英美概况部分简答题整理
1. What are the geographical regions in the United States?
Presently, the United States is commonly divided into four major regions: Northeast, South, Midwest and West. The Northeast is the nation's economic and cultural center. The South region has the highest number of states. The Midwest also called the heartland and Industrial Midwest. The West has three major parts: the Southwest, the Mountain States and the Pacific Coast.
2. Origins of Thanksgiving Day.
It is a public holiday celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. It originated as a harvest festival with the Pilgrims in 1621.
3. What are the geographical features of the United States?
There are the Great Lakes in the northeast. There are four recognizable and definable topographic regions in the United States. They are, from east to west, (1) the Atlantic and gulf coastal plain, (2) the Appalachians and their foothills, (3) the Interior Lowlands and (4) the Cordillera, which is includes both main mountain ranges and a variety of intermontane valleys, basins, and plateaus.
4. What is the Commonwealth of Nations?
The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of independent sovereign states, not a political union, all of which acknowledge the British monarch as symbolic head of the association. It was founded in1931, and has 50 member countries until 1991.
5. Where is the United States located?
The United States is located in North America between Mexico, to its south, and Canada, to its north. The US is divided into fifty states, and Washington D.C., is the capital city. The US covers a total area of 3,794,100 square miles (9,826,675 sq. km).
6. Distribution of the American population
The population of the United States is mainly located in the Pacific coast, the Atlantic coast and the Great Lakes region.
7. Why is the United States regarded as a “melting pot” and a “salad bowl”?
First, the "melting pot" and "salad" stands for the mixture of different things. The US is regarded as a "melting pot" and a "salad" is because it is a country made up of many different people: 13% are black, 12% are Hispanic, 4% are Asian and the rest are White Americans. As the same, the culture of US is also mingled from different culture of different people in it. Because of these, it is really like a mixed country.
8. What are the results of the Industrial Revolution in Britain?
Britain was the "workshop of the world" by 1830. Towns grew rapidly and became the source of the nation's wealth. Mechanization destroyed the livelihood of those who could not invest in it. The working men worked and lived in a appalling
conditions. The industrial revolution created the industrial working class, the proletariat, and it later led to trade unionism.
1. The composition of UK’s Constitution.
The British Constitution is not written down in one single document. It is made up of three main parts: Statutory law, Common law, Conventions.
2. What are the causes of the Great Depression?
The main causes were the stock market crash of 1929, the unequal distribution of wealth, and over-production of goods and services.
3. What are the features of family in Britain?
The nuclear families replaced the extended family, marriage has decreased. There has been significant increase in one-person households with no children and the people of all age lived alone.
4. What are the major sports activities in the United States?
There are American football, Baseball, Basketball and Hockey.
5. The distinctive features of the English Renaissance.
English culture was revitalized not so much directly by the classics as by contemporary Europeans under the influence of the classics, the renaissance coincided with the reformation in England
6. How many political divisions are there in the United States?
There are 50 states, which are bound together in a union with each other. Each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a defined geographic territory, and shares its sovereignty with the United States federal government.
7. The Great Depression (1929-1937) and the New Deal.
There is no regulation or control over various kinds of investment companies. The banking system lacked stability. Stock market speculation and over expansion of credit are rampant. The unemployed went up, the shrinkage of GNP.
8. The American War of Independence and its consequences.
The war was from 1775 to 1781, it shows that, in a just war, a weak nation can defeat a strong one. American people gained independence and capitalism developed in America. It also had great international influence.
