英语国家概况复习资料
英语国家概况复习重点
英语国家概况复习重点：1.PuritanismPuritans were those who followed the doctrine of John Calvin and wanted to purify the Church of England .They believe that human beings were predestined by God before they were born. Some were God's chosen people while others were damned to hell. No Church nor god’ works could save people. The sign of being God's elect was the success in his work or the prosperity in his calling. They also argued that everyone must read the Bible in order to find God's will and establish a direct contact with God .These beliefs had great impact on American culture.2. The three traditions of Christmas in Britain:One is the Christmas Pantomime, a comical musical play. The main male character is played by a young woman while the main female character, often an ugly woman called “the Dame”, is played by a man. Another British Christmas tradition is to hear the Queen give her Christmas message to her realm over the television and radio. A third British tradition is Boxing Day, which falls on the day after Christmas. Traditionally, it was on Boxing Day that people gave Christmas gifts or money to their staff or servants. Now that most British people do not have servants, this custom is no longer observed. However, a new Boxing Day custom has emerged in the cities: shopping. Shops open up to sell off all their Christmas stock decorations, food, cards and gift items at low prices.3. Grammar schools It is a type of secondary schools in Britain. Grammar schools select children at age 11,through an examination called "the 11-plus".Those children with the highest marks go to grammar schools. These schools lay emphasis on advanced academic subjects rather than the more general curriculum of the comprehensive schools and except many of their pupils to go on to universities.4. The BBC: The British Broadcasting Corporation. It has been the Britain’s main public service broadcaster. It currently has two TV channels.5. Quality papers: they belong to one of the categories of the national dailies. The quality papers carry more serious and in-depth articles of particular political and social importance. They also carry reviews, such as book reviews and feature articles about high culture. These papers are also referred to as “the broadsheets” because they are printed on large-size paper. The readers of them are generally a well-educated middle class audience.6. Sinn Fein: It is a legal political party in Northern Ireland which support the IRA to fightfor the union of Ireland. The leader of Sinn Fein prefer union with Ireland by a twin campaign, both military and political which they call the policy of “ the Bullet and the ballot Box”. It believe that without the participation of Sinn Fein the political problem of Northern Ireland cannot be thoroughly solved.7. Comprehensive school: They are the most popular secondary schools in Britain today. Such schools admit children without reference to their academic abilities and provide a general education. Pupils can study everything from academic subjects like literature to more practicalsubjects like cooking.8 The House of Lords:The House of Lords consists of the Lords of Spiritual, who are the archbishops and most prominent bishops of the Church of England; and the Lords Temporal, which refers to those lords who either have inherited the seat from their forefathers or they have been appointed. The lords mainly represent themselves instead of the interests of the public.9. Checks and Balance:The government is divided into three branches, the legislative, the executive and the judicial, each has part of the powers but not all the power. And each branch of government can check, or block, the actions of the other branches. The three branches are thus in balance. This called “checks and balances”.10. The House of CommonsThe House of Commons is the real center of British political life because it is the place where abouts 650 elected representatives(Members of Parliament)make and debate policy .These MPs are elected in the General Elections and should represent the interests of the people who vote for them.11 Boxing DayIt is a typical British tradition celebrated on the day after Christmas. People used to give Christmas gift or money to their staff or servants on this day. And now they mostly do shopping, pay visits, enjoy eating and relax.12.Independent schools are commonly called public schools which receive their funding through the private sector and tuition rates, with some government assistance. Independence schools are not part national education system, but the quality of instruction and standards are maintained through her majesty’s Inspectors of schools. These schools are restricted to students whose parents are comparatively rich.13. anglo-saxons: They were two groups of Germanic peoples who settled down in England from the 5th century. They were regarded as the ancestors of the English and the founders of England.14. Eli Whitney Eli Whitney is an American inventor who invented the cotton gin, which made removing the seeds from the bolls of cotton much easier. He also began manufacuring rifles with machinery, using interchanageable part. This contributed to the American system of mass production.15. migrant workersMany big farms hire temporary workers only for a specific chore---such as picking crops. Many of th ese seasonal workers travel from farm to farm,staying only until the cropss are picked…They are known as migrant workers.16. They are the Primary Industry, the Secondary Industry and Tertiary Industry or service.17.