are called WASPs.5. What does American Congress consist of?American Congress consists of Senate and House of Representatives.IIIV Write between 100-150 words on the following topic: ( 10 points )Cold WarKey to Model 2Some historians say that the world entered Cold War immediately after the Second World War ended. The conflicts arose basically from the separate concepts of postwar world order. The United States, relying on its large economic and military strength, tried to play the role of world police under the pretext of fighting against the Soviet expansion. The Soviet Union put forward the theory that there could be no long-term peaceful coexistence between socialism and capitalism and the Soviet Union should rapidly build up its strength for the final struggle against capitalism, represented by the United States and Britain. Cold War was characterized by international tension and conflicts without bloody “hot war” between the Soviet Union and the United States. Cold War did not end until after the collapse of Berlin Wall in 1989.。
一、翻译题分constitutional monarchy 君主立宪制the Monarch 君主Parliament 议会House of Commons 平民院平民院/下议院The Government Party执政党Royal Assent御准(女王批准)Shadow Cabinet 影子内阁jury system 陪审团制the Conservative Party 保守党保守党the Labour Party 工党工党common law 习惯法Crown Courts 王室法院The Celts 凯尔特人Anglo-Saxons 盎格鲁萨克逊人Norman Conquest 诺曼征服The Great Charter 大宪章大宪章The Hundred Years’ War 百年大战The Black Death黑死病Renaissance 文艺复兴Humanists 人文主义者the Great Lakes大湖区Secretary of State国务卿The US Congress 国会众议院国会the House of Representatives众议院The Judicial Branch司法部门the Supreme Court最高法院最高法院the Boston Tea Party波士顿倾茶事件、The Bill of Rights人权法案人权法案The Star-Spangled Banner星条旗The Monroe Doctrine门罗主义Emancipation Proclamation解放宣言/废奴宣言Frontiersman拓荒者The Civil War内战The Westward Movement西进运动英语国家概况精讲系列(一)Chapter 1 第一章Land and People 英国的国土与人民I. Different Names for Britain and its Parts 英国的不同名称及其各组成部分1.Geographical names: the British Isles, Great Britain and England. 地理名称:不列颠群岛,大不列颠和英格兰。
英美概况考试题及答案一、选择题(每题2分,共20分)1. 英国的首都是哪里?A. 伦敦B. 爱丁堡C. 曼彻斯特D. 伯明翰答案:A2. 美国的独立日是哪一天?A. 7月4日B. 7月14日C. 7月17日D. 7月24日答案:A3. 英语中“下午茶”起源于哪个国家?A. 美国B. 法国C. 德国D. 英国答案:D4. 美国的官方货币是什么?A. 英镑B. 欧元C. 美元D. 加元答案:C5. 英国的国花是什么?A. 玫瑰B. 郁金香C. 菊花D. 紫罗兰答案:A6. 美国的总统任期是多久?A. 4年B. 5年C. 6年D. 7年答案:A7. 英国的全称是什么?A. 大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国B. 大不列颠及爱尔兰联合王国C. 大不列颠及北爱尔兰王国D. 大不列颠王国答案:A8. 美国的国土面积在世界上排名第几?A. 第一B. 第二C. 第三D. 第四答案:C9. 英国的国歌是什么?A. “天佑女王”B. “星条旗永不落”C. “上帝保佑女王”D. “星条旗”答案:C10. 美国的人口数量大约是多少?A. 3亿B. 3.5亿C. 4亿D. 4.5亿答案:A二、填空题(每题2分,共20分)1. 英国的现任君主是________。
答案:伊丽莎白二世2. 美国的首都是________。
答案:华盛顿特区3. 英语中“Thank you”的意思是________。
答案:谢谢4. 英国的议会由________和________两院组成。
答案:上议院、下议院5. 美国的国旗被称为________。
答案:星条旗6. 英国的主要宗教是________。
答案:基督教7. 美国的官方语言是________。
答案:英语8. 英国的著名作家莎士比亚的代表作之一是________。
答案:《哈姆雷特》9. 美国的著名地标之一是________。
答案:自由女神像10. 英国的著名大学之一是________。
答案:牛津大学三、简答题(每题10分,共40分)1. 简述英国的政治体制。
英美概况知识点总结专升本英美概况是指英国和美国的基本情况及相关知识的总结和概述。
英国和美国作为世界上最具影响力的两个国家之一,其政治、经济、文化等方面的情况对世界和全球化进程产生着重要的影响。
本文将从英国和美国的历史、政治、经济、文化、教育、社会等多个方面对这两个国家的概况进行总结。
一、英国概况1. 历史英国的历史悠久,可以追溯到几千年前。
公元前43年罗马帝国入侵英格兰,建立了罗马不列颠,标志着英国进入了历史时期。
在此后的几个世纪里,英国经历了盎格鲁-撒克逊、维京人和诺曼底入侵等一系列事件,形成了英国独特的历史文化传统。
2. 政治英国是一个君主立宪制国家,国家元首是英国女王。
英国议会由上议院和下议院组成,是英国的最高立法机构。
英国政府主要由首相和内阁组成,负责国家的日常管理和决策。
3. 经济英国是全球第六大经济体,其经济体系主要由资本主义制度组成。
英国的主要经济产业包括金融、制造业、科技、医疗保健和旅游业等。
伦敦是英国的金融中心,也是世界上最重要的金融中心之一。
4. 文化英国是全球文化的重要中心之一,拥有丰富的文化遗产和传统。
英国文学、音乐、戏剧和电影等领域都享有盛誉,许多作家、音乐家、演员和导演都在世界范围内备受尊敬。
5. 教育英国拥有世界上一些最著名的大学,如牛津大学、剑桥大学等。
英国的教育体系以高质量和多样化而著称,吸引着许多国际学生前来留学。
6. 社会英国的社会福利体系完善,保障了人民的基本权益。
英国是多元文化的社会,拥有来自世界各地的移民群体,形成了一个多元化和包容性的社会。
二、美国概况1. 历史美国的历史可以追溯到1492年克里斯托弗·哥伦布发现美洲大陆以来。
美国经历了移民潮、独立战争、内战、西部拓荒等一系列大事件,形成了美国独特的历史传统。
2. 政治美国是一个联邦制共和国,其政治体系基于宪法的原则。
美国总统是国家元首,由总统、参议院和众议院共同组成的三权分立制度是美国政治的核心特征。
