英语国家概况名词解释新
英语国家概况归纳
英语国家概况归纳英语国家概况，是指以英语为官方语言的国家或地区。
由于英语在全球范围内的广泛应用，这些国家或地区在经济、文化等方面都具有重要影响力。
本文将归纳一些英语国家的共同特点和各自的特色。
一、英语国家的共同特点1. 英语为官方语言：在这些国家或地区，英语被广泛用于政府、商务、教育等领域，并且是人们日常交流的主要语言。
2. 政治体制多样：英语国家的政治体制包括君主制、共和制等多种形式，每个国家都有自己的政治体系和法律制度。
3. 经济发达：大部分英语国家在经济方面表现出色，拥有发达的制造业、金融业和科技创新能力。
4. 教育系统完善：英语国家注重教育，拥有世界一流的高等教育机构和先进的教育体制。
二、英语国家的特色1. 英国（United Kingdom）英国是英语的发源地，拥有悠久的历史和丰富的文化遗产。
伦敦作为英国的首都和全球金融中心，吸引着全世界的人才和投资。
2. 美国（United States）美国是世界上最大的英语国家，拥有丰富多样的文化和民主制度。
美国的经济实力和科技创新能力以及好莱坞的电影产业都在世界范围内具有巨大影响力。
3. 加拿大（Canada）加拿大位于北美洲，是一个多民族多文化的国家。
加拿大的教育质量一直很高，吸引了许多国际留学生。
同时，加拿大在自然资源方面拥有丰富的优势，如石油和天然气等。
4. 澳大利亚（Australia）澳大利亚位于南半球，是一个发达国家和移民国家。
澳大利亚拥有独特的自然环境，包括大堡礁和艾尔斯岩等著名景点，吸引了大量的游客。
5. 新西兰（New Zealand）新西兰是一个位于太平洋上的岛国，以其美丽的自然风景和友好的社会环境而闻名。
新西兰的教育质量也很高，在国际教育市场上具有竞争力。
6. 南非（South Africa）南非是非洲大陆唯一的英语国家，同时也是一个多元文化的国家。
南非拥有得天独厚的自然景观，如克鲁格国家公园和好望角等。
7. 印度（India）印度是世界上使用英语最广泛的国家之一，也是英语国家中人口最多的国家。
英美概况名词解释打印
英语国家概况名词解释系列（1）Amerigo V espucci----Amerigo V espucci, a navigator, proved that the land was not India,but a new continent. Therefore, the land was named America after.The Puritans----The Puritans were wealthy, well-educated gentlemen. They wanted to purify the Church of England and threatened with religious persecution, the Puritans leaders saw the New world as the a refuge provided by God for those He meant to save.英语国家概况名词解释系列（2）The Bill of Rights----In 1789, James Madison introduced in the House of Representatives a series of amendments which later were drafted into twelve proposed amendments and sent to the states for ratification. Ten of them were ratified in 1791 and the first ten amendments to the constitution were called the Bills of Rights because they were to insure individual liberties.The Emancipation Proclamation----After the Civil war began, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation to win more support at home and abroad. It granted freedom to all slaves in areas still controlled by the Confederacy.英语国家概况名词解释系列（3）Pilgrims Thanksgiving Day----The Pilgrims in 1620, 201 of them sailed to the New World in a ship called Mayflower. The first winter after their arrival was very cold and when spring came, half of them were dead. Then the Indians came to their help and taught them how to grow corn. They had a good harvest that year. So they invited the Indians and held the first Thanksgiving celebration in America to give thanks to God.The Chunnel----In 1985 the British government and French government decided to build a channel tunnel, which is called “Chunnel”, under the Straits of Dover so that England and France could be joined together by road. The Chunnel was open to traffic in May 1994.英语国家概况名词解释系列（4）Eisteddfod----Eisteddfod is the Welsh word for “sitting” National Eidteddfod is the most famous festival of music and verse in Wales. It takes place each August and lasts for about a week. The highlight of the festival is competition for the best epic poem about Wales written and read in Welsh. The winner is crowned Board, considered the supreme honour in Wales. In this way the Welsh people keep the Welsh language and culture alive.Cockney----A cockney is a Londoner who is born within the sound of Bow Bells-the Bells of the church of St. Mary-LeBow in east London.英语国家概况名词解释系列（5）Stonehenge----It is a group of huge monuments of grant rock Slabs on salisbury plain in Southwest England built as long ago as the New Stone Age. It is generally believed that stonehenge served some sort of religious purposes.The Celts----The Celts came to Britain in three main waves. The first wave were the Gales, the second wave were the Brythons and the Belgae came about 150BC. The Celts were practised farmers. The Celtic tribes are ancestors of the Highland Scots, the Irish and the Welsh, And their languages are the basis of both Welsh and Gaelic. They religion was Druidism.英语国家概况名词解释系列（6）Norman Conquest----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. So the feudal system was completely established in England.Alfred the Great----He was king of Wessex, one of the seven Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms. It was he who led the Anglo-Saxon to flight against the invading Danes and maintained peace for a long time.Alfred was not only a brave king at wartime, but also a wise king at peacetime. He encouraged education and introduced a legal system. He is known as “the father of the British navy”.英语国家概况名词解释系列（7）St. Augustine----In 597,Pope Gregory I sent St. Augustine, the Prior of St. Andrew’s Monastery in Rome, to England to convert the heathen English to Christianity. That year, St. Augustine became the first Archbishop of Canterbury. Augustine was remarkably successful in converting the king and the nobility, but the conversion of the common people was largely due to the missionary activities of the monks in the north.Domesday Book----It is a book compiled by a group of clerks under the sponsorship of King William the First in 1086. The book was in fact a property record. It was the result of a general survey of England. It recorded the extent, value, state of cultivation, and ownership of the land. It was one of the important measures adopted by William I to establish the full feudal system in England. Today, it is kept in the Public Records Office in London.英语国家概况名词解释系列（8）Geoffrey Chaucer----He was an important English poet in the fourteenth century. His best known is The Canterbury Tales, which describes a group of pilgrims travelling to Canterbury to visit Thomas Becket’s tomb. Because he was the first important English poet to write in English. He has been known as the “Father of English Poetry”.The Black Death----It is a modern name given to the dearly bubonic plague, an epidemic disease spread through Europe in the fourteenth century particularly in 1348-1349. It came without warning, and without any cue. In England, it killed almost half of the total population, causing far-reaching economic consequences.英语国家概况名词解释系列（9）The Wars of Roses玫瑰战争----the name Wars of the Roses was refer to the battles between the House of Lancaster, symbolized by the read rose, and that of Y ork, symbolized by the white, from 1455 to 1485. Henry Tudor, descendant of Duke of Lancaster won victory at Bosworth Fireld in 1485 and put ht country under the rule of the Tudors. From these Wars, English feudalism received its death blow. The great medieval nobility was much weakened.The Glorious Revolution of 1688光荣革命---- In 1685 Charles II died and was succeeded by his brother James II. James was brought up in exile in Europe, was a Catholic. He hoped to rule without giving up his personal religious vies. But England was no more tolerant of a Catholic king in 1688 than 40 years ago. So the English politicians rejected James II, and appealed to a Protestant king, William of Orange, to invade and take the English throne. William landed in England in 1688. The takeover was relatively smooth, with no bloodshed, nor any execution of the king. This was known as the Glorious Revolution.英语国家概况名词解释系列（10）The Gunpowder Plot of 1605火药阴谋案----The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 was the most famous of the Catholic conspiracies. On Nov. 5,1605, a few fanatical Catholics attempted to blow King James and his ministers up in the House of Parliament where Guy Fawkes had planted barrels of gun-powder in the cellars. The immediate result was the execution of Fawkes and his fellow-conspirators and imposition of severe anti-Catholic laws. The long-term result has been an annual celebration on Nov. 5, when a bonfire is lit to turn a guy and a firework display is arranged. Blood Mary血腥玛丽----It is the nickname given to Mary I, the English Queen who succeeded to the throne after Henry VIII. She was a devout Catholic and had so many Protestants burnt to death that she is remembered less by her official title Mary I by her nickname Blood Mary.英语国家概况名词解释系列（11）Thatcherism撒切尔主义----The election of 1979 returned the Conservative Party to power and Margaret Thatcher became the first woman prime minister in Britain. Her policies are popularly referred to as state-owned industries, the use of monetarist policies to control inflation, the weaking of trade forces unions, the strengthening of the role of market forces in the economy, and an emphasis on law and order.The Trade Union Act of 1871工会法----It legalized the trade unions and give financial security. It meant that in law there was no difference between money for benefic purposes and collecting it to support strike action.英语国家概况名词解释系列（12）Agribusiness农业产业----The new farming has been called “agribusiness”, because it is equipped and managed like an industrial business with a set of inputs into the processes which occur on the farm and outputs or products which leave the farm.British disease英国病----The term “British disease” is now often used to characterize Britain’s economic decline.英语国家概况名词解释系列（13）Constitutional monarchy君主立宪制----It is a political system that has been practised in Britain since the Glorious revolution of 1688. According to this system, the Constitution is superior to the Monarch. In law, the Monarch has many supreme powers, but in practice, the real power of monarchy has been greatly reduced and today the Queen acts solely on the advice of her ministers. She reigns but does not rule. The real power lies in the Parliament, or to be exact, in the House of Commons.Privy Council枢密院----A consultative body of the British monarch. Its origin can be traced back to the times of the Norman Kings. After the Glorious Revolution of 1688, its importance was gradually diminished and replaced by the Cabinet. Today, it is still a consultation body of the British monarch, Its membership is about 400, and includes al Cabinet ministers, the speaker of the House of Commons, the Archbishops of Canterbury and Y ork, and senior British and Commonwealth statesmen.英语国家概况名词解释系列（14）The National Health Service----It is a very important part of the welfare system in Britain. It is a nationwide organization based on Acts of Parliament. It provides all kinds of free or nearly free medical treatment both in hospital and outside. It is financed mainly by payments by the state out of general taxation. People are not obliged to use this service. The service is achieving its main objectives with outstanding success.Comprehensive schools----Comprehensives schools take pupils without reference to ability or aptitude and provide a wide-ranging secondary education for all or most of the children in a district.英语国家概况名词解释系列（15）Reuters----It was founded in 1851 by the German, Julius Reuter. It is now a publicly owned company, employing over 11000 staff in 80 countries. It has more than 1300 staff journalists and photographers.The Crown Court----A criminal court that deals with the more serious cases and holds sessions in towns throughout England and Wales. It is presided over either by a judge from the High Court of Justice or a local full-time judge.