“Football hooligans”reflect the violence associated with football. “Football hooligans”are supportersof rival teams. They sometimes clash before, during and after matches and occasionally run riot through the town breaking windows and beating each other up.18. The Declaration of Independence was mainly drafted by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by the congress on July 4 ,1776. When the people fro the 13 English colonies in Northern America were fighting for their freedom and independence from the British colonial rule. The document declared that all men are equal and that they were entitled to have some unalienable rights such as life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.19. the Bill of Rights in US The Bill of Rights consists of the first 10 amendments which were added to the Constitution in 1791. The Bill of Rights was passed to guarantee freedom and individual rights such as freedom of speech, the right to assemble in public places, the right to own weapons and so on.20. Three Faiths in the U.S.By the 1950s, the three faiths model of American religion had developed. Americans were considered to come in three basic varieties: Protestant, Catholic and Jewish, the order reflecting the strength in numbers of each group.21. LondonLondon is the largest city located in the south of the country .It is dominant in Britain in all sorts of ways. It is the cultural and business center and the headquarters of the vast majority of Britain's big companies.It is not only the financial center of the nation,but also one of the three major international financial centers in the world.22.Christmas: It is the biggest and the most popular British holiday celebrated by on December 25th each year to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. People usually decorate homes with evergreen plants. Christmas trees and ornament. They also exchange gifts and Christmas cards. Three typical British traditions on Christmas are: the Christmas pantomime, the Queen’s speech and the Boxing Day.23.Ggeorge Washington George Washington was one of the founding fathers of the American Republic. He was the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army in the War of Independence against the British colonial rule and the first President of the United States.24. Tabloids:A tabloid is a small format newspaper with color photos and catchy headlines. Tabloids are interested in scandals and gossip usually about famous people. They also carry lots of crime, sports and sensational human interest stories so as to attract readers. Stories are short, easy to read and often rely more on opinions than fact. They belong to a category of national papers different from quality papers.25. comprehensive schools:They are the most popular secondary schools in Britain today. Such schools admit children without reference to their academic abilities and provide a general education. Pupils can study everything from academic subjects like literature to more practical subjects like cooking.26. Home Rule: Ireland had long been dominanted by Britain, but Ireland desired for aindependent Irish state was never lost, “Home Rule” refers to a campaign for Irish control of Irish affairs. The home Rule bill was finally passed in 1914, but the process was overtaken by the first World War and was supendedfor the duration of the war.27. King Arthur: He was a king of England in the fifth century and united the British and drove the Saxon back with his magical sword, Exalibur. His real existence is in doubt. He is the central figure of many legends28. the British ConstitutionThere 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 statute law.29. AgribusinessIt refers to the new farming in Britain, because it’s e quipped 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, designs to give the maximum output of crops and animals.30 .British constitutionBritish has no written constitution. The foundations of the British state are laid out in statute law, which are laws passed by parliament; the common laws, which are laws established through common practice in the courts ;and conventions.31. a federal systemIt is one in which power is shared between a central authority and its constituent parts, with some rights reserved to each.32. Grammar schoolsIt is a type of secondary schools in Britain.Grammar schools select children at age 11,through an examination called "the 11-plus".Those children with the highest marks go to grammar schools.These schools lay emphasis on advanced academic subjects rather than the more general curriculum of the comprehensive schools and except many of their pupils to go on to universities.V．Questions: （5分*3= 15 分）1. What is.Puritanism?Puritans were those who followed the doctrine of John Calvin and wanted to purity the Church of England .They believe that human beings were predestined by God before they were born .Some were God's chosen people while others were damned to hell.No Church nor godd works could save people.The sign of being God's elect was the success in hia work or the prosperity in hia calling.They also argued that everyone must read the Bible in order to find God'swill and establisha direct contact with God .These beliefs had great impact on American culture.2. What is the class system in British society?Most of the British population would claim themselves to be either of middle-class or working class, though some people would actually belong to the upper middle-class or lower middle-class. Class divisions are not simply economic, they are cultural as well. People of different classes may differ in the kind of newspapers they read, in the way they speak and in the kind of education they receive. One of the distinctive features about the British class system is that aristocratic titles can still be inherited.3. Please define “absolute decline and relative decline” in the UK economy. Absolute decline means its GDP, employment rate or other economic factors are lower than those in the same period in the past, while relative decline refers to the comparison between develop countries. UK economy is still among the top of these countries.As for the reason, the UK economic history and current economic measures play important roles in that.4. What were the contents and the significance of the Great Charter?—— The Great Charter, or the Magna Carta, was document signed in 1215 between the barons and king John. It had altogether 63 clauses, of which the most important contents were these: (1) no tax should be made without the approval of the Grand Council; (2) no freeman should be arrested, imprisoned, or deprived of his property except by the law of the land; (3) the church should possess all its rights and priv ileges; (4) London and other towns should retain their ancient rights and privileges; (5) there should be the same weights and measures throughout the country. The Great Charter was a statement of the feudal and legal relationship between the Crown and the barons, a guarantee of the freedom of the Church and a limitation of the powers of the king. The spirit of the Great Charter was the limitation of the powers of the king, but it has long been regarded as the foundation of English liberties.5. What are the forces that brought about the modern development of Europe in the 16th -17th century?(1) The growth of capitalism(2) the Renaissance(3) the Religious Reformation6 What were the causes of the War of Independence?