附:自学考试《英语国家概况》自学考试教材目录(课程代码:0522)Part one The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Chapter1Land and PeopleChapter2The Origins of a Nation(5000BC-AD1066)Chapter3The Shaping of the Nation(1066——1381)Chapter4Transition tO the Modern Age(1455——1688)Chapter5The Rise and Fall of the British Empire(1688——1990)Chapter6The EconomyChapter7Government and AdministrationChapter8Justice and the LawChapter9Social AffairsChapter10Cultural AffairsPart Two The Republic of IrelandChapter11Geography and HistoryChapter12Ireland TodayPart Three The United States of AmericaChapter13GeographyChapter14Population.Race and Ethnic GroupsChapter15American History(I)(1600——1900)Chapter16American History(II)(1900-1945)Chapter17American History(III)America in Post Era(1945-1980s)Chapter18The EconomyChapter19Political InstitutionsChapter20EducationChapter21Literature.Architecture and MusicChapter22Holidays and FestivalsPart Four CanadaChapter23Geography and HistoryChapter24The EconomyChapter25Government and PoliticsChapter26Society and CulturePart Five AustraliaChapter27Land and PeopleChapter28Australian History(I)Australia to FederationChapter29Australian History(II)Australia Since FederationChapter30The EconomyChapter31Government and PoliticsChapter32Society and CulturePart Six New ZealandChapter33The Making of New ZealandChapter34New Zealand Today第一部分英国概况第一章国土和人民第二章英国民族起源(5000BC~AD1066)第三章民族的形成(1066~1381)第四章向现代过渡时期的英国(1455~1688)第五章大英帝国的兴衰(1688~1990)第六章经济第七章英国政府机构第八章法律与司法机构第九章英国社会第十章英国文化第二部分爱尔兰概况第十一章爱尔兰地理与历史第十二章今日爱尔兰第三部分美国概况第十三章美国地理第十四章人口、种族和种族集团第十五章美国历史(I)(1600~1900)第十六章美国历史(II)(1900~1945)第十七章美国历史(III)二次大战后的美国(1945-1980S)第十八章美国经济第十九章政治体制第二十章教育第二十一章文学、建筑和音乐第二十二章假日和节日第四部分加拿大概况第二十三章加拿大地理与历史第二十四章加拿大经济第二十五章加拿大政府与政治第二十六章加拿大的社会与文化第五部分澳大利亚概况第二十七章土地与人民第二十八章澳大利亚联邦成立之前的历史第二十九章澳大利亚联邦成立以来的历史第三十章澳大利亚经济第三十一章澳大利亚政府与政治制度第三十二章澳大利亚社会与文化第六部分新西兰概况第三十三章新西兰地理与历史第三十四章今日新西兰附件:《英语国家概况自学考试大纲》的考核目标Part One The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Chapter1Land and PeopleI.Different Names for Britain and its PartsChapter2The Origins of a NationI.Early Settlers3.The CeltsII.Roman BritainIII.The Anglo-SaxonsⅣ.The Viking and Danish InvasionsV.The Norman ConquestChapter3The Shaping of the NationⅠ.Norman Rule1.William’s RuleⅡ.The Great Charter and the Beginning of Parliament1.The Great CharterⅢ.The Hundred Years’War with FranceⅣ.The Black Death and the Peasant UprisingChapter4Transition to the Modern AgeⅠ.Transition to the Modern AgeⅡ.The English ReformationⅢ.Elizabeth I1.Elizabeth and Parliament2.Elizabeth’s Religious Reform3.Elizabeth’s Foreign PolicyⅣ.The English RenaissanceVII.The Civil WarsVIII.The CommonwealthIX.The Restoration and the Glorious Revolution of1688Chapter5The Rise and Fall of the British EmpireⅠ.Whigs and ToriesⅡ.Agricultural Changes in the Late18th CenturyⅢ.The Industrial RevolutionⅣ.The Chartist MovementVII.Twentieth Century1.Britain and the First World War3.Britain and the Second World War4.Postwar BritainChapter7Government and AdministrationⅠ.The MonarchyⅡ.Parliament1.The House of Lords2.The House of CommonsⅢ.The Cabinet and MinistryⅣ.The Privy CouncilChapter8Justice and the LawIV.The JudiciaryV.PoliceChapter9Social AffairsⅠ.Health and Social Services1.The National Health ServiceⅢ.Religion1.Established churchesⅣ.Festivals and Public Holidays1.Christian festivals2.Other festivals3.Public holidaysChapter10Cultural AffairsⅠ.Education3.Higher educationⅡ.The Media1.NewspapersⅢ.SportsⅣ.The Arts3.DramaPart Two The Republic of Ireland Chapter11Geography and HistoryI.Geographical FeaturesII.Climate and WeatherIII.Population and ReligionIV.Historical backgroundPart Three The United States of America Chapter14Population,Race and Ethnic GroupsI.IntroductionIV.Racial and Ethnic Minorities1.BlacksChapter15American History(I)Ⅰ.Discovery of the New WorldⅡ.The Colonial PeriodⅢ.The War of IndependenceⅣ.A New Form of GovernmentⅥ.Territorial Expansion and Westward MovementⅦ.The Civil WarⅧ.Rapid Growth of Capitalism after the Civil WarChapter16American History(II)Ⅰ.Economic DevelopmentⅡ.ProgressivismⅢ.World War I and the United StatesⅣ.The United States in the1920sⅤ.The Great Depression and the New DealⅥ.World War II and the United StatesChapter17American History(III)Ⅰ.The Origins of the Cold WarⅡ.The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan V.McCarthyismVII.American Society During the Postwar Boom:1945-1960s VIII.The Cuban Missile CrisisIX.The Vietnam WarX.United States’Relations with ChinaXII.Watergate ScandalChapter18The Economy(Two paragraphs)Ⅰ.The Economic System of the United StatesV.Foreign TradeVI.Problems in the U.S.EconomyChapter19Political InstitutionsⅠ.The U.S.Constitution1.The Federal system2.Separation of powers:checks and balances3.Provisions for amendmentⅡ.The Executive Branch1.The Presidency2.Presidential PowersⅢ.The Legislative Branch2.Powers of the House and Senate3.Officers of