英语国家概况名词解释系列（16）The Great lakes----The Great Lakes are the five lakes in the northeast. They are Lake Superior which is the largest fresh water lake in the world, Lake Michigan (the only one entirely in the U.S.),Lake Huron, Lake Eire and Lake Ontario. They are all located between Canada and the United States expect Lake Michigan.The Mississippi----The Mississippi has been called “father of waters “or” old man river”. It and Its tributaries drain one of the richest farm areas in the world. It is the fourth longest river in the world and the most important river in the United States.英语国家概况名词解释系列（17）Uncle Tom’s Cabin----It was a sentimental but powerful antislavery novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It converted many readers to the abolitionist cause.Gettysburg----It refer to the short speech President Lincoln made when he dedicated the national cemetery at Gettyburg. He ended the speech with “the government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth”.英语国家概况名词解释系列（18）The Red Scare----When the WWI was over, there existed a highly aggressive and intolerant nationalism. Between 1919 and 1920, the Red Scare happened. On Nov.7,1919 and Jan.2,1920, the Justice Department launched two waves of mass arrests. Over 4000 suspected Communists and radical were arrested.The New Deal----In order to deal with the Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt put forward the New Deal program. It passed a lot of New Deal laws and set up many efficient social security systems. The New Deal helped to save American democracy and the development of American economy.英语国家概况名词解释系列（19）Truman Doctrine----On Mar.12, 1949, President Truman put forward the Truman Doctrine in his speech to the joint session of Congress. The Doctrine meant to support any country which said it was fighting communism.Marshall Plan----It was announced by George Marshall on June.5, 1947, and was the economic aid plan for Western Europe. It was also used to prevent the loss of Western Europe into the Soviet sphere.英语国家概况名词解释系列（20）London smog----In 195, the sulphur dioxide in the four-day London smog, an unhealthy atmosphere formed by mixing smoke and dirt with fog. It left 4000 people dead or dying. Since then most cities in Britain have introduced “clean air zones” whereby factories and households are only allowed to burn smokeless fuel.Family Doctor----In order to obtain the benefits of the NHS a person must normally be registered on the list of a general practitioner, sometimes known as a “family doctor”. The family doctor gives treatment or prescribes medicine, or, if necessary, arranges for the patient to go to hospital or to be seen at home by a specialist.英语国家概况名词解释系列（21）Marvellous Melbourne----After the gold rush in 1850s and 1860s, there was an important revolution in transport, especially with the network of tram and railway systems. This changed the pace of urban life and the appearance of the city and soon people were calling the city “Marvellous Melbourne”. But by the 1890s outsiders were calling the city “Marvellous Melbourne” because of the bad smell of the city.Waitangi Day----In 1840 the first official governor, William Hobson, was sent to negotiate with Maori leaders. In 1840 Hobson, representing Queen Victoria, and some Maori chiefs, signed the Treaty of Waitangi. Modern New Zealand was founded. The anniversary of the signing, February 6, is celebrated as New Zealand National Day, Waitangi Day, and is a national holiday.英语国家概况名词解释系列（22）Multiculturalism----The term multiculturalism was coined in Canada in the late 1960s. It was in official use in Australia by 1973. In other words, under multiculturalism migrant groups are able to speak their own language and maintain their own customs. Multiculturalism as a policy recognizes that social cohesion is attained by tolerating differences within an agreed legal and constitutional framework.Quiet Revolution----Ever since 1763, when France lost its empire in North America to England, French Canadians have struggled to preserve their language and culture. In the early 1960s French Canadians became more vocal in their protests. In particular, they complained that were kept out of jobs in government and in some large businesses because they spoke only French. They have been struggling more rights common which was called “Quiet revolution”.英美概况（名词解释+简答+论述）1. The W atergate ScandalThe Watergate Scandal refers to the arrest of people breaking into Democratic National Committee offices who worked for the re-election of Nixon and the cover-up afterwards with the support of Nixon. It led to the resignation of Nixon.2. The British CommonwealthThe 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 arrangements. The Commonwealth has no special powers. The decision to become a member of the Commonwealth is left to each nation.3. The White Australia PolicyThe White Australia Policy refers to the Immigration restriction Act of 1901. Under the White Australia Policy, only white Europeans, especially British and Irish, were allowed to migrate to Australia. The migration of colored people such as Asians was restricted.4. Checks and BalancesIn American political system, each of the three branches of the government--the legislative, the executive and the judicial--has part of the powers but not all the power. Each branch can check, or block, the actions of the other branches. The three branches are thus in balance. This is called" checks and balances".5. Federal SystemA federal system of government has two layers of rule: central or federal government for the whole country; state and local governments. Each layer of government has separate and distinct powers laid down in the Constitution.6. Comprehensive High SchoolIt is a school that provides students with both academic and vocational education.7. Research UniversitySuch a university offers a full range of programs leading to a BA degree and is committed to postgraduate education through the doctorate. It gives high priority to research and award doctoral degrees.8. MonopolyMonopoly, economic situation in which only a single seller or producer supplies a commodity or a service. One or more of the following elements are of great importance in establishing a monopoly: (1) control of a major resource necessary to produce a product, as was the case withbauxite in the pre-World War II aluminum industry; (2) technological capabilities that allow a single firm to produce at reasonable prices all the output of a particular commodity or service, a situation sometimes described as a "natural" monopoly; (3) exclusive control over a patent on a product or on the processes used to produce the product; and (4) a government franchise that awards a company the sole right to produce a commodity or service in a given area. Among the various kinds of economic monopolies are public utilities, trusts, cartels, and industrial mergers.9. Big BenBig Ben is the largest clock in Britain and has kept exact time for the nation since May 1859. It is famous the world over for being the giant four faced clock in London, England. Big Ben is the name of the giant 14-tonne bell that hangs inside the clock tower and chimes every hour of every day in England. The huge bell was hung in 1858 and named after Sir Benjamin Hall, Chief Commissioner of Works at the time the bell was hung. In England you can hear Big Ben chiming daily the nation over, either on television news or radio.10. Independent schoolsIndependent schools are fee-paying educational institutions. Independent schools usually provide pupils with two stages of education. The principal schools for children of over thirteen (13 ~ 18) are usually called public schools and those for younger pupils (8 ~ 13) are usually called preparatory (colloquially "prep") schools. Many such schools are long established and have gaineda reputation for their high standards. However, only about 6% of all children attend these schools.11. RedbrickRedbrick is the name for a group of universities founded between 1850 and 1930, including London University. They were so called because red brick was the favorite building material of the time. As the term red brick" already fell into disfavor, they are sometimes called middle-aged universities. Most of these higher education institutions were founded in the biggest industrial towns and in a few other centers. Their first purpose was to provide higher education for local inhabitants who could not afford the cost of going away from home for their studies. As these universities grew bigger and more solidly established, all of them have achieved independent status.12. The new universitiesThe new universities were all founded after the Second World War. Most of these are in the biggest cities where are already established universities. Although these universities were new, some of them quickly became popular because of their modem approach to university courses.13. The Open UniversityThe Open University is a recent innovation, which provides chances for people of all ages and to which entry is much less restricted. It was founded in 1969 and began its first course in 1971. This educational institution is so named because it is "open" to all to become students with no formal qualifications to study for a degree. Courses are followed in the students' sp are time; lectures are broad-cast on radio and TV, and students correspond with their tutors by post. For some of the Open University courses students have to attend one-week summer schools which are held in many of Britain's traditional universities. At the end of the course, successful students are awarded a university degree.14.The Prime MinisterThe Prime Minister is the chief executive of the government. He or she is the leader of the party that holds the most seats in the House of Commons. The prime minister presides over the Cabinet and selects the other Cabinet members, who join him or her to form the government that is part of the functioning executive. When legislation comes before the House of Commons, the prime minister can usually count on the support of a majority of the votes because his or her party has amajority of the seats. The prime minister serves as the first lord of the treasury and as minister for the civil service.15. Statue of Liberty1. Liberty Enlightening the World, commonly known as the Statue of Liberty2. Presented to the United States by the people of France on October 28, 1886.3. Commemorating the centennial of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence4. A gesture of friendship from France to the United States5. Standing on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, it welcomes visitors, immigrants, and returning Americans.16. Ivy League1. The eight private institutions of higher education located in the Northeastern United States.2. The top in the U.S. college and university rankings and ranking within the top one percent of the world’s academic institutions3. Harvard University; Yale University; University of Pennsylvania; Princeton University; Columbia University; Brown University; Dartmouth College;Cornell University17. The Bill of Rights1. US Constitution has a total of 27 amendments. The first ten, collectively known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified simultaneously (1791)2. Spirit of the Bill of Rights: freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of assembly, freedom of petition and freedom of religion3. Protection of individual rights instead of the privileges of the government4. Considered as the original body of the Constitution1. Which system was completely established under William in English?The feudal system was completely established under William in English.2. What is the most central functions of the Congress in America?It is the passage of laws.3 .Which city is Canada's largest city?It is Toronto.4. What was Australia called in the 1950s?Australia was called "the lucky country" in the 1950s.5. What do you think is the most noticeable feature of New Zealand geography?It is its mountains widely spread all over the country where active volcanoes scatter.6. Why was Britain known as the factory of the world in the mid-19th century?Because the British economy was among the strongest in the world.