—— The economy in the thirteen colonies developed very fast and people wanted more power to detemine their own business. But the policy of the British government was to bring the development under control and to collect more taxes from the colonies. On April 19, 1775, on their way to Concord to seize the military supplies of the militia there, the British soldiers met armed militiamen. The shots were fired, the War of Independence began.7 Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?The Articles of Confederation failed because the states did not cooperate with the Congress or with each other. When the Congress needed money to pay the national army or to pay debts owedto France and other nations, some states refused to contribute. The Congress had been given no authority to force any state to do anything. It could not tax any citizen. Only the state in which a citizen lived could do that.8. the functions of the British ParliamentThe main functions of Parliament are: (1) to pass laws; (2) to provide the means of carrying on the work of government by voting for taxation; (3) to examine government policy and administration, including proposals for expenditure; (4) to debate the major issues of the day.9. What kind of institution(部门) is the House of Lords? What role dose it play in British government?A: It consists of the Lords Spiritual who are the Archbishops and most prominent bishops of the church of England ;and the Lords Temporal，which refers to everyone else。
大学英语国家概况复习(名词解释+问答题)
名词解释Unit 1 A Brief Introduction to the United KingdomⅠ第一章英国简介1✧ 1. LondonLondon is the largest city located in the south of the country. It is dominant in Britain in all sorts of ways. It is the cultural and business centre and the headquarters of the vast majority of Britain's big companies. It is not only the financial centre of the nation, but also one of the three major international financial centres in the world.伦敦位于该国南部最大的城市。
从各方面来看，它是英国主导。
它是文化和商业中心，绝大多数英国大公司总部。
它不仅是国家的金融中心，而且在世界三大国际金融中心之一。
2.Robin HoodRobin Hood was a Saxon nobleman. As he could no longer put up with oppressions from the Normans, he became an outlaw and bid himself with his band of "merry men" in the forest. From this secret place, he went out to rob from the rich to give the poor.罗宾汉是一个撒克逊的贵族。
因为他再也无法容忍诺曼人的压迫，他成为逃犯并且让自己和他的"快活人" 帮派呆在森林里。
英语国家概况复习题答案
英语国家概况复习题答案
1. 英国的首都是哪个城市？
答案：伦敦。
2. 美国的官方语言是什么？
答案：英语。
3. 加拿大的首都是哪里？
答案：渥太华。
4. 澳大利亚的货币单位是什么？
答案：澳元。
5. 新西兰的国旗上有哪些颜色？
答案：蓝色、红色和白色。
6. 英国的全称是什么？
答案：大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国。
7. 美国的独立日是哪一天？
答案：7月4日。
8. 加拿大的官方语言有哪些？
答案：英语和法语。
9. 澳大利亚最大的城市是哪个？
答案：悉尼。
10. 新西兰的首都是哪里？
答案：惠灵顿。
11. 英国的国花是什么？
答案：玫瑰。
12. 美国的总统任期是多久？
答案：四年。
13. 加拿大的国土面积是多少？
答案：约998万平方公里。
14. 澳大利亚的国宝动物是什么？答案：袋鼠。
15. 新西兰的国花是什么？
答案：银蕨。
16. 英国的国歌是什么？
答案：《天佑女王》。
17. 美国的人口数量大约是多少？答案：约3.3亿。
18. 加拿大的国花是什么？
答案：枫叶。
19. 澳大利亚的国歌是什么？
答案：《前进，美丽的澳大利亚》。
20. 新西兰的官方语言有哪些？答案：英语和毛利语。
英语国家概况__谢福之_复习资料
Chapter 1全名: the United Kingdom of Great Britain （大不列颠联合王国）（大不列颠联合王国） and Northern Ireland （北爱尔兰）（北爱尔兰） 由成千上万的小岛组成（the British Isles ）. 两大岛屿：Great Britain （大不列颠）（大不列颠） and Ireland （爱尔兰）（爱尔兰）The River Thames (second longest and most important), originates （起源于） in southwestern England -----North Sea. Scotland ( Edinburgh 爱丁堡爱丁堡 ) important river:Clyde River kilts （苏克兰小短裙）（苏克兰小短裙） Wales ( Cardiff 加迪夫，著名港口 ). The Severn River is the longest river of Britain------flow through western England. Northern Ireland (Belfast 贝尔法斯特，首府) Lough Lough Neagh----the Neagh----the Neagh----the largest largest largest lake lake lake in in in the the British Isles. Climate : temperate, with warm summers, cool winters and plentiful precipitation(降雨量)，冬暖夏凉，降雨充沛暖夏凉，降雨充沛Three major features : winter fog, rainy day, instability : winter fog, rainy day, instability 冬天多雾，常年多雨，天气不定冬天多雾，常年多雨，天气不定London ---Buckingham Palace （白金汉宫）, Guildhall (市政厅), St. Paul ’s Cathedral （圣保（圣保罗大教堂）, The Tower Bridge of London （伦敦塔桥）（伦敦塔桥）The majority of the population is descendants of the Anglo-Saxons, a Germanic people from Europe.大部分的人口是盎格鲁-撒克逊人的后裔，从欧洲来的日耳曼人 Most people in Wales and Scotland are descendants of the Celtic people, including the Irish people 威尔士和苏格兰的大多数人都是凯尔特人的后裔，包括爱尔兰人威尔士和苏格兰的大多数人都是凯尔特人的后裔，包括爱尔兰人English belongs to the Indo-European family of languages. English is in the Germanic group.英语属于日耳曼语语系英语属于日耳曼语语系 Germanic group: East Germanic, North Germanic, West Germanic. English evolved from the West Germanic group.日耳曼语系：东日耳曼语，北日耳曼语，西日耳曼语。
史上超强!英语国家概况复习笔记!
英语国家概况复习笔记Chapter 1 Land and People 英国的国土与人民Different Names for Britain and its Parts英国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.2.Official name: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 官方正式名称:大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国.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］及成千上万个小岛组成.4.Three political divisions on the island of Great Britain: England, Scotland and Wales.大不列颠岛上有三个政区:英格兰,苏格兰和威尔士.①England is in the southern part of Great Britain.It is the largest, most populous section. 位于大不列颠岛南部,是最大,人口最稠密的地区.②Scotland 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.它有三大自然区：北部高地,中部低地及南部山陵.首府：爱丁堡.③Wales is in the west of Great Britain. Capital: Cardiff 威尔士位于大不列颠的西部.首府：加的夫④Northern Ireland is the fourth region of the UK. Capital: Belfast. 北爱尔兰是英国第四个区域.首府：贝尔法斯特5.The Commonwealth (of nations) is a free association of independent countries that were once colonies of Britain.Member nations are joined together economically and have certain trading agreements.The Commonwealth has no special powers.The decision to become a member of the Commonwealth is left to each nation. It was founded in 1931, and has 50 member countries until 1991.英联邦是一个自由联合体,由曾是英国殖民地而现在已经独立的国家构成.成员国之间实行经济合作,有一定的贸易协议.英联邦没有特别的权利,是否参加英联邦由各成员国自己决定.它成立于1931年,到1991年止已有50个成员国.Chapter 2 The Origins of a Nation (5000BC-1066) 英国的起源1.Arrival and settlement of the Celts At about 700 BC the Celts began to arrive in Britain and kept coming until the arrival of the Romans.They may come originally from eastern and central Europe,now France,Belgium and southern Germany.约公元前700年,凯尔特人来到不列颠岛并一直陆续到来直到罗马人的入侵.他们可能源自东欧和中欧,即现在的法国,比利时和德国南部. They came in three main waves:the Gaels~about 600 BC;the Brythons~about 400 BC;the Belgae~about 150 BC.凯尔特人来到不列颠有三次高潮:第一次是约公元前600年的盖尔人;第二次是约公元前400年的布立吞人;第三次是约公元前150年的贝尔盖人. The Celtic tribes are the ancestors of the Highland Scots,the Irish and the Welsh,and their languages are the basis of both Welsh and Gaelic.凯尔特人是山地苏格兰人,爱尔兰人和威尔士人的祖先,他们的语言是威尔士语和盖尔语的基础. The Celts’ religion was Druidism. 