the Congress4.Functions of the CongressⅤ.Political Parties(two-party system)Chapter20EducationⅠ.Characteristics of American EducationⅡ.Elementary and Secondary EducationⅢ.Higher EducationⅤ.Education ReformsChapter21Literature,Architecture and MusicⅠ.American Literature1.Washington Irving2.Emerson and Hawthorne3.Mark Twain4.Whitman and Dickinson5.Theodore Dreiser6.T.S.Eliot7.Ernest Hemingway8.Hughes and WrightChapter22Holidays and FestivalsⅠ.New Year’s DayIV.Valentine’s DayVI.Easter DayVIII.Independence DayIX.HalloweenXI.Thanksgiving DayⅩII.Christmas DayPart Four Canada Chapter23Geography and HistoryⅠ.Geographic Features4.Geographic regionsⅡ.The making of Canada1.The European discovery3.Self-government and Confederation4.The Canadian nationChapter26Society and CultureI.Canadian Society1.Population2.Immigration3.Bilingualism4.MulticulturalismPart Five Australia Chapter27Land and peopleⅠ.The Geographical Structure1.The Great Western Plateau2.The Eastern Highlands3.The Central Eastern LowlandsⅡ.Climate3.Causes and effects of the hot and dry climate Ⅳ.People1.Population2.Population density and distributionⅤ.Australia’s Built Environment1.Sprawling cities2.Rural areasⅥ.Political Divisions1.New South Wales2.Victoria3.Queensland4.South Australia5.West Australia6.TasmaniaChapter32Society and CultureIV.Australian Culture1.Aboriginal culture2.Modern Australian culturePart Six New Zealand Chapter33The Making of New ZealandⅠ.GeographyⅡ.ClimateⅢ.Plants and AnimalsⅣ.Historical Background2.The Treaty of Waitangi1840VI.Maoritanga5.Race relations《<英语国家概况>自考辅导》目录(配合《英语国家概况》余志远,外语教学与研究出版社2005版)Part One The United Kingdom of Great Britain and North IrelandChapter1Land and People(英国的国土与人民)Chapter2The origins of the Nation(国家的起源)Chapter3The Shaping of the Nation(英国的形式)Chapter4Transition to the Modern Age(向现代过度的英国)Chapter5The Rise and Fall of the British Empire(英帝国的兴衰)Chapter6The Economy(英国经济)Chapter7Government and Administration(英国政府机构)Chapter8Justice and the Law(法律和司法机构)Chapter9Social Affairs(社会事务)Chapter10Cultural Affairs(文化事务)Part Two The Republic of IrelandThe Republic of Ireland(爱尔兰共和国)Part Three United States of AmericaChapter1A Survey of American Natural Circumstances and Geography(美国的自然环境和地理概况)Chapter2People and Ethnic Groups(人口和名族)Chapter3American History(Ⅰ)(1600-1900)(美国历史)Chapter4American History(Ⅱ)(1900-1945)(美国历史)Chapter5American History(Ⅲ)(1945-1980s’)(美国历史)Chapter6American Literature(美国文学)Chapter7American Economy(美国经济)Chapter8American Politics(美国政治)Chapter9American Education(教育)Chapter10American Music,Architecture and Newspaper(音乐、建筑和报纸)Chapter11Holidays and Festivals(美国的节假日)Part Four CanadaChapter1The History of Chanada(加拿大的历史)Chapter2Canadian Geography(加拿大地理)Chapter3The Economy(经济)Chapter4Government and Politics(政府和政治)Chapter5Society and Culture(社会与文化)Part Five AustraliaChapter1Australia”s Land and People(澳大利亚的国土与人口)Chapter2Australian History(澳大利亚历史)Chapter3Australian Economy(澳大利亚经济)Chapter4Polotical System(澳大利亚政治体制)Chapter5Society and Culture(社会与文化)Part Six New ZealandChapter1The making of New of New Zealand(地理与历史)Chapter2New Zealand Today(今日新新西兰)。
Chapter 13 geography 地理位置I. Location and size1. The full name of the United States is the United States of America. The continental United States lies in central North America with Canada to its north, Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico to its south, the Atlantic Ocean to its east and the Pacific Ocean to its west.Alaska and Hawaii are the two newest states in America. Alaska borders on northwestern Canada and Hawaii lies in the central Pacific.阿拉斯加和夏威夷是最近加入美国的两个新州。
阿拉斯加在加拿大的西北部,夏威夷位邻中太平洋。
2. The U.S has a land area of 9.3 million square kilometers. It is the fourth largest country in the world in size after Russia, Canada and China.就面积而言,美国是世界第四大国,就人口而言,美国是世界是第三大国。
3. Of all states of American, Alaska is the largest in area and Rhode Island the smallest. But on the mainland Texas is the largest sate of the country.所有州中,阿拉斯加是面积最大的州,罗得岛最小,在美国大陆,最大的州是得克萨斯州。