(or) At that time many goods were made in Britain and then sold all over the world.7. What are the established churches in Britain?They are the Church of England in England, and the Church of Scotland in Scotland.8. What does the British Parliament consist of?The British Parliament consists of the Sovereign, the House of Lord s and the House of Commons.9. What does W ASP stand for?It stands for White Anglo-Saxon Protestant.10. When did the history of Australia begin?It began with the arrival of Aborigines between 50,000 and 100,000 years ago.11. What law made French the official language in Quebec?The “Charter of the French Language in Quebec” made French the official language in Quebec.1. How does the British climate influence characters of English people?Other countries have a climate; in England we have weather. This statement, often made by Englishmen to describe the peculiar meteorological conditions of their country, is both revealing and true. It is revealing because in it we see the Englishman insisting once again that what happens in England is not the same as what happens elsewhere.In no country other than England, can one experience four seasons in the course of a single day! In England one can experience almost every kind of weather except the most extreme. The snag is that we never can be sure when the different types of weather will occur. This uncertainty about the weather has had a definite effect upon the Englishman's character; it tends to make him cautious. The foreigner may laugh when he sees the Englishman setting forth on a brilliantly sunny morning wearing a raincoat and carrying an umbrella, but he may well regret his laughter later in the day! The English weather has also helped to make the Englishman adaptable. It has been said that one of the reasons why the English colonized so much of the world was that, whatever the weather conditions they met abroad, they had already experienced something like them at home!2. Introduce the 3 main certificates required for secondary schooling students.For secondary schooling students, at least one of the three main certificates is required to demonstrate their educational attainment. Moderately children take the Certificates of Secondary Education (CSE), which indicates satisfactory completion of schooling to the age of 16. More ambitious children take the examinations for the General Certificate of Education at Ordinary Level (GCE "0" Level), which is the required starting-point for many types of professional training. Most young pupils who stay at school after passing their Ordinary Level examinations prepare themselves for the General Certificate of Education at Advanced Level (GCE "A" Level), which is the standard for entrance to universities and other higher education.3. What’s your idea about the diversity of US population？A. US is a melting potB. Racial and ethnic groupsC. Religious differencesD. Language diversityE. Social classes4. What’s your idea about the power-sharing and power-checking policy of US government?A. three branches of the federal governmentB. power sharing systemC. power checking policyD. foundation of the US politics5. Give comments on relationship between UK and USA.The British foreign policy is also affected by its relationship with the United States. During World War II, the two countries were closely allied and continued to work together closely in the postwar years, because they had many things in common about the past and the world situation. Even today, British and American policy-makers share the general ideas in many respects. However,Britain’s “special relationship” with the United States has gone through many ups and downs. The Britain are beginning to realize that their own foreign policy actions can be limited by the United States. But both sides have worked hard to maint ain the “special relationship”.6. What powers does the Queen of Britain have theoretically? Why is it said that she has no real power at all in reality?The British monarchy stands for the continuity of British history going back to Anglo-Saxon times, and today it serves as a figurehead for the state In theory, the British monarch has enormous powers, but in reality those powers are limited and the Crown follows the dictates and advice of the ministers in Parliament.As the official head of state, the monarch formally summons and dismisses Parliament and the ministers of the Cabinet. The monarch also serves as head of the judiciary, commander in chief of the armed forces, and Supreme Governor of the Church of England and the Church of Scotland. In reality, the government carries out the duties associated with these functions. Theoretically, the monarch appoints all judges, military officers, diplomats, and archbishops, as well as other church officers. The monarch also bestows honors and awards, such as knighthoods and peerages. In reality, all of these appointments are made upon the advice of the prime minister. The prime minister declares war and peace and concludes treaties with foreign states in the name of the Crown. The monarch serves as the ceremonial head of the Commonwealth of Nations and is the ceremonial head of state for 16 Commonwealth countries.7. What are the characteristics of the two major parties in the United States today? Tell briefly the history of the two-party system in the United States .There have been four periods in the history of the two-party system in the United States. In the last years of the 18th century, the debate over the ratification of the Constitution gave rise to the beginnings of the first two major parties. They were the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. After the adoption of the constitution with the Bill of Rights, the Anti-federalists began to call themselves Democratic-Republicans. The Federalists gradually disintegrated. After the 1828 election of Andrew Jackson, the Democratic-Republican Party split. The main faction led by Jackson was called the Democratic Party. The faction opposed to Jackson was called the Whig Party which formed in 1834. As the struggle over slavery intensified, the majority of the Whig Party, part of the democrats, and other anti-slavery elements formed the Republican Party in 1854. From 1860s to 1920s, the Republican Party dominated the political scene. The Four period began with Franklin Roosevelt’s coming iron power and casted till the 1980s. During this period, the Democratic Party was dominant, with short interruptions. The two major parties are really not very different today. But this does not mean there is no difference between them. On economic issues, the Democrats traditionally favor government intervention while the Republicans stress the role of the market more. On social issues the Democrats support a strong social security system while the Republicans oppose large governmental social security programs. In spite of these differences, the two parties both believe in individualism, defending capitalism and uphold private ownership of means of production.8. What were the consequences of the Norman Conquest?The Norman Conquest of 1066 is perhaps the best-known event in English history. (1 point) William the Conqueror confiscated almost all the land and gave it to his Norman followers. (1 point) He replaced the weak Saxon rule with a strong Norman government. So the feudal system was completely established in England. (2 points) Relations with the Continent were opened, and civilization and commerce were extended, (2 points) Norman-French culture, language, manners,。
英语国家概况名词解释
美国山脉：The Appalachians on the east stretch almost unbroken from Alabama to the Canadian border and beyond.The eastern United States is broad, flat coastal plain.The Great Plain lie west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains.To the west of the interior basin lies the mighty system of mountain Cordillera.英国议会：The UK Parliament is one of the oldest representative assemblies in the world, having its origins in the mid-thirteenth-century great councils. Parliaments is the supreme legislative body and the assembly that Government is drawn from and answerable to. It comprise three elements: the Crown, the non-elected House of Commons, of which the latter is the source of real political power in the United Kingdom. In theory, the main function of Parliament is to legislate, that is, to create, abolish or amend new laws for the entire nation. But, in practice, it normally passes bills that are often proposed by the government. In addition, Parliament also votes the taxation and expenditures of the government; examines government policies and administration; and debates major political issues of the day.New England:New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states.It was one of the settlements by British colonists.it is a leader in innovative business methods,publishing,and the design and production of high-tech weaponry,aircraft,engines, tools and computers.Protestantism:One of the three major branches of Christianity,originating in the sixteenth-century reformation in Europe. The term applies to the belief of Christians who do not adhere to roman catholicism or eastern orthodoxy.The RenaissanceThe Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned the period roughly from the 14th to the 17th century and profoundly affected European intellectual life in the early modern period. Beginning in Italy, and spreading to the rest of Europe by the 16th century, its influence was felt in literature, philosophy, art, music, politics, science, religion, and other aspects of intellectual inquiry. Renaissance scholars employed thehumanistmethod in study, and searched for realism and human emotion in art.