凯尔特人的宗教为德鲁伊德教. The Belgae were the most industrious and vigorous of the Celtic tribes.贝尔盖人是最勤奋,最精力充沛的. The Celts were practised farmers. 凯尔特人是有经验的农民.2.Basis of modern English race: the Anglo-Saxons现代英国人的基础:盎格鲁—萨克逊(446-871) In the mid-5th century Jutes,Saxons, and Angles came to Britain.They were three Teutonic tribes.The Jutes,who fished and farmed in Jutland(now southern Denmark),came to Britain first.Then the Saxons came.They came from northern Germany,established their kingdoms in Essex, Sussex and Wessex. In the second half of the 6th century,the Angles who also came from northern Germany and were to give their name to the English people, settled in East Anglia, Mercia and Northumbria. 五世纪中叶,朱特人,撒克逊人和盎格鲁人来到不列颠岛.这是三支日耳曼部落.居住在朱特兰岛(现丹麦南部)从事打渔农耕的朱特人先到达不列颠;接着是撒克逊人,他们来自德国北部,在埃塞克斯,苏塞克斯和威塞克斯建立了王国;六世纪后半叶,同样来自德国北部把自己名字给了英国人的盎格鲁人,在东盎格利亚,麦西亚以及诺森伯利来定居.Heptarchy:During the Anglo-Saxon’s time,Britain was divided into many kingdoms,among which there were seven principal kingdoms of Kent,Essex,Sussex,Wessex,East Anglia,Mercia and Northumbria.They were given the name for Heptarchy. 在盎格鲁-撒克逊时期,英国被划分为许多王国,其中有七个主要王国:肯特,埃塞克斯,苏塞克斯,威塞克斯,东盎格利亚,麦西亚和诺森伯利来.他们被合称为七王国.The Anglo-Saxon tribes were constantly at war with one another,each trying to get the upper hand,so that the kingdoms were often broken up and often pieced together again. 盎格鲁-撒克逊部落之间不断交战,彼此都想占上风,因此王国总是分了合,合了又分The Anglo-Saxons brought their own Teutonic religion to Britain. 盎格鲁—撒克逊人把日耳曼宗教带到了英国.Although the Anglo-Saxons were ferocious people,they laid the foundations of the English state.Firstly,they divided the country into shires;Secondly,they devised the narrow-strip,three-field farming system which continued to the 18th century;Thirdly,they also established the manorial system.Finally,they created the Witan(council/meeting of wisemen)to advise the king,the basis of the Privy Council which still exists today. 虽然盎格鲁-撒克逊人是凶猛的民族,但他们为英国国家的形成打下了基础.首先他们把国家划分为郡;其次他们设计的窄条三圃田农耕制延用至18世纪;他们还建立了采邑制;最后他们还创立了议会(贤人会议),向国王提供建议,这是现存的枢密院基础.3.The Viking and Danish invasions The Norwegian Vikings and the Danes attacked various parts of England from the end of the 8th century.The Danes gained control of the north and east of England—the Danelaw.从8世纪末起,挪威海盗和丹麦人就不断袭击英格兰各地方.丹麦人控制英格兰北部和东部丹麦法区. After Alfred’s death,his s uccessors reconquered the Danelaw.King Ethelred the Unready tried paying the invaders to stay away.But the Danes didn’t go away but invade again. 亚尔弗雷德死后,他的继任者们重新征服了丹麦地区."未准备好者"埃塞尔雷德国王进贡给丹麦人以免被侵略,但丹麦人又再度进犯. After Ethelred’s death,Canute,the Danish leader was made English king in 1016.He proved to be a wise ruler.After his death in 1035,his sons Harold and Hardicanute reigned successively.After Hardicanute’s death the succession passed to the successor Edward the Confessor. 埃塞尔雷德死后,丹麦首领喀奴特在1016年成为了英国国王.他是位英明的通知者.1035年他死后,他的儿子哈罗德和哈迪喀奴特先后统治王国.哈迪喀奴特死后,王位传给了"忏悔者"爱德华.4.King Alfred and his contributions亚尔弗雷德国王和他所做出的贡献(849-899) ①Alfred was the king of Wessex and defeated the Danes and reached a friendly agreement with them in 879亚尔弗雷德是威塞克斯的国王.他打败了丹麦人,并于公元879年与他们达成了友好协议;②He founded a strong fleet and is known as “the father of the British navy”他因为建立了强大舰队,而以“英国海军之父”闻名于世;③He reorganized the Saxon army,making it more efficient他改组了撒克逊军队,使之更为高效;④He is said to have taught himself Latin and translated a Latin book into English据说他自学了拉丁语并将一本拉丁语书译成英语⑤He encouraged learning in others,established schools and formulated a legal system. All this earns him the title “Alfred the Great”他鼓励向他人求知并修建学校,并且制订法律制度.5.The Norman Conquest and its consequences诺曼征服及其影响(1066) It was said that king Edward had promised the English throne to William, but the Witan chose Harold as king. So William led his army to invade England. In October 1066, William defeated Harold in the battle of Hastings.On Christmas Day William was crowned king of England in Westminster Abbey. 爱德华国王曾答应把英格兰王位传给诺曼底公爵威廉,但是贤人会议挑选了哈罗德为国王.公元1066年10月,在哈斯丁斯战役中威廉打败了哈罗德军队.圣诞节这天在威斯敏斯特大教堂,威廉被加冕为英格兰国王. The Norman Conquest of 1066 is perhaps the best-known event in English history. William the Conqueror confiscated almost all the land and gave it to his Norman followers. He replaced the weak Saxon rule with a strong Norman government.The Norman Conquest ended the English history of being invaded, the feudal system was completely established in England . Relations with the Continent were opened, and civilization and commerce were extended. Norman-French culture, language, manners and architecture were introduced.The Church was brought into closer connection with Rome, and the church courts were separated from the civil courts. 公元1066年的诺曼征服也许是英国历史上的最著名事件.征服者威廉没收了几乎所有土地,将其分发给他的诺曼追随者.他用强大的诺曼政府取代软弱的撒克逊人统治.诺曼征服结束了被侵略的英国历史,英格兰完全确立了封建制度:扩展了与欧洲大陆的关系;文明和商业都得到发展;引进了诺曼—法国文化、语言、举止和建筑.教会与罗马的联系更为密切,教会法庭从世俗法庭中单独分离出来.Chapter 3 The Shaping of the Nation 英国的形成（公元1066-1381）1.England's feudalism under the rule of William the Conqueror在威廉统治下的英国封建制度①Under William,the feudal system in England was completely established在威廉统治下,英国的封建制度得到完全确立;②In this system,the King owned all the land personally根据此制度,国王拥有全国所有土地;③William gave his barons large estate s in England in return for a promise of military service and a proportion of the land’s produce威廉把英国的大片土地分给贵族,条件是贵族保证服役和交租;④These estates were scattered far and wide over the country,so that those who held them could not easily combine to rebel the king贵族的这些地产分散于各处,这样土地拥有者就不易联合起来反叛国王;⑤The barons parceled out his land to the lesser nobles,knights and freemen,also in return for goods and services贵族又把土地分配给小贵族,骑士和自由民,同样要他们交租和服役;⑥At the bottom of the feudal scale were the villeins or serfs在封建等级底层的是农奴;⑦One peculiar feature of the feudal system of England was that all landowners must take the oath of allegiance,not only to their immediate lord,but also to the king英国封建制独有的特色就是,无论是土地承租人还是二佃户,都必须要宣誓效忠于直接领主,而且要效忠于国王.William replaced the Witan with the Grand Council. 威廉用大议会取代了贤人会议. In order to have a reliable record of all his lands,his tenants and their possessions,William sent his clerks to compile a property record known as Domesday Book,which was completed in 1086. 为了使所有的土地,佃户和他们的财产记录可靠,威廉派官员编了一本财产清册,称为«末日审判书»2.Contents and the significance of the Great Charter«大宪章»的内容及意义Also known as the Magna Carta,Great Charter was signed by King John in 1215 under the press of the barons.