.9 vr't OJ-7--WO/.The Republic of Ireland .- -----~---..-- ..... -..- ...- .......I-p1 1ChapterGeogiraphy and HistoryThe British Isles are made up of two large islands and hundreds of small ones. The two large islands are Great Britain and Ireland. Ireland is also called the Emerald Isle because of its rich green coun- tryside. Ireland is divided into two political units. They are North- ern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Northern Island is part of the United Kingdom. The Republic of Ireland (Eire) is an inde- pendent country.1. Geographical FeaturesThe Republic of Ireland covers an area of 70, 282 sq. km. It is bounded on the northeast by Northern Ireland, on the east and southeast by the Irisb Sea and St. George's Channel and on the north and west by the Atlantic Ocean. The country's total boundary is 3, 603 km long, of which its land border with Northern Ireland is 434 km.The capital is Dublin.It is located on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the Liffey River at its confluence, with the Dodder River. Dublin is a city of over I million. The other main urban centres are: Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford.Ireland has been compared to a basin in which a limestone plateau is rimmed by coastal highlands. Maritime influences penetrate the191...I - I,-- - - --land. The central plain area is characterized by many lakes, bogs (wet areas) and low ridges. The principal mountain ranges are the Mourne Mountains, the Wicklow Mountains in the east and the Macgillicuddy's Reeks in the southwest. The highest peaks are Car- rantuohill (1, 041 rn) and Mount Brandon (953 m) near Killar-ney, and Lugnaquilla (926 m), about 64 krn. south of Dublin.Variety is the main feature of the lowlands. The Central Lowlandis the heart of Ireland. Easy passageways along valley and lowland corridors lead from it to every Irish shore. Around the lowland thereare several types of landscape. The stretch of country between Gal-way Bay and Killarney has little economic value or aesthetic attrac- tion. It lies off the main commercial and tourist routes. To the westthe limestone gives way to a variety of rocks. The green fields of the lowland are replaced by bogs or towering mountains in West Con-nacht -The rivers of Ireland have courses of considerable variety and are among the most attractive features of the scenery . They cross the Central Lowlands as slow-moving strearns. They are frequently sur- rounded by bogs and marshes and in many cases reach their estuaries through valleys. The largest river in Ireland is the Shannon River.It rises in the plateau near Sligo Bay, flows sluggishly over the west-ern part of the lowland and then fills Lough Derg before beginningits final flow through rapids to its estuary., The Shannon River pro-vides electric power for much of the Republic.The Irish coast, with its striking cliffs, is among the most im- pressive in Europe. In the south and west, the coast is heavily in- dented where the ranges of Dotiegal, Mayo and Munster end in bold headlands and rocky islands. The coastal precipices (very st eep sidesof a cliff) of the west are almost 610 m high in Slieve League and 192Ihigher on Achill Island, where it is possible to look down 183 m into the water. IAs Ireland was completely covered by ice sheets during the Ice Age, all extant plants and animals are migrant species from other parts of Europe. However, with the submergence of the land bridge between Ireland and Britain in about 6, 000 BC, this migration ceased. As a result, Ireland has a much lower variety of plants and a nimals than Britain. The plants of Ireland are similar to those of Britain - But there are only 1, 300 species of plants in Ireland, as a- - gainst 2, 300 in Britain - The most common trees in Ireland are oak,I ash, elm and birch. Pine is dominant on poorer soils. The animals of Ireland are also similar to those of Britain, with some notable gaps. Among the species absent are weasels, wildcats, moles, roe . deer, snakes and common toads. There are also fewer bird and in- sect species. On the other hand, Ireland has some species not found in Britain, such as the spotted slug and certain species of wood lice. Among domestic animals, Ireland is noted for breeds such as the Connemara pony, the Irish wolfhound and the Kerry blue terrier. Bogs remain the most significant feature of Irish landscape. They occur on all the mountains and cover large areas of the lowlands.11. Climate and WeatherThe weather of Ireland is described as dd " mild, moist and change- able. Extreme cold, long