英国资产阶级革命:English Bourgeois Revolution:The Marxist view of the English Revolution suggests that the events of 1640 to 1660 in Britain was a bourgeois revolution in which the final section of English feudalism (the state) was destroyed by a bourgeois class (and its supporters) and replaced with a state (and society) which reflected the wider establishment of agrarian (and later industrial) capitalism. Such an analysis sees the English Revolution as pivotal in the transition from feudalism tocapitalism and from a feudal state to a capitalist state in Britain.In Marxism, the "English Revolution" is the period of the English Civil Wars and Commonwealth period (1640–1660), in which Parliament challenged KingCharles I's authority, engaged in civil conflict against his forces, and executed him in 1649. This was followed by a ten-year period of bourgeoisrepublican government, the "Commonwealth", before monarchy was restored in the shape of Charles' son, Charles II in 1660.The Industrial Revolution:The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, and transport had a profound effect on the socioeconomic and cultural conditions in the United Kingdom. The changes subsequently spread throughout Europe, North America, and eventually the world. The Declaration of Independence:The Declaration of Independence is the usual name of a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies, then at war with Great Britain, regarded themselves as 13 newly independent sovereign states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. Instead they formed a new nation—theUnited States of America.英国宗教改革:Background:①In the Middle Ages, the Church had gained not only material importance,but also extensive power in politics and law.②During Herry VIII’s early reign, there emerged an atmosphere of widespread criticism of the church for the immorality of it’s clergy and corruption of it’s structure.③King Herry desired to make the pope and all church officers of England acknowledge his superior jurisdiction over the church in England.Time:14th-15th century,the period of the House of TudorPerson:Herry VIII initiated a revolution in 1533Direct cause:The king Herry VIII failed to get the papal approval for divorcing his wife,Catherine,who had failed to get the male heir for him.Result:①separate the English church from Rome and establish himself head of the church.②It was only a reform in the sense of administration or outward structures.③Herry VIII was not theologically closer to the newly arising Protestantism.④Did not changes the doctrines and ceremonies of his independent church.⑤Herry VIII’s power was greatly enlarged,especially by transferring to the crown the wealth of the monasteries and by new clerical taxes.In 1553,Mary restored Roman Catholicism to England and burned many Protestants at the stake as heretics (1516-1558).this was called “Bloody Mary”.In 1588,British history entered the reign of Elizabeth 1,an age of glory.despite her own protestant background,she succeeded in putting to rest the religious issue which had divided the country since her father herry viii,most notably by balancing the interests of puritans and the “die-hard” Catholics.美国西进运动:Westward movement happened in late 18th,and continued to early 20c. In 1763,the British proclamation ordered a halt to the westward movement at the Appalachians. Throughout the 19th century, America greatly expanded its size with massive westward movement.After the American revolution, a flood of people crossed the mountains into the fertile lands between the Appalachians and the Mississippi river. During the 1830s and 40s ,the flood of pioneers poured westward. In 1849 fortune seekers rushed into California in search of gold. in July 1803, napoleon of France, in a surprise move, offered the whole Louisiana territory to the united states for $ 15000000. America accepted and overnight the united states grew by about one million square miles, from the Mississippi to the Rockies and from the gulf of Mexico to canada.the westward movement was of enormous significance. By expanding the nation’s borders to include more than three million square miles, the united states became one of the most powerful nations of the 20th century, however, this expansion also resulted in great suffering, destruction, and cultural loss for the Native Americans of North America.。
英语国家概况(名词解释)
英语国家概况(名词解释)第一部分英国概况1 the Commonwealth:It is a free association of independent countries that were once colonies of Britain. Member nations are joined together economically and have certain trading arrangements. The Commonwealth has no special powers. The decision to become a member of the Commonwealth is left to each nation.2. British Empire:Britain has been one of the most important countries in the world. About a hundred years ago, as a result of its imperialist expansion, Britain ruled an empire that had one fourth of the world’s people and one fourth of the world’s land area. It had colonies ont only in North America, but also I Asia, Africa and Australia. However, the two world wars greatly weakened Britain. The British colonies became independent one after another . The British Empire gradually disappeared and it was replaced by the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1931.3 Alfred the Great: Alfred was the King of Wessex, who was strong enough to defeat the invading Danes and reached a friendly agreement with them. He founded a strong fleet and is known as ‘the father of the British navy.’He also reorganized the Saxon army, making it more efficient. He encouraged learning in others, established schools and formulated a legal system. He translated a Latin book into English. All these make him worthy of his title ‘ Alfred the Great’4Heptarchy:During the Anglo-Saxon’s time, Britain was divided into many kingdoms. These seven principal kingdoms of Kent, Essex, Sussex, Wessex, East Anglia,Mercia and Nothumbria have beengiven the name of Heptarchy.5the Witan: The Witnam was thecouncil or meeting of the wisemen. Itwas created by the Anglo-Saxons toadvise the king. It’s the basis of thePrivy Council which still exists today.6 English feudal system: In thissystem, the King owned all the landpersonally, who gave his barons largeestates in England in return for apromise of lilitary service and aproportion of the land’s produce.7 the Black Death: It was the modernname given to the deadly bubonicplague, an epidemic disease spread byrat fleas through Europe in the 14thcentury, particularly in 1347-1350. Itswept through England in the summerof 1348 without warning, and withoutany cure. It killed between one half andone third of the population of England,causing far-reaching economicconsequences.8 Oliver Cromwell: He was the leaderof the Parliamentary Army during theEnglish Civil War in the revolutionaryperiod of the 17th century. He defeatedKing Charles I and condemned him todeath in 1649. After that, he establishedthe Commonwealth in England andbecame the Lord Protector of thecountry. The Commonwealth endedwith the Restoration of Charles II in1660.9 Blood Mary: It is the nicknamegiven to Mary I , the English Queenwho succeeded to the throne afterEdward VI. She was a devout Catholicand had so many protestants burnt todeath that she is remembered less byher official title Mary I that by hernickname Blood Mary.10 the Industrial Revolution :It referto the mechanization of industry andthe consequent changes in social andeconomic organization in Britain in thelate 18th and early 19th centuries.Britain was the first country toindustrialize in Europe.11 Whigs(in Britain):The name ofWhigs originated with the GloriousRevolution. It was known by thenickname. It was a derogatory name forcattle drivers. Loosely speaking, theWhigs were those who opposedabsolute monarchy and supported theright to religious freedom forNonconformists.12 Tories (in Britain) : The name ofTories originated with the GloriousRevolution . It was known by thenickname. It was an Irish wordmeaning thugs. The Tories were thosewho supported hereditary monarchyand were reluctant to remove kings.The Tories were the forerunners of theConservative Party, which still bearsthe nickname today.13 the House of Lords: The House ofLords is a part of Parliament . It ismade up of the Lords Spiritual and theLords Temporal. The main function ofthe House of Lords is to bring the wideexperience of its members into theprocess of law-making.14 the House of Commons:TheHouse of Commons is a part ofparliament , and its members areelected by universal adult suffrage. Itconsists of 651 Members of Parliament(MPs). It has the ultimate authority inmaking laws.15 constitutional monarchy : It is aform of government in which themonarch’s power is limited byParliament. The United Kingdom is aconstitutional monarchy: the head of State is a king or a queen. In practice, the Sovereigh reigns, but does not rule. The United Kingdom is governed, in the name of the Sovereign, by His or Her majestry’s Government.16 the Cabinet:The Cabinet consists of usually 20 most senior ministers. Ministers are appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. Ministers are responsible collectively to Parliament for all Cabinet decisions; individual Ministers are responsibl to Parliament for the work of their departments.17 the Privy Council:The Privy Council is a consultative body of the British monarch. Its origin can be traced back to the times of the Norman Kings. After the Gloious Revolution of 1688, its importance was gradually diminished and replaced by the Cabinet. Today, it is still a consultation body of the British monarch. Its membership is about 400, and includes all Cabinet ministers, the speaker of the House of Commons, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, and senior British and Commonwealth statesmen.18 the Metropolitan Police Force:The police service for the United Kingdom is organized and controlled on a local basis under the Home Secretary and the Scottish and Northern Ireland Secretaries. London’s Metropolitan Police Force is directly under the control of the Home Secretary.19NHS:The full name of NHS is National Health Service. The National Health Service provides for every resident, regardless of income, a full range of medical service. The service was established in the United Kingdom in 1948. 