英美概况美国部分整理
America The Founding of Colonies殖民地的建立 First Inhabitants：American Indians Discovery of the New World： 1492 Christopher Columbus →the discoverer of America (Italian)Spanish Queen’ s support 1501-2 Amerigo Vespucci →the new land was name after him as America. reached the mouth of Amazon River America—the New World Europe—the Old World 13 colonies： New England Colonies: Mid Atlantic Colonies: Southern Colonies: Massachusetts →（2nd colony，1620）New York Maryland New Hampshire Pennsylvania Virginia →（1st colony，1607）Rhode Island Delaware North Carolina Connecticut South Carolina Georgia →（the last colony，1733）New England Region（6个）: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont 建立原因： Virginia, 1607 Virginia Company For foreign expansion as a way of easing religious dispute and economic distress in England 105 men (no women) Jamestown in honor of the king Massachusetts In 1620 102 Puritans (“Pilgrim Fathers”), in Mayflower, from Plymouth in England to America First in Plymouth (today’s Massachusetts); and then Boston Seek religious freedom Mayflower Compact <五月花号公约>：self-government Hardships when arrived the help of the Indians Thanksgiving Day to thank the Indians and the God for protection The next three colonies Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire Reasons: 1. religious disputes and struggles in Massachusetts intensified 2. more immigrants
英美概况期末考试名词解释整理
The industrial revolution refers to the mechanization of industry and the consequent changes in social and economic organization in Britain in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Britain was the first country to industrialize. The industrial revolution A period in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, production, and transportation had a profound effect on the socioeconomic and cultural conditions in Britain. The Industrial Revolution, was a period of unprecedented technological, economic and social change that completely transformed British culture from a largely rural, static society with limited production and division of labour into the world's first modern industrial society. 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 labor was short. It caused far-reaching economic consequences. The Black Death----It was one of the deadliest pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. It is widely thought to have been an outbreak of bubonic plague caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestisis and have started in Central Asia. It came without warning, and without any cue.The Black Death is estimated to have killed30% to 60% of Europe's population and had profound effects on the course of European history. In England, it killed almost half of the total population, causing far-reaching economic consequences. the Progressive Movement The Progressive Movement is a movement demanding government regulation of the economy and social conditions. It spread quickly with the support of large numbers of people across the country. It was not an organized campaign with clearly defined goals.(Rather, it was a number of diverse efforts at political, social, and economic reforms. In spite of limitations of the movement, it brought about changes and improvement in many fields.) Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between AD 43 and about 410. Britannia already had cultural and economic links with Continental Europe, but the invaders introduced new developments in agriculture, urbanisation, industry and architecture, leaving a legacy that is still apparent today. The first Romans to campaign extensively in Britain were
英美概况简答论述题答案
dotourists from all over the world like to go to Scotland They like to enjoy the beautiful Scottish scenery, to drink Scotch whisky and to see Scotsmen wearing kilts and playing bagpipes. were the results of the Industrial Revolution in Britain The Industrial Revolution changed Britain in many ways. First, industrial productivity increased dramatically. Britain became the most advanced industrial country and also the financial center in the world. Second, urbanization took place. Many new cities sprang up. Third, it caused great changes in the class structure. The old social classes declined, and new ones emerged and developed. Rise and Fall of the British Empire. Colonization of Newfoundland, the first Britain colony overseas, in 1583 marked the beginning of the British Empire. By 1837, Britain had long been an empire which included the colonies in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and many small states in the West Indies. By the end of the 19th century, the Britain Empire included a quarter of the global population and nearly a quarter of the world’s landmass. During the mid-19th century, the Britain government consolidated the existing colonies by bringing them under the direct control of the government. Before World War I, Britain had the largest colonial empire in the world. However, Britain suffered great loss to its manpower in the two World Wars and exhausted its reserves of gold, dollars and overseas investment. Most of Britain’s colonies gained indepependence since the 1940s, which inevitably led to the fall of the Empire. are the three functions of the House of Commons The three functions are: to draft laws, to scrutinize, criticize and restrain the activities of the government, and to influence future government policy. is the Commonwealth of Nations The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of independent sovereign states, all of which acknowledge the British monarch as the head. The Commonwealth is not a political union of any sort, and its member states have full autonomy to manage their internal and external affairs. It is primarily an organization in which countries with diverse economic backgrounds have an opportunity for close and equal interaction after gaining independence. The major activities of the Commonwealth are designed to advocate democracy, human rights, and to promote economic cooperation and growth within its members. were the major causes of Britain’s relative economic decline in the postwar period First, Britain suffered great losses in the two World Wars and had gone heavily into debt to finance the war. Second, the era of the Britain Empire was over. India and other British colonies, which provided raw material and large market for Britain goods, gained their independence. Third, Britain was forced to maintain an expensive military presence in many overseas locations until the end of 1960s. Fourth, Britain had to make substantial financial contributions to NATO and UN Security Council. Finally, Britain failed to invest in industry after World War II whereas its competitors like Germany and Japan caught up with Britain by investing in the most modern equipment and means of production.
