A Brief Introduction to The United Kingdom
Unit 1& unit 2 A Brief Introduction to the UK
Population: by ethnic groups (1987-89) 54.666 million including 51.6 whites
Ethnic Group Indian Pakistani Bangladeshi Chinese African Arab All ethnic minority (others, mixed) Population (thousands) 779 433 112 132 127 72 groups 2,569
3. Racial, gender, class, regional and economic differences in the society
1) a multi-racial society: most are Christians and because of immigration, many are Muslims; 2) gender difference: male and female live different lives 3) class difference: the class structure of UK society is relatively obvious (A white-collar worker’s lives are very different from a blue-collar worker’s.) * Economic and regional difference within each of the 4 countries: 1) difference between highland and lowland Scots 2) difference between north and south England (South is on average more wealthy than the north)
06基础英语综合英语
东北大学2006年攻读硕士学位研究生试题Part One The Survey of the United Kingdom of Great BritainWrite a passage to explain or analyze or describe the following(40 points)1.A brief introduction to the United Kingdom2.British government3.Norman Conquest4.Importance of trade in the British economyPart Two The Survey of The United States of AmericaWrite a passage to explain or analyze or describe the following(40 points)1.What was the impact of the Vietman War on American society?2.Independence day3.Electoral College4.NewDealPart Three Translations(30 points)1.Put the following paragraph into Chinese(15)Owing to this struggle for existence, variations, however slight and from whatever cause proceeding, if they be in any degree profitable to the individuals of species, in their infinitely complex relations to other organic beings and to their physical conditions of life,will tend to the preservation of such individuals,and will generally be inherited by the offspring. The offspring, also, will thus have a better chance of surviving, for, of the many individuals of any species which are periodically born, but a small number can survive. I have called this principle, by which each slight variation, if useful, is preserved, by the term natural selection, in order to mark its relation to man' power of selection.2.Put the following paragraph into English(15)从我国的实际情况出发，我们既需要大量学有专长的高级专门人才，也需要数以亿计的、高素质的、在普通岗位上的工作人员和劳动者。
Unit1新世纪大学英语.ppt
Towards a Solution
• The Bullet and the Ballot Box • Talks • Good Friday Agreement 1998 • Conclusion
Unit 3 Government of the United Kingdom
Historical affects to politics and government
Northern Ireland
• geographically Ulster* • political problems and active cultural life
and cultural tradition related with outstanding figures, and the present situation
The Two Houses
• consists and functions of House of Lords (Spiritual, Temporal)*
1.House of Commons: functions and construction *
2.party system and parliament
Scotland
• Scottish identity • geographical and historical Scotland (no
Roman, not thoroughly Germanics*,conflicts) • 1707 union • independence knot • nationality-esteemed /national self image
and cities especially London*
英国简介(英文版)
A Brief Introduction of the United KingdomThe full name of the country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is a complicated name for what is in many ways a complicated country. There’re four parts, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which complete to the set.Here, as follows, are a few aspects of the United Kingdom.1. PoliticsThe Government of the United Kingdom(1) The MonarchyThe oldest institution of government is the Monarchy cruel by the king. This dates back to the Saxon who ruled from the 5th century AD until the Norman Conguest in 1066.The power of the monarchy was largely derived form the ancient doctrine of the ‘divine right of kings”. It was held that the sovereign derived his authority from God, not from his subjects.While the king in theory had God on his side, in practice even in medieval times it was thought that he should not exercise absolute power.(2) The ParliamentThe word “parliament”comes from the verb “the parley”, that is to discuss or talk. The term was first used officially in 1236 to describe the gathering of feudal barons and representatives from countries and townswhich the occasionally summoned if he wanted to raise money.The Great Council came to include both those who were summoned “by name” (the House of Lords) and representatives of communities (the House of Commons). These two houses exist today and collectively we call them the parliament. The Commons quickly gained in political strength. They were willing to help the king by raising taxes and passing laws, but in return they wanted an increasing say in what the king was doing.The parliament became the most powerful institute in Britain was after the Revolutional War.Parliament has a number of different functions. First and foremost, it passes laws. Another important function is that it provides the means of carrying on the work of government by voting for taxation. Its other roles are to scrutinize government policy, administration and expenditure and to debate the majority issues of the day.Parliament is supreme in the British state because it alone has the power to change the terms of the constitution.There are no legal restraints upon parliament. It can make or change laws. Change or overturn established conventions or even prolong its own life without consulting the electorate. However, it does not assert its supremacy, but bears the common law in mind and acts according to precedent..Each Parliament lasts for 5 years.The Upper house has no right to decide, it only has the right to pass thebills passed by the Lower House.The party which holds a majority of those “seats” in parliament forms the government, with its party leader as the Prime Minister. After a government has been in power for 5 years it has to resign and hold a “general election”, in which al British adults are give the chance to vote again for their constituency’s MP. A government cannot stand for longer than 5years except in exceptional circumstances. However, the Prime Minister can call an election sooner than 5years. This can happen when the government loses a “vote of no confidence” in the House of Commons. That is, an MP puts forward a statement for the MPs to vote on saying that “This house no longer ha confidence in the government.”