«大宪章»是约翰国王1215年在封建贵族压力下签定的. It consists of 63 clauses. Its important provisions are as follows«大宪章»共有63条:①no tax should be made without the approval of the Grand Council没有大议会批准不得征税;②no freeman should be arrested,imprisoned,or deprived of his property except by the law of the land除依照法律,不得随意逮捕,拘禁自由民,不依照土地法不得剥夺其财产;③the Church should possess all its rights,together with freedom of elections教会拥有的权利和选举自由不受侵犯;④London and other towns should retain their ancient rights and privileges伦敦和其它城市应保留其古老的权利和特权;⑤there should be the same weight and measures throughout the country全国应统一度量衡. Although the Great Charter has long been popularly regarded as the foundation of English liberties,it was a statement of the feudal and legal relationship between the Crown and the barons,a guarantee of the freedom of the Church and a limitation of the powers of the king.The spirit of the Great Charter was the limitation of the powers of the king,keeping them within the bounds of the feudal law of the land.尽管长期普遍认为«大宪章»是英国自由的基础,但它只是国王与贵族之间的封建与法律关系,保证教会的自由,限制国王的权力.«大宪章»的精神是限制王权,置王权于封建法律的约束下.3.The origins of the English Parliament英国议会的起源In 1258,the barons,under Simon de Montfort,forced Henry Ⅲand his son Prince Edward to swear to accept the Provisions of ter,Henry refused to confirm to the Provisions of Oxford,thus a civil war brake out between the king’s suppor ters and the baronial army led by Simon de Montfort. 1258年,贵族们在西蒙•德•孟福尔的领导下迫使国王和他的儿子爱德华王子宣誓接受"牛津协定".亨利拒绝批准牛津协定,国王的支持者和西蒙•德•孟福尔领导的封建主组成的军队之间爆发了内战.The Great Council is known to be the prototype of the current British Parliament. In 1265,Simon de Montfort summoned the Great Council,together with two knights from each country and two citizens from each town.,a meeting which has seen as the earliest parliament.It later developed into the House of Lords and the House of Common as a parliament. 大议会是当今英国议会的原型.1265年,西门德孟福尔召开大议会,各县有两名骑士,各镇有两名市民参加,此次会议被看作是最早的议会.大议会发展到后来演变成议会.分为上议院和下议院Its main role was to offer advice,not to make decisions.There were still no elections,no parties,and the most important part of Parliament was the House of Lords. 其作用是咨询而非决定,也没有选举和政党.议会的最重要的部分是上议院4.The Hundred Years' War with France and its consequences百年战争及其结果When Edward III claimed the French Crown but the French refused to recognize,the war broke out. 爱德华三世宣布要继承法国王位,但法国人民拒绝承认,于是引发了百年战争. The Hundred Years’ War with France refers to the war between England and France that lasted intermittently from 1337 to 1453.The causes of the war were partly territorial and partly economic. The territorial causes were related with the possession by the English kings of the large duchy of Aquitaine,while the French kings coveted this large slice. The economic causes were connected with cloth manufacturing towns in Flanders, which were the importer of English wool, but they were loyal to the French king politically. Besides, England's desire to stop France from giving aid to Scots and a growing sense of nationalism were the other causes.百年战争指1337年到1453年英法之间一场断断续续的战争.战争的起因既有领土因素又有经济因素.领土起因尤其是与英国国王拥有法国阿奎丹大片的公爵领地有密切关系,随着法国国王势力日增,他们日益渴望占领这片从他们领土内被分割出去的土地.经济原因则与弗兰德斯有关.弗兰德斯地区生产棉布的城镇是英国羊毛的主要进口地,但这些城镇在政治上却效忠法国国王.其他原因还有英国试图阻止法国帮助苏格兰人,以及不断觉醒的民族意识.When the war ended,Calais was the only part of France that still in the hands of English. 战争结束的时候只有加来港还被英军占领.Consequences:The expulsion of the English from France is regarded as a blessing for both countries:had they remained,the superior size and wealth of France would certainly have hindered the development of a separate English national identity,while France was hindered so long as a foreign power occupied so much French territory. 战争的结果:把英国人赶出了法国对两个国家都是幸事:若英国人继续留在法国,那么法国人在领土和财富上所占的优势必然会阻碍英国作为一个独立民族的发展;而法国如被外国势力占领了大量的领土,其民族特性的发展也要长期受阻.HenryⅤrenewed the war in 1415 and won a crushing victory at Argencourt.He was recognized to the French throne in 1420.After his death,the French,encouraged by Joan of Arc,finally drove the English out of France. 亨利五世在1415年重新发动战争.在阿根科特战役中大胜.他在1420年成为法国国王.亨利死后,法国人民在圣女贞德的鼓舞下,最终把英军驱逐出法国.5.Consequences of the Black Death黑死病的影响The Black Death was the modern name given to the deadly epidemic disease spread by rat fleas across Europe in the 14th century.It swept through England in the summer of 1348 without warning and,most importantly,without any cure.It reduced England’s population from four million to two million(about one half and one third of the population was killed) by the end of the 14th century. 黑死病是现代名称,指老鼠身上的跳蚤传播的致命的淋巴腺鼠疫引起的传染性疾病.14世纪传播了到欧洲.1348年夏天横扫全英国,事先毫无预兆,而更重要的是无药可救.英国的人口在14世纪末从400万锐减至200万. The economic consequences of the Black Death were far-reaching.As a result of the plague,much land was left untended and there was a terrible shortage of ndowners tended to change from arable to sheep-farming,which required less labour.The surviving peasants had better bargainning power and were in a position to change their serfdom into paid labour.So some landlords,unable or unwilling to pay higher wages,tried to force peasants back into serfdom.In 1351 the government issued a Statute of Labourers which made it a crime for peasants to ask for more wages or for their employers to pay more than the rates laid down by the Justices of the Peace. 黑死病对经济造成的后果更为深远.鼠疫导致了大片土地无人照管和劳动力极度匮乏.地主只得把耕地改成对人力需求较少的牧场.幸存的农民处于有利的可以讨价还价的地位,他们从农奴变为雇佣劳动力。
英语国家概况复习资料
英语国家概况复习资料英语国家概况复习资料英语国家概况是学习英语的重要一环，了解英语国家的历史、文化、地理等方面，有助于更好地理解和运用英语。
在这篇文章中，我们将回顾一些关于英语国家的基本知识，帮助大家复习和加深对这些国家的了解。
一、英国（United Kingdom）英国是英语的发源地，也是英语国家中最重要的一个。
它由四个国家组成：英格兰、苏格兰、威尔士和北爱尔兰。
英国是一个具有悠久历史和丰富文化的国家，拥有众多的文学、音乐和戏剧作品。
莎士比亚、狄更斯、毛姆等伟大的作家都出自英国。
此外，英国还有许多著名大学，如剑桥大学和牛津大学。
二、美国（United States）美国是世界上最大的英语国家之一，也是世界上最强大的国家之一。
它拥有丰富的资源和多元化的文化。
美国是一个移民国家，各种不同的文化和宗教在这里融合。
美国有众多著名的城市，如纽约、洛杉矶和芝加哥，每个城市都有其独特的魅力和特色。
此外，美国还是全球科技和创新的领导者，许多世界知名的科技公司都来自美国。
三、加拿大（Canada）加拿大是北美洲的一个国家，是英语和法语并存的国家。
加拿大是一个拥有广阔土地和丰富资源的国家，同时也是一个多元文化的国家。
加拿大的自然风光非常壮观，有着世界上最美丽的国家公园和湖泊。
此外，加拿大在教育和医疗领域也非常发达，拥有世界一流的大学和医疗系统。
四、澳大利亚（Australia）澳大利亚是一个位于南半球的国家，也是一个英语国家。
澳大利亚拥有宽广的土地和独特的动植物资源，是世界上最大的岛屿国家。
澳大利亚的自然环境非常独特，有着世界上最壮观的珊瑚礁和大堡礁。
此外，澳大利亚还以其高质量的教育和研究机构而闻名，吸引着来自世界各地的留学生。
五、新西兰（New Zealand）新西兰是一个位于南太平洋的岛国，也是一个英语国家。
新西兰的自然环境非常优美，有着壮丽的山脉、湖泊和海岸线。
新西兰是一个农业和旅游业发达的国家，其乳制品和葡萄酒在世界上享有盛誉。
英语国家概况复习纲要