20 bank holidays:Official publicholidays are also called ‘bank holidays’.The term ‘Bank Holidays’ goes back tothe Bank Holidays Act of 1871, whichowes its name to the fact that banks areclosed on the days specified.21Remembrance Sunday:The onlyreally important patriotic festival isRemembrance Sunday. It is also calledArmistice Day, which is the Sundaynearest to November 11. On thisSunday the dead of both world wars areremembered in special church servicesand civic ceremonies, the chief ofwhich is the laying of wreathes at theCenotaph, London by members of theroyal family in the presence of leadingstatesmen and politicians.22 Church of England:Church ofEngland is the most importantestablished church in Britain. It islegally recognized as official church ofthe State. It is uniquely related to theCrown in that the Sovereign must be amember of that Church and mustpromise to uphold it. The Church isalso linked with the State through theHouse of Lords, in which the twoarchbishops and some other bishopshave seats.23 Boxing Day:In Britain December26th is called Boxing Day because itwas formerly the custom to give‘Christmas boxes’, or gifts of money ,to servants and tradesmen on this day.24Open University:The OpenUniversity is a non-residentialuniversity. It is so named because it isopen to all to become students. TheUniversity was founded in 1969 andbegan its first courses in 1970. TheUniversity offers degree and othercourses for adult students of all ages inBritain and the other member countriesof the European Union. It uses acombination of specially producedprinted texts, correspondence tuition ,television and radio broadcasts andaudio/ video cassettes.25IRA :The full name for IRA is IrishRepublic Army. It is a nationalistorganization formed by MichaelCollins after the Easter Uprising of1916. The IRA opposed the separationof Northern Ireland from the Republicof Ireland in the 1920s by terroristmethods. It has been responsible formany raids and bomb explosions inEngland and in Northern Ireland.26the Anglo-Irish Treaty: In 1921 theBritish signed the Anglo-Irish Treatyestablishing an Irish Free State withdominion status with a separategovernment in theProtestant-dominated Northern Ireland.27the Great Famine:The GreatFaminine began in Ireland in 1845. Itwas caused by the failure of potatocrop. One of the most dramatic,large-scale sociological consequencesof the Great Famine was a significantpopulation decline in Ireland. Manypeople died of hunger. There was also abig flow of emigration from Ireland.About 6 million people left Irelandeither for Britain, the United States orCanada in the century following theGreat Famine.第二部分美国部分1Ellis Island: Ellis Island of New Yorkas an important immigration receptionspot in the 1890s and at the turn of thecentury.2baby boom: Baby boom refers to thegreat increase of birth ratebetween1946 and 1964. Nearly 80million Americans were born in thisperiod . People born in this period arecalled baby boomers.3 ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’:The first blacks were brought to North America as slaves in 1619. For a long period of time they were concentrated in the agricultural South, working on plantations growing cotton and tobacco. Their life was no better than that of cattle. In order to keep the black slaves under control, the slave-owners resorted to brutal methods. Uncle Tom’s Cabin is the novel giving a vivid description of the miserable life of the black slaves.4the Civil Rights Act of 1964: The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is considered to be the most far-reaching act on civil rights in modern times, forbidding discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, gender and national origin. It’s the result of a strong Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. The act added protections for the rights to vote, to use public facilities and to enjoy the same education as white people. It also contained provisions guaranteeing equal employment opportunities.5 the Puritans: The Puritans were wealthy, well-educated gentlemen. They wanted to purify the Church of England. Dissatisfied with the political corruption in England and threatened with religious persecution, the Puritan leaders saw the New World as a refuge provided by God for those he meant to save.6 ‘No taxation without representation’:This was the slogan of the people in the colonies before the War of Independence. They opposed the British policies toward the colonies. By the slogan they declared that, without their representatives taking part in decision-making, they had no obligation to pay taxes.7the Bill of Rights:In 1789, JamesMadison introduced in the House ofRepresentatives a series ofamendments which later were draftedinto twelve proposed amendents andsent to the states for ratification. Ten ofthem were ratified in 1791 and this firstten amendments to the constitutionwere called the Bill of Rights.8 abolitionists:They were people,mostly Northern humanitarians, whostrongly opposed slavery and aimed toabolish the system.9 the Gettysburg Address:TheGettysburg Address refers to the shortspeech made by President Lincolnwhen he dedicated the nationalcemetery at Gettysburg. He ended hisspeech with ‘the government of thepeopled, by the people, for the people,shall not perish from the earth’10 the Emancipation Proclamation:After the Civil War began, Lincolnissued the Emancipation Proclamationto win more support at home andabroad. It granted freedom to all slavesin areas still controlled by theConfederacy.11 the First Bontinental Congress: In1774, the First Continental Congresswas held in Philadelphia, whichencouraged Americans to refuse to buyBritish goods, and organized colonialmilitia units.12 the New Deal: The program wasput forward by President Franklin D.Roosevelt in 1932 to deal with theGreat Depression. Roosevelt madeCongress pass a large number of NewDeal acts and helped to set up manyefficient social economical andfinancial systems. The New Deal didhelp overcome the most seriouseconomic crisis of the capitalist systemup to that time.13 the Muchrakers: At the turn of the20th century in the United States, thereemerged a group of reform-mindedjournalists, who made investigationsand exposed various dark sides of theseemingly prosperous society.President Theodore Roosevelt calledthem Muchrakers.14 The stock market crash of 1929:On October24, 1929, the New Yorkstock market crashed. It was calledBlack Thursday, because it was thebeginning of a long economicdepression. The Great Depression hadfar-reaching consequences. It sweptthrough the globe quickly. The rate ofunemployment increased rapidly. Agreat deal of companies and businessesclosed and went into bankruptcy.American economy didn’t recover untilthe New Deal was put forward.15 the Ku Klux Klan: The Ku KluxKlan was the first organized in 1866and then reformed in 1867. The KuKlux Klan terrorized and attacked notonly blacks, but also progressives,labor union organizers ,Communist orsocialist party members.16. McCarthyism:Joseph R.McCarthy was a senator. He started acampain of wild accusation and arrestsin 1950. His full-scale anti-Communisthysteria in American history was calledMcCarthyism . In December 1954,theSenate condemned him for certainimproper, extreme behavior andMcCarthysim ended.17 Richard Nixon: Richard Nixon wasthe former President of the UnitedStates of America. In the early 1970s,he was involved in the Watergatescandal, for which he was forced toresign from the presidency.18Truman Doctrine:On March 20, 1949, President Truman put forward the Truman Doctrine in his speech to the joint session of Congress. The Doctrine meant to support any country which said it was fighting communism.19 monetarist policies:Since the American economy was plagued by stagflation, in the early 1980s, the traditional Keynesian approach was replaced by new monetarist policies, which sought to fight inflation by increasing supply and reducing demand. On the one hand, taxes were cut to increase economic dynamism. On the other hand, interest rates were raised to reduce the supply of money.20 the US Federal system:It is a system of government in which has two layers of rule. There is central or federal government for the nation which alone has the power to answer questions that affect the nation as a whole. There are also state and local governments . Each layer of government has separate and distinct powers laid down in the Constitution. 21 separation of power:It refers to the principle that the national government is divided into three branches: legislative, executive and judicial. In the legislative branch, power is divided further nto two houses. Each branch has part of the powers but not all the power.22 US presidential inauguration: In the US the presidential term of four years begins on January 20. The President starts his official duties with an inauguraton ceremony, traditionally held on the steps of the US Capitol. The President publicly takes an oath of office, which is administered by the Chief Justice of the United States. Theoath-taking ceremony is usuallyfollowed by an inauguration address.23 public school: Public schoolsusually larger in size, are operated bypublicly elected or appointed schooloffcials. The program and activities ofthe schools are under the control ofthese officials. The schools aresupported mainly by public funds.24 private school: Private schools arecontrolled by an individual or by anagency other than a state, a subdivisionof a state or the federal government .They are usually supported by fundswhich are not public funds and theoperation of the school’s program restswith people who are not publiclyelected or appointed officials.25 school districts: They aresubdivisions of the states.Currently,there are some 15,500 operating localpublic school districts. Each localschool district has a governing boardwhich is usually elected by thevoters.Its major responsibilities are thehiring of professional and support staff,determining the most suitable localcurriculum, and developing andapproving a budget to carry outeducational program.26 Easter Sunday:Easter Sunday isthe second of the two most importantreligious holidays for Christians. It’s onthe first Sunday after the full moon thatoccurs on or after March 21, and it’sfor celebrating the rising of JesusChrist from his tomb, where he hadlain for three days following his death.On the Easter morning, millions ofpeople gather together to salute anotherEaster dawn. The Easter Parade is verypopular in the United States. There areseveral symbols for Easter. The eggand the hare are those most frequentlyassociated with Easter.27 Halloween:Halloween is anight-time children’s day and a time forfrightening costumes, masks , parties,games and tricks--- all for fun.Children with curious masks fo fromhouse to house to frighten friends orneighbours and threaten them with‘Trick or treat’.