frosts, heavy snows in winter and scorching days in summer are unconnnon. In some years December is so mild that many gardens will have flowers in bloom, while in other,-, there is heavy snowfall. Late frosts have been recorded even for the month of May in exceptional years.193~ -.1 ...Monthly winter temperatures in the west are 6t to 7r, from De- cember to March and in the east 51Z to 61C from November to March. This difference, though slight, means vegetation is more winter-hardy in the west than in the east. The western valleys, such as those around Killarney, have luxuriant woods, and the evergreens rarely experience any check to growth through cold. The mean sum - mer temperatures range from 151C to 161C in the south and on the c oasts of Dc)negal. The extreme southeast and the lowlands between the Leinster chain and the sea have an average of seven hours of sun Idaily in June, which decreases to five hours a day in the west. May and June are usually the sunniest months. September, a month cru- cial for farmers, is warmer than May but in many years is so wet that harvesting is difficult.Ireland has excessive rainfall. About three-fifths of the country has a mean annual rainfall between 762 and 1, 270 mm, compared to 508 to 1, 016 mm for most of Britain. Almost all the lowlands near the western mountains and the lowlands in the east of Ireland receive adequate rain throughout the year. The average number of rain days per year is high, ranging from 175 in the extreme south- east to between 20 and 250 on the west coast. Ireland is not so much a country of perpetual rain as one in which frequent showers alter- nate with sunny days. For the whole country the chance, of an un- usually wet or an unusually dry year is estimated at 25 %. Overall, Ireland suffers from excessive rather than deficient rainfall.Geographers have distin- Although relatively small in area, Ireland is large enough to show distinct regional variations in climate. guished six climatic regions as follows:I. The NorthwestThe annual tainfall is from 1, 016 to 1, 778 mm with the maxi- 194-amum in winter. The mean temperatures for January,the coolest month, are about 51C near the coast and slightly less inland, with the summer means about 131C or 14r . Gales are frequent in win- ter. The combination of high rainfall and mild winters permits luxu- nant plant growth in sheltered places.2. Connacht and Clare-This region is similar to the Northwest, with slightly milder win- ters and warmer summers. It has even more abundant rain with an- nual falls of about 2, 540 mm in the hearts of the mountains and 1, 016 to 1, S24 mm, per annum, in the lowlands. Strong winds limit tree growth.3. The Southwest• .Excessive rain combined with winter warmth invite comparison with Mediterranean resorts, but there the comparison ceases, for the region has rain on three days out of four, with an average of lit- tle more than an hour's sun per day in December and January. The summers are warm, as a result of which the vegetation is luxuriant,I I.and Mediterranean specie-%, evergreens and subtropical plant thrive.4. The SoutheastThe annual rainfall is 762 to 1, 016 mm in the lowlands of the Veastern and central regions and over 1, 016 nun in most of County Cork and County Waterford. The winters are mild, with means of 6'C to 71C along the southern coast and slightly less on the eastern coast - The summer months are comparatively warm with July means of 15r to 16r,. The climate is far more favourable than the west- ern regions for farming..I5. The Central LowlandThis is the area of the lightest rainfall in Ireland, with two areas that receive less than 762 mm per annum. The mean winter temper-195atures. are about 41C to 51C .6. The NortheastIThe climate here is cooler throughout the year than in the rest of the country. In winter the mean monthly temperatures are about4'C but the coast is warmer. The mean summer temperatures are about WC to 15*C. The rainfall is 762 to 1, 016 mm. in the low- lands but higher in the Mourrie Mountains. Grassland predominateson most farms'. -&and the region is noted for its excellent cattle pas- tures. and crops.III. Population and ReligionThe population of Ireland in 1990 was estimated at 3. 