(3) The Political PartiesThere are three major national parties: The conservative party and the Labour party are the two biggest, and any general election is really about which of those two is going to govern. But there’s a third important party, the Liberal Democrats, who usually receive up to about 20% of the votes: not enough to form a government, but enough to have a big impact on which of the other two parties does so.The Labour party is the newest of these three, created by the growing trade union movement at the end of nineteenth century. It quickly replaced the Laberal party as one of the two biggest parties. Labour is a socialist party. That is to say that they believe a society should be relatively equal ineconomic terms, and the part of the role of government is to act as a “redistributive” agent. The Conservative party is the party that spent most time in power, basically the Conservative are seen as the party of the individual, protecting the individual’s right to acquire wealth and to spend it how they choose , and so favouring economic policies which businessmen prefer, such as low taxes. They receive a lot of their party funding from big companies.2. Religion(1) Queen or king is the leader as well as the bishop of the High Church.(2) 20% of British citizen claims to be Roman Catholics.(3) 40% of Scotland citizen believe in Roman Catholic.(4) Two established churches: Church of London; Church of Scotland.(5) Roman Catholic churches.(6) Free Churches.3. CultureHere, I will emphasis on one aspect of Britain’s artistic output, that for which it is perhaps best known: Literature.⑴Early WritingMuch early British writing was concerned with Christianity: Anglo-Saxons produced beautifully illustrated versions of the Bible: the most famous of these is the book of keels, party written on the Scottish island of lona.⑵Elizabethan DramaThere was a general flowering of cultural and intellectual life in Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries which is known as “The Renaissance”, in British culture one of the most successful and long-lasting expressions of this development lay in drama.⑶18th –century English literature is marked by a rather largeshift from the mood and tone of 17th –century literature.⑷The Romantic PeriodRoughly the first third of the 19th century makes up English literature’s romantic period. Writers of romantic literature are more concerned with imagination and feeling than the power of reason, which marked the 18th century.⑸20th Century LiteratureThe 20th Century marked the end of the British Europe, which was replaced by the Commonwealth of Nations. Yet English civilization and culture continue to have a strong influence on the rest of the world. The heritage of English literature forms an outstanding part of that culture.20th Century literature can be broadly divided into two stylistic periods: Modernism, and Postmodernism. These periods roughly correspond to literature written after it. Both are characterized by a high degree of experimentation.4. EconomyNational economies can be broken down into three main areas: “primary”industries, such as agriculture, fishing and mining, “Secondary”industries, which manufacture complex goods from those primary products; and tertiary industries, often described as services, such as banking, insurance, tourism, and the selling of goods.Britain’s agricultural sector is small but efficient, producing 58% of the UK’s food needs with only 2% of its workforce. Three quarters of Britain’s land is used for agriculture, with about a quarter of that under crops-wheat and barley are the two commonest. The rest is grazing for animals.The fishing industry provides 55% of the UK demand for fish. Scottish ports land the majority of the fish caught.Energy production is an important part of the UK economy, accounting for 5% of the national wealth.In the secondary sector of the economy, manufacturing industry remains important, producing 22% of national wealth.The service sector of the United Kingdom is dominated by financial services, especially in banking and insurance. London is one of the world’s largest financial centers with the London Stock Exchange, the London international Financial Futures and Options Exchange, and the Lloyd’s of London insurance market all based in the city. It also has the largest concentration of foreign bank branches in the world.5．