第三部分加拿大，澳大利亚28the Canadian Shield : Almost halfof Canada is covered by the CanadianShield. It is a semicircular band ofrocky highlands and plateaus aroundHudson Bay from the northern shoresof Quebec to the Artic shores of theNorthwest Territories. It is a region ofrounded hills, tens of thousands oflakes and swamp. The Shield containsa wealth of minerals , much water andgreat forests.29 the Statute of Westminster: By theStatute of Westminster in 1931 theBritish Dominions, including Canada,were formally declared to be partnernations with Britain and ‘equal instatus, in no way subordinate to eachother’, and bound together only bytheir loyalty to a common Crown.Since then, Canada became a memberof the Commonwealth of Nations.30 Bilingualism in Canada:Bilingualism means having twolanguages. In Canada the officialLanguage Act went into effect in 1969.The Act made English and French theofficial languages of Canada. Theyhave equal status and rights in allinstituations of Parliament and theFederal Government.31 Multiculturalism:For a long timethe Canadian Government pursued apolicy of assimilation , that is toassimilate different minority groups into the mainstream Canadian culture. But immigrants from different countries still kept their own cultures, religious, languages, and ways of life. So in 1976, the Canadian Government adopted a policy of multiculturalism. Accordingly immigrants may be instructed in at least one official language to help them become full participants in Canadian society and, at the same time, are encouraged to maintain their particular cultural heritage.32 school of air :children learn their lessons through a radio educational system called School of the Air. Lessons are transmitted by radio. Homework is now exchanged by fax.33 the Flying Doctors:It is a special health service which provides medical care for people living in isolated areas in Australia. Doctors travel by plane from their base and keep in touch with their patients by radio.34 Maoritanga:In New Zealand, Maoritanga in Maori culture, the Maori way of life and view of the world. Maori views of the world, of nature, of education, of spirituality and of death, are becoming more and more part of the New Zealand way of life.35 Kiwi:The kiwi is a noctural bird that can’t fly in New Zealand. The kiwi is a national symbol an New Zealanders refer to themselves as Kiwis.36 the Treaty of Waitangi:The Treaty of Waitangi was an agreement between the chiefs of the Maori people and the British Crown in 1840.37 Waitangi Day:In 1840, the first official governor, William Hobson, was sent to negotiate with Maori leaders. In 1840 Hobson, representng QueenVictoria, and some Maori chiefs,signed the Treaty of Waitangi. ModernNew Zealand was founded. Theanniversary of the signing, February 6,is celebrated as New Zealand NationalDay, Waitangi Day, and is a nationalholiday.38Mark Twain: Mark Twain’s realname was Samuel Langhorne Clemens.He gained a wide knowledge ofhumanity through his life experience.In 1865, he became nationally famouswith his short story The CelebratedJumping Frog. The Adventures of TomSawyer was an immediate success as‘a boy book’, and The Adventures ofHuckleberry Finn became his masterbook. All stories of his novels aresimple and he presented Americansocial life through portrayal of localplaces he knew best and through hiscolloquial style. His other famousbooks are: A Tramp Abroad, Life on theMississippi, The Gilded Age andInnocents Abroad.39Walt Whitman:Walt Whitman is anAmerican poet. He broke free from theconvention of the poetic rhymeexhibiting a freedom in form unknownbefore. In his masterpiece Leaves ofGrass, he praised the ideas of equalityand democracy and celebrated thedignity, the self-reliant spirit and thejoy of the common man. He was thefirst to explore fully the possibilities offree verse. He invented a completelynew and completely American form ofpoetic expression.40knicherbockers era: In the early partof the nineteenth century, New YorkCity was the centre of Americanwriting. Its writers were called‘Knickerbockers’and the period from1810 to 1840 is known as the‘knickerbockers era’of Americanliterature. The name comes from AHistory of New York, by DiedrickKnickerbocker written by WashingtonIrving.41 Ernest Hemingway:ErnestHemingway was one of the mostimportant American writers in the 20th ,and was the spokensman for the ‘LostGeneration’ of young intellectuals whobecame disappointed and bitter afterWorld War I. He was awarded theNobel Prize for Literature in 1954. Hisfirst important novel The Sun AlsoRises is a description of young peoplein the post-war era.He wrote a lot ofother novels and short stories. AFarewell to Arms and For Whom theBell Tolls are two novels about the Firstand Second World Wars. The Old Manand the Sea is considered to be hisrepresentative work . He is also famousfor his simple style and carefulstructuring of his fiction.42 Theodore Dreiser:TheodoreDreiser was one of the naturalists whoin their works reported truthfully andobjectively the life in the slums. Hisfirst novel Sister Carrie traces thematerial rise of Carrie Meeber and thetragic decline of Hurstwood. Hispursue was to describe the actual stateof things in the United States. Hisdescription of the sharp contrast ofwealth and poverty in Chicago andNew York was another example. Hewas also famous for his Trilogy ofDesire and An American Tragedy ,which is considered to be his best.。
英语国家概况名词解释(新)
英语国家概况名词解释1、The Constitution:Britain 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 commom practice in courts;and conventions.2、The house of Common: It’s the real center of British political life because it is the place where about 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.3、The electoral campaign:Before a general election,the political parties would start their electoral campaigns in order to make their ideologies and policies known to the public.The campaign involves advertisements in newspapers, door-to-door campaigning,postal deliveries of leaflets and ‘party electoral broadcasts” on the television.The parties also try to attack and critisise the opponents’ policies.Therefore,these campaigns sometimes can be quite aggressive and critical.4、Class system in British society:The class system does exist in British society.Most of 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 defferent may differ in the kind of newspaper 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.5、Relative decline of the UK economy:The UK has experienced an economic decline since 1945.But this is a relative decline rather than an absolute one.Britain is wealthier and more productive than it was in 1945,but since other countries developed more rapidly,it has slid from being the second largest economy to being the six.6、Comprehensive schools: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 cooking7、Grammar school s:it’s a type of secondary schools in Britain.Grammar schools select children at the 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 expect many of their pupils to go on to universities.8、Independent schools:are commonly called public schools which are actually private schools that receive their funding through the private sector and tuition rates,with some government assitance.Independent schools are not part of national education system,but the quality of instruction and standards are maintained through visits from Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools.These schools are restricted to the students whose parents are comparatively rich.9、the first English settle in North America:The first English permanent settlement was organized in 1607 by the London Company with a charter from the English King.The colonists settled in Virginia and survived by imposing strict discipline on themselves and by transplanting tobacco into the colony of Virginia.In 1619,the settlers elected their delegates and set up the House of Burgesses,and the same time they bought and enslaved black servants.These two events greatly influenced the political and social development of the United States later.10、Puritanism:were those who followes 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 good 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.11、George Washington:was one of the founding fathers of the American Republic.He was the Commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in War of Independence against the British colonial rule and the first President of the United States.12、The executive:The chief executive is the President,who is elected to a four-year term.A president can be elected to only two terms according to an amendment passed in 1951.The president can propose legislation to Congress.He can veto any bill passed by Congress.The veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in both houses.The president can appoint federal judges as vacancies occur.He is the commander in chief of the armed forced.The president has other broad authorities in running the government departments and handling foreign relations.13、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.14、Industrial Revolution in America:After independence,American was principally an agricultural country.The Industrial Revolution in England brought many changes to American industry between 1776 and 1860.One key development was the introduction of the factory system.A second development was the “American system” of mass production.A third development was the application of new technologies to industrial tasks.Afourth development was the emergence of new forms of business organization---the bank and the corporation.15、Agribusiness:Because American agricuiture is big business,people coined the term “agribusiness” to reflect the large-scale nature of agricultural enterprises in the modern US economy.The term covers the entire complex of farm-related business,from the individual farmer to the multinational maker of farm chemicals.It also includes farmer cooperatives,ruralbanks,shippers of farm products,commodity dealers,firms that manufacture farmequipment,food-processing industries,grocery chains and many other business.16、Higher education:In America,higher education refers to education on the college level.American higher education includes four categories of institutions.They are the university,the four-year undergraduate institution(the college) the technical training institution and the two-year or community college.Some are supported by public funds and some by private funds.Many universities and colleges have won reputations for providing their students with a higher quality of education.The great majority are generally regarded as quite satisfatory.17、NBA:stands for National Basketball Association.Founded in 1950,it’s the association of professional teams in the United States.It has two divisions:the Eastern Division and the Western Division.NBA is very popular not only in the US.but all over the world.The best NBA star in NBA history is Mcchiael Jordan.18、Yellowstone Nationa Park:is the oldest and one of the largest national park in the US.It’s named after the Yellowstone River that flows through the area.It is known for its geysers and hot springs among other natural wonders.19、Football hooligans:reflect the violence associated with football.While all social classes used to join in the local football march,it was regarded as being not at all suitable for gentlemen.Visitors from abroad sometimes complained about stumbling into the midst of a rough and dangerous game when walking the streets of London,while local householders and merchants were troubled by having their windows broken by stray footballs.Dringking hard went along with playing hard.Today,violence is still associated with football.They are supporters of rival teams.They sometimes clash before,during and after matches and occationally run riot through the town,breaking windows and beating each other up.20、Winbledon:is the name of a London suburb.In Winbledon the world’s best players gather to compete on grass courts.It’s one of the major events of the British sporting calendar and probably the most famous tennis event in the world.Besides actually watching the tennis matches,other activies closely associated with the Winbledon fortnight are eating strawberries andcream,drinking champagne and hoping that it doesn’t rain.21、The three traditions of Chrismas 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 is to hear the Queen give her Christmas message to her realm over the televition and radio.A third 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 thecities:shopping.Shops open up to sell off all their Christmas stock decorations,food,cards and gift items at low prices.。