英语国家概况复习纲要I.Term Explanations.1. British Isles2. British Commonwealth3. Highland Zone4. Lowland Zone5. Domesday Book6. Black Death7. Greater London8. Indo-European Language Family9. Stonehenge 10. Julius Caesar 11. Hadrian’s Wall 12. King Arthur 13. Gunpowder Plot 14. Great Fire of London 15. Protestantism16. Constitutional Monarchy 17. Parliament 18. Prime Minister19. Cabinet20. The Great Lakes 21. Western Myth22. The Pilgrim Fathers 23. American Revolution 24. Civil War25. Cold War26. Hispanics 27. W ASP 28. Ethnic Minorities 29. Gold Rush30. The New World31. Federalism 32. Separation of Powers 33. General Election34. Public Schools/Universities 35. Bilingual EducationII. Simple Questions.1.What is the United Kingdom geographically and politically composedof?2.Why can’t the term “English” be used to address all the people of theUK?3.What are the two major natural regions in the UK? What does eachzone consist of ?4.How does the weather in the UK affect British life?5.What patterns of settlement and immigration has the UK demonstratedin history?6.How has English language evolved in history? Why is it said that it isimportant to the UK’s class structure?7.What are the Celtic languages? Are they still living?8.What are the key elements in “Britishness” that the citizens of the UKshare?9.Who were the main foreign invaders of Britain at different times inBritish history? What contributions have they respectively made to the British culture, or what impacts have they had?10.What was the social background for the Reformation to take place inEngland?11.What major achievement did the Elizabethan era witness?12.How did the UK Parliament come into being? How did the majorpolitical parties evolve?13.How did Christianity emerge and develop in English society? Whatrole has it played throughout English history?14.How did the English Industrial Revolution proceed form the mid-18thcentury to the mid-19th century and beyond? How has it impactedBritish society?15.What are the characteristics of the British Constitution?16.What are the functions of Parliament? How does the law-makingprocess work?17.What is the most pronounced feature of the United States in terms ofits geography?18.What are the characteristics of “Middle America”, geographically,culturally, and politically?19.What makes the Northeast stand out as a unique cultural region?20.In terms of cultural geography, what is the image of the Midwest inthe American mind?21.How did the South and the North differ from each other in theireconomic development before the Civil War?22.What were the main reasons that made the United States the world’sleading industrial power in the late 19th and early 20th centuries?23.What were the chief causes of the Great Depression? Did the NewDeal solve the problems brought about by the Depression? Why or Why not?24.In your opinion, why did the United States end its isolationist policyand adopt, instead, and interventionist policy in international affairs after World War II?25.Why is the United States called “a nation of immigrants”?26.What kind of discrimination do minority people nowadays face in theUnited States, now that no formal or legal discrimination exists in the land? In what forms does discrimination against ethnic minorities show itself?27.What kind of life do Native Americans live on the “IndianReservations”? Why do they live there?28.The United States is one of the youngest nations in the world, and yetit has the world’s oldest written constitution in force. Why is that?29.What does federalism mean in American politics?30.How often is the general election held, and how often is the midtermelection held in the U.S.?31.。
英语国家概况考试复习要点
英语国家概况复习要点Part One UKThe Country1.Different Names for Britain and its PartsName：England Britain Great Britain (GB/G.B.) British IslesBritish Empire The Commonwealth The United Kingdom(The UK)The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandParts：England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland2. Official name: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Geographically, the British Isles includes Great Britain, the whole of Ireland, andall the offshore islandsPolitically, the British Isles is made up of U.K. and Republic of Ireland.3. the highest mountain in Britain：Ben Nevis(本尼维斯山)the largest mountain range in Britain：the Grampians（格兰扁山脉）4.the longest river：The Severn River (塞文河)The most important river in Britain and the second longest river:Thames（泰晤士河）5. the largest lake in Britain：Lough Neagh（内伊湖）( Northern Ireland)6. Backbone of England：the Pennies（奔宁山脉）The people7.The first known settlers of Britain were the Iberians.人们所知的英国最早居民是伊比利来人。
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What is meant by the United Kingdom?The United Kingdom is a country made up of 4 separate countries. These are:England (capital city London)Scotland (capital city Edinburgh)Wales (capital city Cardiff)Northern Ireland (capital city Cardiff)Who's in charge?Currently David Cameron, the British Prime Minister.George Osbourne, the chancellor of the ExchequerWilliam Hague, the foreign secretary. The man most likely to meet Hu Jin tao.All three men are members of the Conservative PartyThe National Anthem The National Anthem is called "God save the queen."The National Flag The National flag is known as the "Union Jack".BeowulfBeowulf is an epic poem written in Old English.It tells the story of Beowulf, a man who kills the monster Grendel. He also kills Grendel's mother and a dragon.The Legends of King ArthurKing Arthur did not really exist. He is known as a "mythical hero."He is particularly famous for pulling the sword from the stone.The Loch Ness MonsterIn the highlands of Scotland, at a place called "Loch Ness", many people believe that there is a monster living in the lake.It is believed that the monster, sometimes called "Nessie", is a survivor from the time of the dinosaurs.Over the years, a myth has grown up about the "Loch Ness monster". Every year, people go to Scotland to try and see it. So far, no-one has been successful.Adele – 2006 - PresentAdele is a British singer and songwriter. She was born on 5 May, 1988. Both her albums, 19 and 21 have been massively successful. Adele is popular in both the UK and America.The Brit AwardsThe Brit Awards is the annual British pop music awards ceremony. It is a way for people from the UK to mostly celebrate British music. The awards began in 1977 and as an annual event in 1982. The Beatles - 1963-1970The Beatles were an English band that came from Liverpool. The Beatles' first album, "Please please me", reached number 1 in the album charts. After this, the Beatles produced 12 albums that went to number 1. The Beatles have had more number 1 albums in the UK than any other band.The British Invasion.The Beatles first performed in America on the "Ed Sullivan Show". 74 million American viewers tuned in to watch them –40% of the population. Even today, the Beatles have sold more records in the United States than any other artists.The Cultural and Social Revolution –1960s. In England and America, over the 1960s, there was a type of cultural revolution, in which peoples' attitudes on many things changed. The influence of the Beatles was integral to this.Legacy: Even today, The Beatles are selling records as people still want to listen to their songs. After the Beatles, British music became more popular in America.Who were the Spice Girls？