British diplomatic affairs（1）Britain’s foreign policies:The contemporary foreign policy of the UK is greatly influenced by its imperial history and also by its geopolitical traits. Perhaps the most important single factor which influences British policy-makers is its history.A second decisive influence upon the way Britain conducts its external affairs is geopolitical. Britain is an island state, and this is considered an important psychological factor as well as one which has influenced Britain’s economic and military development as a nation of seafarers who roamed the globe looking for territory and economic opportunities.How these foreign policies made:The general direction of Britain’s foreign policy is mainly decided by the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The main government department is of course the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, but many other government ministers also play a part in formulating and executing the government’s decisions.The Ministry of Defence is responsible for ensuring Britain’s defence and managing Britain’s involvement in its military treaty commitments. And the Department of Trade and Industry is for the international trade policy and British commercial relations with other countries.（2）Britain and International Institutions:Nowadays its foreign policy is largely shaped by its participation in a number of important international institutions.Britain is one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, along with Russia, China, the Us and France. It is also the sixth largest contributor to theUN’s budget. As a Security Council member, Britain retains the ability to have a large influence on world affairs. And the more important to Britain today in running of its affairs is its membership in the EU. Britain is also a member of the Commonwealth. Even though Britain granted its colonial territories independence, it continued to feel close to these new countries and wanted to continue to work with them.（3）Security and Defence Policy:Britain depends more on defence than most other advanced industrial countries and maintains larger professional forces. The keystone of British defence policy is its participation in NATO, which is commonly known as the North Atlantic Treaty Orgnasition. In addition to its NATO commitments, Britain retains an independent nuclear weapons capability but it is highly unlikely for it to use, or need to use the capability.。
英国介绍 英语作文
英国介绍英语作文Title: An Introduction to the United Kingdom。
The United Kingdom, commonly known as the UK, is a sovereign country located off the northwestern coast of mainland Europe. It comprises four constituent countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. With a rich history, diverse culture, and significant global influence, the UK stands as a prominent nation on the world stage.Geographically, the UK spans an area of approximately 242,500 square kilometers, making it the 78th largest country in the world by land area. Its terrain varies widely, encompassing lush green countryside, rugged coastlines, and bustling urban centers.England, the largest of the four constituent countries, is home to the capital city, London, a global financial and cultural hub. Renowned for its historic landmarks such as the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, and the Houses ofParliament, England attracts millions of tourists each year. Its diverse landscape ranges from the picturesque Lake District to the rolling hills of the Cotswolds.Scotland, located to the north of England, boasts stunning natural beauty, including rugged highlands, deep lochs, and dramatic coastline. The capital city, Edinburgh, is famous for its medieval and Georgian architecture, aswell as the annual Edinburgh Festival, one of the world's largest arts festivals. Scotland is also known for its rich cultural heritage, including bagpipes, kilts, andtraditional ceilidh dancing.Wales, situated to the west of England, is renowned for its rugged mountains, pristine beaches, and ancient castles. The capital city, Cardiff, is a vibrant cultural centerwith a thriving music and arts scene. The Welsh language, spoken by a significant portion of the population, adds to the country's unique identity and heritage.Northern Ireland, located on the island of Ireland, is known for its stunning coastline, historic landmarks, andvibrant cities. Belfast, the capital city, has undergone a transformation in recent years, emerging as a dynamic cultural and economic hub. Northern Ireland's complexhistory and cultural diversity contribute to its rich tapestry of traditions and identities.The UK has a parliamentary democracy with aconstitutional monarchy, meaning that while the monarch serves as the head of state, the country is governed by elected representatives in Parliament. The UK Parliament, based in Westminster, London, is responsible for making and passing laws that govern the country.Economically, the UK is one of the world's largest and most developed economies. It has a diverse range of industries, including finance, manufacturing, technology, and creative arts. London, in particular, is a global financial center, home to some of the world's largest banks, financial institutions, and multinational corporations.Culturally, the UK has made significant contributionsto literature, music, film, and the arts. It is thebirthplace of renowned writers such as William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, and J.K. Rowling, as well as iconic bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin. The UK's cultural heritage is celebrated through its museums, galleries, theaters, and festivals, which attract visitors from around the world.In conclusion, the United Kingdom is a diverse and dynamic country with a rich history, vibrant culture, and significant global influence. From its historic landmarks and stunning landscapes to its thriving cities and creative industries, the UK offers a wealth of experiences for visitors and residents alike.。
英语国家社会与概况 unit 1
Welsh, a language spoken partly in Wales
Gaelic, a language spoken by people in the Highlands in Scotland
Bilingual road signs in English and Gaelic
24
Flag of UK
the Caribbean UK is a multiracial society.