英语国家概况名词解释新
英语国家概况名词解释新Document number【980KGB-6898YT-769T8CB-246UT-18GG08】英语国家概况名词解释1、The Constitution:Britain 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 commom practice in courts;and conventions.2、The house of Common: It’s the real center of British political life because it is the place where about 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.3、The electoral campaign:Before a general election,the political parties would start their electoral campaigns in order to make their ideologies and policies known to the public.The campaign involves advertisements in newspapers, door-to-door campaigning,postal deliveries of leaflets and ‘party electoral broadcasts” on the television.The parties also try to attack and critisise the opponents’ policies.Therefore,these campaigns sometimes can be quiteaggressive and critical.4、Class system in British society:The class system does exist in British society.Most of 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 defferent may differ in the kind of newspaper 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.5、Relative decline of the UK economy:The UK has experienced an economic decline since 1945.But this is a relative decline ratherthan an absolute one.Britain is wealthier and more productive than it was in 1945,but since other countries developed more rapidly,it has slid from being the second largest economy to being the six.6、Comprehensive schools: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 cooking7、Grammar schools:it’s a type of secondary schools inBritain.Grammar schools select children at the 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 expect many of their pupils to go on to universities.8、Independent schools:are commonly called public schools which are actually private schools that receive their funding through theprivate sector and tuition rates,with some governmentassitance.Independent schools are not part of national education system,but the quality of instruction and standards are maintained through visits from Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools.These schools are restricted to the students whose parents are comparatively rich.9、the first English settle in North America:The first English permanent settlement was organized in 1607 by the London Company with a charter from the English King.The colonists settled in Virginia and survived by imposing strict discipline on themselves and by transplanting tobacco into the colony of Virginia.In 1619,the settlers elected their delegates and set up the House of Burgesses,and the same time they bought and enslaved black servants.These two events greatly influenced the political and social development of the United States later.10、Puritanism:were those who followes 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 good 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.11、George Washington:was one of the founding fathers of the American Republic.He was the Commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in War of Independence against the British colonial rule and the first President of the United States.12、The executive:The chief executive is the President,who is elected to a four-year term.A president can be elected to only two terms according to an amendment passed in 1951.The president can propose legislation to Congress.He can veto any bill passed by Congress.The veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in both houses.The president can appoint federal judges as vacancies occur.He is the commander in chief of the armed forced.The president has other broad authorities in running the government departments and handling foreign relations.13、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.14、Industrial Revolution in America:After independence,American was principally an agricultural country.The Industrial Revolution in England brought many changes to American industry between 1776 and 1860.One key development was the introduction of the factory system.A second development was the “American system” of mass production.A third development was theapplication of new technologies to industrial tasks.Afourth development was the emergence of new forms of business organization---the bank and the corporation.15、Agribusiness:Because American agricuiture is big business,people coined the term “agribusiness” to reflect the large-scale nature of agricultural enterprises in the modern US economy.The term covers the entire complex offarm-related business,from the individual farmer to the multinational maker of farm chemicals.It also includes farmer cooperatives,rural banks,shippers of farm products,commodity dealers,firms that manufacture farm equipment,food-processing industries,grocery chains and many other business.16、Higher education:In America,higher education refers to education on the college level.American higher education includes four categories of institutions.They are the university,the four-year undergraduateinstitution(the college) the technical training institution and the two-year or community college.Some are supported by public funds and some by private funds.Many universities and colleges have won reputations for providing their students with a higher quality of education.The great majority are generally regarded as quite satisfatory.17、NBA:stands for National Basketball Association.Founded in 1950,it’s the association of professional teams in the United States.It has two divisions:the Eastern Division and the Western Division.NBA is very popular not only in the US.but all over the world.The best NBA star in NBA history is Mcchiael Jordan.18、Yellowstone Nationa Park:is the oldest and one of the largest national park in the US.It’s named after the Yellowstone River that flows through the area.It is known for its geysers and hot springs among other natural wonders. 19、Football hooligans:reflect the violence associated with football.While all social classes used to join in the local football march,it was regarded as being not at all suitable for gentlemen.Visitors from abroad sometimes complained about stumbling into the midst of a rough and dangerous game when walking the streets of London,while local householders and merchants were troubled by having their windows broken by stray footballs.Dringking hard went along with playing hard.Today,violence is still associated with football.They are supporters of rival teams.They sometimes clash before,during and after matches and occationally run riot through the town,breaking windows and beating each other up.20、Winbledon:is the name of a London suburb.In Winbledon the world’s best players gather to compete on grass courts.It’s one of the major events of the British sporting calendar and probably the most famous tennis event in the world.Besides actually watching the tennis matches,other activies closely associated with the Winbledon fortnight are eating strawberries andcream,drinking champagne and hoping that it doesn’t rain.21、The three traditions of Chrismas 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 is to hear the Queen give her Christmas message toher realm over the televition and radio.A third 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.。
自考英语国家概况重点名词解释
1.The British Isles: The British Isles are made up of two large islands and hundredsof small ones. The two large islands are Great Britain and Ireland.2.The Commonwealth ( or the British Commonwealth): It is a free association ofindependent countries that were once colonies of Britain. It has no special powers.The decision is left to each nation. At present there are 50 member countries within the Commonwealth.3.Witan: It was the council or meeting of the wise men. It was created by theAnglo-Saxons to advise the king. It’s the basis of the Privy Council which still exists today.4.Alred the Great: Alfred was a strong king of Wessex. He defeated the Danes andreached a friendly agreement with them. He founded a strong fleet and is known as “ the father of the British navy”. He also translated books, established schools and formulated a legal system. He got the title “Alfred the Great”.5.William the Conqueror: He was the Duke of Normandy and was crowned King ofEngland after having defeated King Harold. He established a strong Norman government and the feudal system in England.6.Edward the Confessor: He was the king of England but he spent most of his life inNormandy. He appointed many Norman priest and ministers. He is also said to have promised the English throne to William, Duke of Normandy. When Edward died , four men laid claim to the English throne and finally William won the victory and established a Norman government.7.The Great Charter: King John’s reign caused much discontent among the barons.In 1215, he was forded to sign a document, known as Magna Carta, or the Great Charter. It has 63 clauses. Though it has long been regarded as the foundation of English liberties, its spirit was the limitation of the king’s powers, keeping them within the bounds of the feudal law of the land.8.The Black Death: It was a deadly disease which spread through Europe includingEngland in the 14th century. It killed between one half and one third of the population of England and reduced England’s population from four million to two million by the end of the 14the century. As a result, much land was left untendedand labor was short.9.The Wars of Roses: It refers to the battles between the House of Lancaster and theHouse of York between 1455 and 1485. The former was symbolized by the red rose and latter by the white one. After the wars, feudalism received its death blow and the kin g’s power became supreme. Tudor monarchs ruled England and Wales for over two hundred years.10.Elizabeth I: One of the greatest monarchs on British history. She reigned Englandfor 45 years and remained single in her life. Her reign was a time of confident English nationalism and of great achievements in literature and other art, in exploration and in battle.11.Oliver Cromwell: He was the leader of the Parliamentary army in the Civil Warsof the Great Britain in the middle of the 17th century. Under his leadership, the parliamentary army defeated the King’s army. Cromwell signed the death warrant of the King Charles and declared England a Commonwealth. He became Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England. Then he suppressed the rebellion in Ireland, killing many people there. He died in 1658.12.The Glorious Revolution of 1688: As John II was a Catholic king and wasintolerant by England. The English politicians appealed to a Protestant king, William of Orange, Jame’s Dutch nephew and the husband of Mary, James’s daughter, to invade and take the English throne. In 1688, William landed at England and took over the English throne. Because this takeover was relatively smooth, with no bloodshed, nor any execution of the King. It was known as the Glorious Revolution.13.Whigs: It refers to one party name which originated with the Glorious Revolutionof 1688. The Whigs were those who opposed absolute monarchy and supported the right to religious freedom for Nonconformists. They formed a coalition with dissident Tories and became the Liberal Party.14.Tories: It refers to one party name which originated with the Glorious Revolutionof 1688. The Tories were those who supported hereditary monarchy and were reluctant to remove kings. The Tories were the forerunners of the ConservativeParty.15.Luddites: After the industrial revolution in Britain, many workers worked andlived in bad conditions. Luddites were led by Ludd to destroy the hated machines, ubt were severely punished by the government.16.The people’s Charter of 1838: In 1838, the Chartists drew up a charter of politicaldemands, known as the People’s Charter. It has 6 points: 1) the vote for all adult males, 2) voting by secret ballot, 3) equal electoral districts, 4) abolition of property qualifications for members of Parliament. 