5 million. Itis expected to grow to 4 million by 2000. In Ireland the basic ethnic stock is Celtic, with an admixture of Norse, French, Norman and English. There are no significant ethnic minorities. HistoricallyIre-land has been free of ethnic conflicts because Of its racial homogene- ity -Ireland has four unusual demographic features:(1) a low birthrate compounded by a century of emigration,(2) a late marriage age (35 for men and 29 for women),(3) an excess of males in the population and(4) a high proportion of bachelors and spinsters of all ages.- Some- of these features are generally found in other, more ad- vanced countries, but in Ireland's case they have had a longer histo- ry. Together they have reduced Ireland's population by one-half during the past 100 years.The year 1845, when the Great Famine began, marks the end of one era and the beginning of another in the social history of Ireland -196-The first census of Ireland,in 1821, recorded a population of. 6, 802, 000 and it rose to 8. 2 million by 1841. Within the next 20 years, as the Great Famine took its toll, the population shrank to6. 6 million, a reduction of 19. 5 % - Since then the national popula-tion has recorded a decrease with every census until the end of WorldWar 11 and has declined even further after that. Ireland is unique a-mong European countries for its century-long population decline. Tonatural decrease was added a flow of emigration almost as long.From 1845 onward the desperately poor sought any ship that couldcarry them across the Irish Sea or the Atlantic. Overall, some 6million people are estimated to have left Ireland in the century fol-lowing the Great Famine.The population losses were heaviest during the period of 1841-1851 with every county in Connacht losing over one-quarter of its in-babitants. Some 750, 000 people died before relief came or beforethey could reach a port or a ship. By 1851 there were over 1millionIrish in the United States, 750, 000 in Great Britain and 227, 000 in Canada. During the last two decades of the 19tb century there were further crop failures and similar disasters. There was a near- .famine in 1885, when the potato crop failed again.The loss in population continued well into the early decades of the 20th century, although not for reasons of famine. Industrialization and increased trade stopped the flow of manpower from the towns,Ibut the rural areas continued to lose workers. Between 1891 and 1901 the rural areas lost 105, 000 people and the town gained 106, 000. During World War I emigration to America virtually ceased but that to Great Britain continued. After the establishment of the Irish Free State (1921), emigration showed a sharp decline. This drain of people is now ending. In recent years, as conditions197 - 1...have improved at home, the population has increased slightly.There are two official languages in Ireland. They are Irish (orGaelic) and English. Irish is the favoured language of Irish national- ists who wish to preserve the cultural apartness fro m Britain. Since the establishment of the Irish Free State in 192L the government has been committed to a policy of teaching and fostering Irish to themaximum extent possible. However, the use of Irish as a commer- cial and administrative language has bee n steadily declining over the years. Whereas half of the population was fluent in Irish at the be- ginning of the 19th century, only some 20% are in the mid-1990s, while English is understood and used by almost aVthe people in Ire- land.I# Ireland is one of the most Catholic countries of Europe. Catholi- 0.cism is an integral and pervasive influence on national life and cul- ture. Missionary work in Ireland was begun by Palladius in 431 AD and by Patrick in 432 AD and Ireland became a centre for the evan- gelization of other countries, including England. In 1537 the Eng- lish king was declared the head of the Church of Ireland, replacing the Pope. There followed centuries of religious as well as politicalpersecution,which helped to strengthen and deepen Ireland's Catholic spirit. Today 93% of the Irish population are Roman Catholics .Irish Catholicism extends far beyond the borders of Ireland as a result of the large 19th-century emigration. Ireland has producedseveral missionary organizations and supplied significant numbers ofpriests