19
4. The Group of Seven(G7)(七国集团) a coalition（联合） of the major industrial democracies: the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States -the original G6 which met the first time in 1975 -- and Canada which joined in 1976, then superseded in 1998 by the addition of Russia, which created the Group of Eight (G8).
UK
Great Britain
British Isles
5
The UK
England, Great Britain Scotland, Wales Northern Ireland
the British Isles
Great Britain Ireland hundreds of small islands.
16
Flag of The European Union
英国简介(英文版)精编版
A Brief Introduction of the United KingdomThe full name of the country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is a complicated name for what is in many ways a complicated country. There’re four parts, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which complete to the set.Here, as follows, are a few aspects of the United Kingdom.1. PoliticsThe Government of the United Kingdom(1) The MonarchyThe oldest institution of government is the Monarchy cruel by the king. This dates back to the Saxon who ruled from the 5th century AD until the Norman Conguest in 1066.The power of the monarchy was largely derived form the ancient doctrine of the ‘divine right of kings”. It was held that the sovereign derived his authority from God, not from his subjects.While the king in theory had God on his side, in practice even in medieval times it was thought that he should not exercise absolute power.(2) The ParliamentThe word “parliament”comes from the verb “the parley”, that is to discuss or talk. The term was first used officially in 1236 to describe the gathering of feudal barons and representatives from countries and towns which the occasionally summoned if he wanted to raise money.The Great Council came to include both those who were summoned “by name”(the House of Lords) and representatives of communities (the House of Commons). These two houses exist today and collectively we call them the parliament. The Commons quickly gained in political strength. They were willing to help the king by raising taxes and passing laws, but in return they wanted an increasing say in what the king was doing.The parliament became the most powerful institute in Britain was after the Revolutional War.Parliament has a number of different functions. First and foremost, it passes laws. Another important function is that it provides the means of carrying on the work of government by voting for taxation. Its other roles are to scrutinize government policy, administration and expenditure and to debate the majority issues of the day.Parliament is supreme in the British state because it alone has the power to change the terms of the constitution.There are no legal restraints upon parliament. It can make or change laws. Change or overturn established conventions or even prolong its own life withoutconsulting the electorate. However, it does not assert its supremacy, but bears the common law in mind and acts according to precedent..Each Parliament lasts for 5 years.The Upper house has no right to decide, it only has the right to pass the bills passed by the Lower House.The party which holds a majority of those “seats”in parliament forms the government, with its party leader as the Prime Minister. After a government has been in power for 5 years it has to resign and hold a “general election”, in which al British adults are give the chance to vote again for their constituency’s MP. A government cannot stand for longer than 5years except in exceptional circumstances. However, the Prime Minister can call an election sooner than 5years. This can happen when the government loses a “vote of no confidence” in the House of Commons. That is, an MP puts forward a statement for the MPs to vote on saying that “This house no longer ha confidence in the government.”(3) The Political PartiesThere are three major national parties: The conservative party and the Labour party are the two biggest, and any general election is really about which of those two is going to govern. But there’s a third important party, the Liberal Democrats, who usually receive up to about 20% of the votes: not enough to form a government, but enough to have a big impact on which of the other two parties does so.The Labour party is the newest of these three, created by the growing trade union movement at the end of nineteenth century. It quickly replaced the Laberal party as one of the two biggest parties. Labour is a socialist party. That is to say that they believe a society should be relatively equal in economic terms, and the part of the role of government is to act as a “redistributive” agent. The Conservative party is the party that spent most time in power, basically the Conservative are seen as the party of the individual, protecting the individual’s right to acquire wealth and to spend it how they choose , and so favouring economic policies which businessmen prefer, such as low taxes. They receive a lot of their party funding from big companies.2. Religion(1) Queen or king is the leader as well as the bishop of the High Church.(2) 20% of British citizen claims to be Roman Catholics.(3) 40% of Scotland citizen believe in Roman Catholic.(4) Two established churches: Church of London; Church of Scotland.(5) Roman Catholic churches.(6) Free Churches.3. CultureHere, I will emphasis on one aspect of Britain’s artistic output, that for which it is perhaps best known: Literature.⑴Early WritingMuch early British writing was concerned with Christianity: Anglo-Saxons produced beautifully illustrated versions of the Bible: the most famous of these is the book of keels, party written on the Scottish island of lona.