The Spice Girls were an all-female pop band that first released a single in 1996.This single was called "Wannabe." It went straight to number 1 in the UK charts. The Spice Girls went on to have another 8 UK number 1 singles between the years 1996 – 2000. The Spice Girls were massively popular in America, having many number 1 hits. The band also had number 1 hits in 30 different countries. GIRL POWER!The Spice Girls did not only create best selling music. The band also promoted "Girl Power". "Girl Power" is a way of thinking, in which women believe that they are strong, independent, sexy, intelligent and (most importantly) able to exist without the help of men. "Girl Power stresses the importance of friendship between women. Friendship is more important than having a boyfriend. After the Spice Girls, many all-female bands have come into existence –the Spice Girls began this trend.James BondJames Bond is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming. Fleming wrote 12 novels about James Bond. After Fleming's death, writers have continued to create stories about James Bond. James Bond is your typical English gentleman. He is intelligent, polite and handsome. But he is also a spy working for MI6 (the British secret service). He is often in dangerous situations while working for the British government.The franchise remains one of the longest continually-running film series in history. 22 James Bond films have been made. The 23rd is due to be released in 2012.Mary PoppinsMary Poppins was a series of 12 books written by P.L.Travers. It is about a very mysterious English nanny. She appears to have magical powers. Although mysterious, and sometimes strict, she is always very kind to the children she looks after.Like James Bond, Mary Poppins is seen as being "typically British." She appears to be a traditional English nanny. She speaks very correct spoken-English (RP). But like James Bond, she is different beneath the surface. She always travels around using her umbrella, which opens up and allows her to be blown by the wind. In many ways, Mary Poppins is seen as representing UK culture. Mary Poppins appears to be the traditional, well-spoken nanny. Bert is the cheeky, but lovable, Cockney from the working-classes. Because of this symbolism, and the success of the film, many people (including many Americans) believe that people from the UK are like these characters.Pride and Prejudice - 2005In 2005 a new Pride and Prejudice film was made. It starred Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet and Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy.A Clockwork OrangeA Clockwork Orange was originally a novel written by Anthony Burgess. It was made into a film in 1971 and directed by Stanley Kubrick. The film, made in England, follows the life of Alex, a psychopath who loves classical music and ultra-violence.Football In England Football is the National Sport. Bill Shankly, the manager of Liverpool FC, once said in 1981:"Football isn't a matter of life or death, it's much more important than that."In England, football is not just a sport: it is part of English culture and society.The PlayersProfessional football players in the UK earn massive amounts of money. They are the "super-rich". The best professional football players are treated like celebrities. To some of the fans, professional football players are like gods. They are worshipped by the fans. They are heroes.Football FansMany football fans are devoted to the team they support. Some football fans will spend a large amount of their income on the team they support. This would include football shirts, tickets, travelling to games, etc. Many football fans go crazy when their team plays.WAGS"WAGS" is a new English word. It is short for "Wives and girlfriends". Because football players are so famous, the press and media are interested in players' girlfriends and wives (WAGS). Now in many newspapers in England you will see pictures of famous WAGS.RugbyRugby is often referred to as an "establishment game". This is because football is often considered to be for the working classes, whereas rugby is more for people who went to private school. There are not any rugby hooligans. The fans and players are better behaved.The Government today - 2012The government of the UK is a democracy. It is known as a "parliamentary government."This is because the government consists of a parliament (议会). There is also a monarch (君主), who is technically above parliament. But now, the monarch's role is mainly ceremonial (仪式).The Parliament of the United KingdomThe Parliament of the United Kingdom meets in the palace of Westminster. It is made up of two houses:The House of Commons,The House of Lords.For a law to be signed, "Royal Assent" is required from the monarch. Parliament is the ultimate "legislative" body in the UK.Members of ParliamentMembers of parliament are elected by the people of the United Kingdom. Every male and female over the age of 18 can vote for a Member of Parliament (MP). Most Members of Parliament are part of a political party. The two most popular parties are Labour and the Conservatives. There is also a party called the Liberal Democrats. Also in Parliament are "independents" –MPs who are not part of the main political parties.The House of CommonsAt least every 5 years, there is something known as a General Election in England. During a General Election people can vote for who they would like to be their MP in Parliament.What does the House of Commons do?The House of Commons is at the heart of Government and Parliament:Here New laws are drafted, proposed, debated and voted on. Policies, such as how much money to spend on health-care or transport, are debated and agreed upon; Debates are held between the Prime Minister and the Opposition. The Prime Minister is thereby held accountable (负责) to governmentSeptember 11, 2001As a result of September 11, the US launched its "War on Terror." On October 7, 2001 the Americans attacked Afghanistan and overthrew the government. UK forces supported the Americans and also sent troops. The government in Afghanistan was called the Taliban.How did this affect the UK's Reputation?Depends on who you ask. The UK was seen as America's ally. So the Americans thought the UK was great. But many countries were against the war, particularly France and