英美概况考试试题集
英语专业考研英美概况自测题（一） British Survey Test Part I Geography 1. The total area of the U.K. is _____. A. 211,440 B. 244,110 C. 241,410 D. 242,534 2. England occupies the _____ portion of the U.K. A. northern B. eastern C. southern 3. The most important part of the U.K. in wealth is _____. A. Northern Ireland B. England C. Scotland 4. _____ is on the western prominence between the Bristol Channel and the Dee estuary. A. Wales B. Scotland C. England 5. Wales was effectively united with England in the _____ century. A. 14th B. 15th C. 16th 6. By the Act of Union of _____ Scotland and the kingdom of England and Wales were constitutionally joined as the Kingdom of Britain. A. 1707 B. 1921 C. 1801 7. Physiographically Britain may be divided into _____ provinces. A. 13 B. 12 C. 14 8. Mt. Ben Nevis stands in _____. A. the Scottish Highlands B. Wales C. England 9. The main rivers parting in Britain runs from _____. A. north to south B. south to north C. east to west 10. Cheviot hills lie along the border between _____ and England. A. Scotland B. Wales C. Vale of Eden 11. The longest river in Britain is _____. A. Severn B. Clyde C. Bann 12. London is situated on the River of _____. A. Parret B. Thames C. Spey 13. Edinburgh is the capital of _____. A. England B. Scotland C. Wales 14. The rivers flowing into the _____ are mainly short. A. North Sea B. English Channel C. Dee estuary 15. Mt. Snowdon stands in _____. A. Scotland B. Wales C. England 16. The source of the important River Thames is in the _____. A. Cotswolds B. Oxford Clay C. Pennines 17. About _____ of the water requirements are obtained from underground sources. A. 50% B. 38% C. 42% 18. Gaelic is mainly spoken in _____. A. Scotland B. England C. Northern Ireland 19. The Bank of England was nationalized in _____. A. 1964 B. 1946 C. 1694
英美概况美国部分复习.docx
Melting Pot: Immigrants from different regions and cultures came to live in the United States, their old ways of life melt away and they became part of the American culture? WASPs: WASPS are the mainstream Americans, referring to the white Anglo-Saxon Protestants The Hispanics: The Hispanics are Spanish-speaking people from Latin America, which was once dominated by the Spanish Empire?American Indians: The Indian peoples are known as the first Americans. When Columbus landed in the New World in 1492, he thought he had reached India and called the natives Indians? Separation of powers: Under the federalist system, the federal and the state governments have separate and distinct powers laid down in the Constitutio n. ^Winner-take-air5principle: The party that wins most votes (simple majority) in a state wins all the electoral votes for the state and the defeated party gets none? Federalism: Federalism in the United States is the evolving relationship between U.S. state governments and the federal government of the United States? Since the founding of the country, and particularly with the end of the American Civil War, power shifted away from the states and towards the national government. Thanksgiving Day: It's on the fourth Thursday of Novembe匚It is a typical
《英美概况》复习题与参考答案
2011英美文化与国家概况期末考试填空与简答复习题 1.Of all these isles, the largest one is called Great Britain. For the sake of convenience, Great Britain is often shortened to Britain. 2.United Kingdom is made up of four parts, England, Wales,ScotlandandNorthern Ireland. 3.The island of Great Britain can be divided into two parts according to its geographic features: the Highland Zone in the north and west and the Lowland zone in the south and southeast. 4.In America, The presiding officer of the senate is the Vice-president of the United States who serves as chairman when the Senate is in session. 5.Britain did not produce cotton and textile industry used to rely on wool as the principal fiber. 6.In Britain, the city Birmingham is well known for its production of automobiles, electricity equipment, electronics, munitions, and arms. 7.British government is produced through contest between two major political parties every five years 8.British can enjoy higher education in three ways:
新编英美概况 许鲁之(第四版)Unit1-7课后习题简答题答案.