⑵Elizabethan DramaThere was a general flowering of cultural and intellectual life in Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries which is known as “The Renaissance”, in British culture one of the most successful and long-lasting expressions of this development lay in drama.⑶18th –century English literature is marked by a rather large shiftfrom the mood and tone of 17th –century literature.⑷The Romantic PeriodRoughly the first third of the 19th century makes up English literature’s romantic period. Writers of romantic literature are more concerned with imagination and feeling than the power of reason, which marked the 18th century.⑸20th Century LiteratureThe 20th Century marked the end of the British Europe, which was replaced by the Commonwealth of Nations. Yet English civilization and culture continue to have a strong influence on the rest of the world. The heritage of English literature forms an outstanding part of that culture.20th Century literature can be broadly divided into two stylistic periods: Modernism, and Postmodernism. These periods roughly correspond to literature written after it. Both are characterized by a high degree of experimentation.4. EconomyNational economies can be broken down into three main areas: “primary”industries, such as agriculture, fishing and mining, “Secondary”industries, which manufacture complex goods from those primary products; and tertiary industries, often described as services, such as banking, insurance, tourism, and the selling of goods.Britain’s agricultural sector is small but efficient, producing 58% of the UK’s food needs with only 2% of its workforce. Three quarters of Britain’s land is used for agriculture, with about a quarter of that under crops-wheat and barley are the two commonest. The rest is grazing for animals.The fishing industry provides 55% of the UK demand for fish. Scottish ports land the majority of the fish caught.Energy production is an important part of the UK economy, accounting for 5% of the national wealth.In the secondary sector of the economy, manufacturing industry remains important, producing 22% of national wealth.The service sector of the United Kingdom is dominated by financial services, especially in banking and insurance. London is one of the world’s largest financial centers with the London Stock Exchange, the London international Financial Futures and Options Exchange, and the Lloyd’s of London insurance market all based in the city. It also has the largest concentration of foreign bank branches in the world. 5．British diplomatic affairs（1）Britain’s foreign policies:The contemporary foreign policy of the UK is greatly influenced by its imperial history and also by its geopolitical traits. Perhaps the most important single factor which influences British policy-makers is its history.A second decisive influence upon the way Britain conducts its external affairs is geopolitical. Britain is an island state, and this is considered an important psychological factor as well as one which has influenced Britain’s economic and military development as a nation of seafarers who roamed the globe looking for territory and economic opportunities.How these foreign policies made:The general direction of Britain’s foreign policy is mainly decided by the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The main government department is of course the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, but many other government ministers also play a part in formulating and executing the government’s decisions.The Ministry of Defence is responsible for ensuring Britain’s defence and managing Britain’s involvement in its military treaty commitments. And the Department of Trade and Industry is for the international trade policy and British commercial relations with other countries.（2）Britain and International Institutions:Nowadays its foreign policy is largely shaped by its participation in a number of important international institutions.Britain is one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, along with Russia, China, the Us and France. It is also the sixth largest contributor to the UN’s budget. As a Security Council member, Britain retains the ability to have a large influence on world affairs. And the more important to Britain today in running of its affairs is its membership in the EU. Britain is also a member of the Commonwealth. Even though Britain granted its colonial territories independence, it continued to feel close to these new countries and wanted to continue to work with them.（3）Security and Defence Policy:Britain depends more on defence than most other advanced industrial countries and maintains larger professional forces. The keystone of British defence policy is its participation in NATO, which is commonly known as the North Atlantic Treaty Orgnasition. In addition to its NATO commitments, Britain retains an independent nuclear weapons capability but it is highly unlikely for it to use, or need to use the capability.。
英国简介
The politics of the United Kingdom takes place within the framework of constitutional monarchy, in which the Monarch is the head of state and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is the head of government. Executive power is exercised by Her Majesty's Government, on behalf of and by the consent of the Monarch, as well as by the devolved governments of Scotland and Wales, and the Executive of Northern Ireland. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the House of Commons and the House of Lords, as well as in the Scottish parliament and Welsh and Northern Ireland assemblies. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature, the highest national court being the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.