Germany. The UK was seen as moving away from Europe and closer to America."The Special Relationship"The friendship between America and the UK was called the "Special Relationship."But manypeople (including UK nationals) think that this relationship is unfair and that the UK is the puppet (傀儡) of America.UK ReputationThe "special relationship" also meant that, to many people over the world, the UK and America were virtually the same thing. Anger at America also meant anger at the UK. This is particularly true of Guantanamo Bay, a controversial prison in Cuba used by the Americans to keep terrorist suspects.2003 Invasion of IraqThe Invasion of Iraq (March 19 –May 1, 2003) was the start of the conflict of the Iraq war. The invasion was led by the United States (148,000 soldiers), United Kingdom (45,000 soldiers), Australia (2,000 soldiers), Poland (194 soldiers).What did this mean for the UK's Image?This was very bad for the UK's international image.1. The UK was seen as, once again, doing whatever America wanted it to do;2. The UK was seen by many people across the world as engaging in an illegal war;3. The UK was becoming more hated in the Arab world.What did this mean for the UK?This also damaged the UK's relations with Europe, particularly France and Germany. The UK was seen as abandoning Europe and siding with America. The UK was also seen to have acted without the consent of the UN.July 7 BombingsOn 7 July 2005 London was hit by a terrorist attack. Three suicide-bombers detonated three bombs on London's Underground (Subway). This was because the UK was seen as an enemy of Islam because of the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan.What Do I mean by RP?RP stands for ‘Received Pronunciation." RP is considered to be the "correct" way of pronouncing words. It is also known as "the Queen's English"; "Oxford English" and "BBC English." RP is considered to be the accent of the well educated and wealthy.AccentsGeordie Accent-- spoken by people from Newcastle.Scouse Accent -- spoken by people from Liverpool.Cockney Rhyming SlangDog and Bone = Telephone DogTrouble and Strife = Wife TroubleMince Pies = Eyes MinceWig = Syrup and Fig SyrupPlates of meat = Feet PlatesThe Norfolk AccentAr ya reet boi? = Are you alright?Cor ter heck! = Jesus!Get Wrong = To be told offThat crazes me!= That annoys me!Social ClassUK society is often described as being stratified (分层). An individual can be said to "belong" to aparticular social class.A person belongs to a particular social class depending on a number of different factors:1. Education2. Family Background3. Accent (口音)4. Occupation5. Wealth (variable).There are said to be 8 social classes in England:The Upper Class (Prince William)The Middle Upper Class (Kate Middleton)The Middle Middle ClassThe Lower Middle ClassThe Skilled Working ClassThe Unskilled or semi-skilled working classThe Under ClassThe "Newly Rich" class, which is separate from the others.Social MobilitySocial Class in England is not fixed or rigid. There is such a thing as "social mobility". This is when, either due to education or wealth (or both), a person is able to move up a classHistoryIn 1066 William the Conqueror defeated the Anglo-Saxons at the Battle of Hastings. In 1215, King John signed a famous document called Magna Carter. 1689 --the Bill of Rights signed..Anne Askew --a woman famous for being tortured in the rack and then burnt at the stake. Anne Boleyn --famous for making a beautiful speech before being beheade.The Fire of London - 1666The fire started at the bakery of Thomas Farriner on Pudding Lane, shortly after midnight on Sunday, 2 September. The fire then spread rapidly across the city of London.The Civil WarThe English Civil War (1640-1653) was fought between Charles 1st (the leader of the Royalists) and Oliver Cromwell (the leader of the Parliamentarians). Parliament wanted more power. It thought that Charles was too dictatorialAfter the Civil War - The Restoration - 1660Even though a king was put back on the throne in England, monarchs never had as much power as they had enjoyed before the Civil War. The monarchy never regained as much power as it had had before, and was more answerable to Parliament.The Restoration - 1660But this did not mean a return to the old ways. The new King allowed free parliaments and religious toleration. The new King gave to Parliament, in effect, the very things it wanted before the Civil War. The civil war is seen by many people as the first step towards democracy.1903 –1914 –The Suffragette MovementEmmeline Pankhurst founded the Women's Social and Political Union. It was also known as the Suffragettes. This movement campaigned for women's right to vote.HistoryThe Black Death (1347-1351) and the Great Plague (1665-1666).The Fire of London (1666). This was started at Pudding Lane.Fire of London - Why such a disaster?Many reasons –1. the method of putting out the fire was very inefficient2. the mayor of London was too slow to act. He delayed orders to stop the fire.3. there was a strong wind which allowed the fire to jump4. this had never happened before and people did not know what to doGuy Fawkes –1570 - 1606Guy Fawkes is most famous for his involvement in the Gunpowder Plot (1605)The Gunpowder Plot was a failed assassination attempt against King James I.The plan had been to use gunpowder to blow up the House of Lords on 5 November.To honor this event, every year on November 5 people in the UK celebrate "Bonfire Night." People all over the country set off fire-works, either at their homes or in a communal area.The punishment given to Guy Fawkes - to be hanged, drawn and quartered, is also famous in UK tradition.TeaTea is very important in UK society. Many people, from all classes, drink black tea with milk every day. It is considered to be a social activity, not just a drink. There are two types of tea "rituals" which some UK people may occasionally indulge in:Cream teaHigh Tea (this is what the Queen is supposed to do everyday)Civil PartnershipsSince Civil Partnerships were made legal in 2005 (one of the many changes that Tony Blair made to UK society) there have been thousands of civil partnerships. Civil Partnerships are also known as "Gay Marriages", but they are not actual marriages.Gay PrideIn the United Kingdom, as in many other parts of the world, many cities host a yearly "Gay Pride Day." During these days, homosexual men and women march in the streets, celebrating their homosexuality. Often straight people will join them to show their support.。