Unit 1 Geographical Features and Natural Resources 1. How many states are there in the United States? And which two states are geographically separated from the others? (50, Alaska, Hawaii) 2. What are the general characters of the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains. 1) To the west of Atlantic coastal plain lie the Appalachian Mountains that begin in Canada and reach all the way to Georgia and Alabama. These are old mountains with rounded tops and wooded hills, usually not exceeding 800m in height. The highest point is only 2000m above the sea. Most of the mountain ridges are low enough to be easily crossed by modern highways. The Appalachians have much beautiful scenery and many tourist resorts. The Ohio and the Tennessee Rivers flow down the western slopes of the Appalachians to the great Mississippi River, deep in the heart of America. 2) To the west of the Great Plains lie the Rocky Mountains, “the backbone of the continent”. These high mountains stretch all the way from Mexico to the Arctic and form what is known as Continental Divide, or Great Divide, the most important watershed on the continent. The Rockies are more than twice as high as the Appalachians and high enough to receive more rain than the surrounding plains and plateaus. Consequently, they are mostly forested. The striking and varied scenery of the Rockies has given rise to the establishment of many national parks here. The other natural wonders include roaming herds of buffalo, elk, deer, antelope and sheep, as well as the famous grizzly bear. Chapter 2 American Population 1.Why is the United States known as a “melting pot”? It means that the US is composed of immigrants from different nations all over the world. ①The people of the US are predominantly white. ②The second most numerous minority in the US were the black people whose forefathers came from Africa. ③American Indians were the original inhabitants on the continent. ④There were about 50.5 million Hispanics in 2010 in the US. They are the Spanish-speaking immigrants from Latin American countries. ⑤The Chinese American have proved to be industrious and intelligent. 2.What factors cause the Americans to move frequently within the United States? ①The desire for economic betterment is generally the most important force inducing migration. ②Geographic difference in economic opportunity, as reflected by such factors as differences in employment opportunities and earning power for workers and differences in the availability and the price of land for farmers. ③Noneconomic factors. Such as climate, racial attitudes, and family tires, influencing migration. 3.Why do many Americans now migrate from cities to suburbs? ①The widespread uses of automobiles and the construction of express highways made it possible for people to live farther away from their jobs. ②The telephone reduced the need for them to work or live in close proximity to one another. ③Suburban areas offered more living space than cities, lower crime rates, less pollution, and superior schools. It is generally believed that they are better place for raising children. Chapter 3 Discovery and Colonization of the New World 1. Discuss the pre-Columbian cultures in the Americas. 1) The Aztecs of Mexico 2) The Incas of Peru 3) The Indians of North America 4) Indian contributions to European culture: Foods, Drugs and Utilitarian objects 2. Why did the discoveries of New World before Columbus not exert great influence in the world at that time?
英美概况美国部分
Lecture one: Geography and People Location : Situated in the central part of North America with Canada on the north ,Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico on the south ,the United States is on the east coast of Pacific and west coast of Atlantic. Territorial area: 9.5million square kilometers 50states and seat of government is Washington D.C Largest state---Alaska Largest on the continent---Texas Smallest-----Rhode Island(罗德岛州) Newest---Hawaii Three geographical divisions（三大地形区）: Western ,central and eastern part . Land forms and region: Eastern part: Highlands formed by Appalachian range Western part: High plateaus and mountains(Rockies are called as the back bone of the continent). Great central plain: A large plain between the eastern Appalachian and western Rockies Main geographical regions: New England (6,northeast, longest history featured with mountains ,valleys and rivers ,and cities and towns with historic sites ,top-ranking universities ) The Mid-Atlantic States The West (11,a wealth of forests and stream notable cities, high-tech industry predominant agricultural yielding,14% of GDP ) The Mid-West The South (13,plenty of rainfall and mild climate are favorable for agriculture, fast growing industry and population recent years, great size with few large cities The Southwest Hawaii: Tourism is the largest source of income Tropical climate
英美概况括考前知识点总结
英国概况 1，英国名称：The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) 2，地理位置：Great Britain is the largest island of the British Isles, the largest island in Europe and the eighth-largest island in the world. It lies to the northwest of Continental Europe, with Ireland to the west, and makes up the largest part of the territory of the state known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is surrounded by over 1,000[citation needed] smaller islands and islets. 或者回答British mainland western Europe from Great Britain and Ireland, north-east and many nearby islands， She east by the North Sea, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, up to the North Atlantic off Iceland, Yugoslavia and the European continent, separated only by a strip of water, the English Channel 3, 英国首都：London 4,组成部分：England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland 5,民族：England Welsh、Scotch、Irish 6, 英国国旗：the Union Flag英国国歌：God Save The Queen 天佑女7，三次外族入侵：ⅠRoman Conquest；43AD, the roman empire