and missionaries to the outside world . About half theCatholic bishops in the United States are of Irish origin. Catholic re-ligious practice is extremely high in Ireland. Attendance at weekly Sunday Mass is as high as 84 % to 90 % for females and 80 % for 198young men, and there are rural areas where practically everyone at- tends Sunday Mass in the parish church.The Anglican Church of Ireland is the largest non-Catholic de-~ '' -1 nominatiC-- - ki --.,-e Anglicans, along with other Protestants, neverstruck deep roots in the country and have been declining in numbers since 1921.there is very little religious Despite the Catholic predominance, discrimination against non-Catholics. In 1973 E. Childers, an An- glican, was elected president of the Republic. Similarly, a Jew was elected in the late 1970s as mayor of Dublin.IV. Historical Background. Ireland was invaded by a number of Celtic tribes in prehistoric times. The most important were the Gaels. They arrived in the is- land about the 4th century BC. They conquered the Picts in the north and the Erainn tribe (from whom the name Ireland is derived)in the south. Then they settled down to establish a flourishing Gael-ic civilization. By the 3rd century AD there were five permanent kingdoms on the island-Ulster, Connacht, Leinster, Meath ..rival of St. Patrick in AD 432 was perhaps the most important event in Irish history and transformed the island into a centre of learning IandChristian culture. The golden age of Irish culture lasted from the 5th century to the 8th century. Much poetry, masterpieces of Irish art such as the Book of Kells, belong to this period. Irish mis- sionaries travelled to Britain and other parts of Europe.Towards the end of the 8th century the Viking invasions began. The Danes destroyed the monasteries and laid waste the land. But199_.. .... -_ - ___ - - - --adopted Irish customs and they also intermarried with the Gaels,established the main coastal settlements. However, the Danes were defeated and driven away by Brian Boru in 1014 (battle of Clon- tarf). In 1170 the Anglo-Saxons invaded Ireland. T14ey gradually gained control of the island. Conflict between the English and the Irish went on for almost 800 years.-Henry VIII was the first king to bring all Ireland under English control. The Tudors forced the Protestant Reformation and English law on the Irish. Rebellions in Elizabeth's reign and later were put down without mercy . Scottish settlers established a colony in Ulsterin 1610. A serious rebellion was started in 1641 and ended by Cromwell (massacre of Drogheda). Irish support for James 11 led tothe battle of the Boyne (1690), which was followed by the new Pe- nal Laws and even harder economic conditions. The Penal Laws de-prived Catholics and Dissenters of all legal rights.IBy the end of the 18th century many of the English settlers began to identify themselves with the Gaels and joined them in demanding greater self-government. In response, Westminster granted them an independent Irish Parliament but it was abolished by the Act of U-Inion of 1800, which gave Ireland direct participation in the British Parliament. Catholic emancipation was finally achieved in 1829 through the efforts of Daniel O'Connell. The tragic condition of Ire- land was highlighted by the Great Irish Famine of 1840.Irish nationalism became stronger and even more violent in the early decades of the 20th century and climaxed in the Easter Upris- ing of 1916 in which an Irish Republic was proclaimed. War broke out betweern the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and the British government (1919-21). In 1921 the British signed the Anglo- Irish Treaty establishing an Irish Free State with dominion status 200with a separate government in the Protestant- dominated Northem Ireland. Violent opposition to the treaty by ultranationalists led to a civil war. The war lasted over a year. The Free State survived but the Irish Republican Army has remained a force te be reckoned with . in Irish politics.Ireland kept 1949 Under Eamon de Valera, who took office in 1932, out of World War II to demonstrate its continued displeasure with the British. In 1937, under a new constitution, the Governor-Gen- eral was replaced by an elected president and the name of the