英美概况期末考简答题
1. In what way did Puritanism influence American culture? New England also established another American tradition—a strain of often intolerant moralism. The Puritans believed that governments should enforce God's morality. They strictly punished drunks, adulterers, violators of the Sabbath and other religious believers different from themselves. Roger Williams, one of the Puritants who protested that the state should not interfere with region, was driven out of Massachusetts. In 1635, he set up Rhode Island colony, which guaranteed religions freedom and the separation of church and state. The Puritans also have left rich cultural heritage to future Americans. The Americans values such as individualism, hard work, respect of education owe very much to the Puritans beliefs. 2. What are the two political parties in the United States? Do you think the two political parties are fundamentally different? Democratic Party and the Republican Party. differences :1、The Democratic Party is regarded as liberal, while the Republican Party conservative. 2、The former advocates the government to play an important role in the economy and emphasizing full employment; favors civil rights laws, a strong social security system and less restrictive abortion laws, etc.; It is more disposed to search out a method of living with Russia and China and to look for reduction in arms spending. However, the Republican Party favors economic system which gives enterprises a greater freedom and demands the government to control inflation; stresses the need for law and order; opposes complete governmental social programs and free choice of abortion; favors a strong military posture and assertive stands in international relations. 3、Donkey is the symbol of the Democratic Party and the symbol of Republican Party is Elephant. 3. What are some of the features in religion that are particularly American? What are some of the major differences between American religion and religion in Europe? Some phenomena in American religion are uniquely American. First of all, Americans with different religions live together under the same law. That is to say, they claim the variety of beliefs. Secondly, the religions beliefs of Americans continue to be strong with social progress. They emphasize on social progblems and humanitarian ideals. Thirdly, in the US every church is a completely independent organization, and concerned with its own finance and its own building. Major differences are: 1) In Europe,scientific and economic advance and rising material prosperity have accompanied by a decline in religious observance ,but in the United States this has not happened. 2) There has been little concentration on doctrine or religious argument such as in European history. 3)Generally speaking,Americans have enjoyed greater religious freedom than European. 4、 What is the main theme in American literature? As to this point, it is quite different from Canadian literature and British literature. How do you understand them? The questing of the American people has indeed been a drama of many parts.In one way or another, however, it has always been a "pursuit of happiness".American literature is the continuous narrative of that pursuit. 第二问American literature has the same themes as any other concentration area, with the exception of The American Dream, but that could translate to The English, Indian, British, African, and so on。。。British literature：The latter part of the century is dominated by people like Charles Dickens, and Mrs Gaskell who appealed to a mass audience and raised concerns about social privations in an industrialized society. But there was romance 8. What is the goal of education in the United States? We all know that the way in which the high school graduates enter universities is quite different from China. How do you understand them? The goal is to achieve universal literacy and to priovid individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote both their own individual welfare as well as that of the gerneral public.(p122-123) In the United States, to go to university,the high school graduates must meet the following requirements:(a)their high school records;(b)recommendations from their high school teachers;(c)the impression they make during interviews at the university;and (d)their scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test(SATs).A college at a leading university might receive applications from 2% of these high school graduates,and then accept only one out of every ten who apply. While in China, high school graduates need to attend the College Entrance Examination (CEE) and choose their universities according to their scores.You can choose several universities whose control mark line you have admitted and if the first university you chose admit you,then you will be the student of the shool.If not,check the second chosen university,etc.If none of the universities admit you,it means you fail this time. Americans put more attention to helping students learn to solving problems rather than memorizing facts.It makes students more creative.British education ephasize in children’s