coun-try was officially changed to Ireland (Eire in Gaelic). In 1948, Ireland voted itself out of the Commonwealth and on A pril 18, declared itself a republic.However, the Irish Republican Army continued to demand that the Republic of Ireland should be united with the six counties thk form Northern Ireland. A free trade area with the United Kingdom was established in 1966. In 1973 the Republic was admitted to the EC.V. Foreign PolicySince independence Ireland has adhered to a policy of neutrality and nonalignment. It remained neutral during World War 11 and avoided membership in NATO or any other postwar regional secur ity organization. However, it has been active in major international fo - rums, first as a member of the League of Nations and sirlce 1955, as a member of the United Nations. It has contributed personnel to U - N . peacekeeping units in the Middle East, New Guinea, Zaire and Cyprus.Since Ireland joined the EC in 1973, its foreign policy has shifted201- ... ..-from a concentration on relations with the United Kingdom to the broader arena of European unity. Nevertheless, Northern Ireland and Great Britain loom large in the minds of the makers of Irish for - eign policy. Although still committed to the goal of a united Ireland, Dublin has cooperated with London on security matters since the 1970s. In 1981, following a riot outside the British Embas sy in Dublin, the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council was established. However, since then Anglo-Irish relations have been subjected to se - vere strains, including the British proposal for devolution of power to Belfast, Ireland's reluctance to impose s anctions against Argentina during the Falklands War, and IRA bombings in London. Since Al - bert Reynolds became prime minister in February 1992, both Ire- land and Britain have agreed to hold regular meetings tonegotiate apeaceful settlemeni of the problem of Northern Ireland.Ireland established diplomatic relations with China on June 22, 1979. Relations between the two countries have been good since then. Ireland currently maintains diplomatic relations with 46 coun- . tries . i a P (or1 - Explain why Ireland has been geographically compared to a basin.2. What is the largest river in Ireland? Why is it important to Ireland?3. What are the characteristics of Ireland's climate?4. Identify the four demographic features that Ireland has. Wh y did Ireland ex-perience heavy population I especially in the mid-19th century?5. Religious differences have been a traditional source of conflict between the202English and the Irish. Uscuss the relations between the English and the Irish . since the English conquest of Ireland in 1170.6. What caused the Easter Uprising of 1916? How did it end?7. Explain the Anglo - Irish Treaty signed in 192 1.8. When did Ireland declare itself a republic?9. What is the Irish Republican Army? What is its approach to the problem ofNorthern Ireland?-.-.203-,..12IChapterIreland TodayI.Political StructureIreland is a parliamentary republic and a unitary state under the1937 Constitution. The Constitution is theoretically applicable toIthe whole of Ireland. Citizens of Northern Ireland are also consid-• .ered citizens and can run for office in the South. The Republic of.Ireland consists of 26 of the 32 counties of Ireland -1. Executive powerThe head of state. is the president, elected by direct suffrage for aterm of seven years. He sommons, or dissolves the Oireachtas (Par-• signs and promulgates laws; appoints judges, the prime liament)9minister and other members of the cabinet; and heads the defenceforces. In addition, he has the right to refer certain bills to theSupreme Court for a decision on their constitutionality and refer cer-.tain bills to the people by referendum. The president is advised andassisted in his duties by the Council of State.Article 13 of the Constitution provides that the president shall ap-point the prime minister (taoiseach) on the nomination of the Houseof Representatives (Dail) and that he shall appoint the otheTmem-bers of the'government on the nomination of t he prime minister withthe previous approval of the Dail . Up to the legal limit of the life ofthe Oireachtas, the prime minister holds office either until he choos-204...- ......。