5)payment of members of Parliament, and 6) annual Parliament. The 6 points were achieved gradually although the 6th has never been practical.17.Thatcherism: Mrs. Thatcher’s policies were called Thatcherism. It included thereturn to private ownership of state-owned industries, the use of monetarist policies to control inflation, the weakening of trade unions, the strengthening of the role of market forces in the economy and an emphasis on law and order.18.The monarchy: It is the oldest institution of government, going back to at leastthe9th century; the head of State is a king or a queen, but in practice, the queen or king reigns, does not rule.19.The Civil List: It is an annual grant approved by parliament. The grant is made tothe British Sovereign and members of the royal family. It is used to cover the expense involved in carry out their public duties.20.Black Rod: it is also called the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod which isresponsible for security , accommodation and services in the House of Lords’ part of the Palace of Westminster.21.The National Health Service: It was established in the UK in 1948, and providesfor every resident in the UK, regardless of income, a full range of medical services.22.Bank holidays: Bank holidays are also called official public holidays. The term“Bank Holiday”goes back to the Bank Holidays Act in 1871, which owes its name to the fact that banks are closed on the days specified.23.Easter: It is the chief Christian festival, which celebrates the Resurrection ofChrist, on the first Sunday after the first full moon that coincides with, or comes after, the spring equinox. Easter is traditionally associated with the eating of Easter eggs.24.Good Friday: It commemorates the crucifixion of Christ.25.Whit Sunday: It is a major festival in the Christian church that falls on the 7thSunday after Easter. It celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit to Christ’s apostles seven weeks after his death.26.Guy Fawkes Day: It originates from the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. A Catholic GuyFawkes attempted to blow up the House of Parliament but was discovered. Now, on this day, children make a “guy” out of straw. At night, they let off fireworks and burn the guy.27.Oxbridge: It refers to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge.28.Quality newspapers: they are directed at readers who want full information on awide range of public matters. There are 5 quality daily and 4 quality Sundays.They are normally broadsheet in format.29.Pantomime: It is a kind of play based on a traditional fairy tale and performed atChristmas time. It is characterized y singing, dancing, clowning, topical jokes. It is developed out of dumb show. Dan Leno was one of the great pantomime actors.But it decline after the WWI.30.IRA: It stands for Irish Republican Army. It commits in to the goal of a unitedIreland, probably in violent way.31.the Declaration of Independence: It was drafted y Thomas Jefferson, and it wasadopted by the American Congress o July 4, 1776 which later became the National Day of the US. It is a clear explanation of the political theory behind the revolution and this theory came from the British philosopher John Locker.32.Manifest Destiny: The expansionist movement produced a theory of “ManifestDestiny”. It first appeared I an article written by John Sullivan. Its implications are three fold: 1) the inevitability of the founding of the US. 2) the legitimacy of the expansion of American Territory; 3) the spread of American democracy being the task of American people who were chosen to do the Lord’s work.issez faire: It is a tradition on the 19th century in American government. It meansthe government should merely preserve order and protect property, leaving the control over the economy to the business people.34.baby boom: It refers to the great increase of birth rate between 1946 and 1964.People born in this period are called baby boomers.35.The Federalist Papers: In 1787, the newspapers of New York City carried at shortintervals 85 letters to the public written under the name of Publius. Later it was known that these letters were written by Hamilton, Madison and Jay and they were called the Federalist Papers.36.The Bill of Rights: In 1789, Madison introduced in the House a series ofamendments for ratification. Ten of them were ratified in 1791 and became the first ten amendments to the constitution---the Bill of Rights.37.The Emancipation Proclamation: During the Civil War, Lincoln issued theEmancipation Proclamation to get more support for the Union at home and abroad.It granted freedom to all slaves.38.The Muckrakers: They are a group of reform-minded journalists. They madeinvestigations and exposed various dark sides of the seemingly prosperous society.39.The Progressive Movement: It is a movement demanding government regulationof 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.40.the Red Scare: In 1917, the October Revolution took place in Russia andCommunist ideas spread quickly in Europe. This caused fear among some people who whipped up a kind of senseless excitement about eh danger of Communism in 1919-1920. Many radicals and Communists were arrested or forced to leave the US.41.Isolationist: It was the American foreign policy in the early 1930s, that is, to keepthe United States out of the fighting that was going on in Europe and Asia.42.The Truman Doctrine: In 1949, President Truman put forward the TrumanDoctrine in a speech to the Congress. It meant to say that the US governmentwould support any country which said it was fighting against Communism.43.The Marshall Plan: In 1947, the Secretary of State Marshall announced theMarshall Plan. It meant that in order to protect Western Europe from possible Soviet expansion, the US decided to offer Western European countries economic aid.44.the Smith Act: It was passed by American Congress in 1940 which made itunlawful for many group to advocate or teach the violent overthrow of government in the US, or for nay person to belong to such a group.45.the federal system in the US: It has two layers of rule. There is a central or federalgovernment for the nation which alone has the power to answer questions that affect the nation as a whole. There are also state and local governments. Each layer of government has separate and distinct powers laid down in the Constitution.46.Checks and balances in the US: American government is divided into threebranches, 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 the actions of the other branches. The three branches are thus in balance. This is called “ checks and balances”.47.ACTP: American College Testing Program’s examination.48.the community college: This kind of two-year colleges emerged in the early 1990sin the US to meet the immediate need of the economic expansion and rapid rise in immigrants. It calls for education to serve the good of both the individual and society. It is one of the most important innovation in the history of American higher education. Its guiding principle is higher education for everyone and the philosophy that equality must mean equal opportunity for self realization and for the recognition of individual differences.49.Knickerbockers era: In the early part of the 19th century, New York City was thecentre of American writing. Is writers were called “knickerbockers” and the period from 1810 to 1840 is known as the “knickerbockers era”. The name comes from A History of New York, by Knickerbocker written by Washington Irving.50.Transcendentalism: It was a movement that emerged in the 1830s and 1840samong American young intellectuals which emphasized man’s potentiality for goodness, creativity, and self-development. Emerson was regarded as the leader of the movement.51.Lost Generation: It refers to the young intellectuals who became disappointed andbitter after WWI in the US. T. S. Eliot’s Waste Land is considered the manifesto of the “ Lost Generation” and Hemingway is the spokesman for it.52.Harlem Renaissance: Harlem is the north-eastern part of New York City whereblack people are concentrated and where Black writers wrote freely what they wanted to say. They managed to build a battle literature which reflects the feeling, the experience, the history, and the ambitions of the black people. Hughes and Wright were the representatives.53.Independence Day: It is on 4th of July. It is a legal holiday throughout the US. It isAmerica’s most important patriotic holiday, the birthday of the nation.54.Halloween: It is a night-time children’s day on October 31. It is a time for fun.Children with curious masks go from house to house to frighten friends or neighbors and threaten them with “Trick or treat”which means “give me something nice, or I’ll play a trick on you”.55.Thanksgiving Day: It is on the 4th Thursday of November. It is a typical Americanholiday to show thanks for the blessings people have enjoyed.56.The Statute of Westminster: By the Statute of Westminster in 1931 the BritishDominions, including Canada, were formally declared to be partner nations with Britain and “equal in status, in no way subordinate to each other”, and bound together only by their loyalty to a common Crown. Since then Canada became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.57.Eskimo: It is an Indian word meaning “ eaters of raw flesh”. Most of them live inthe northern provinces and territories of Canada.58.multiculturalism: It is a policy recognized in Canada and Australia. According tothis policy migrant groups are able to speak their own language and maintain their own customs.59.Kiwi: The Kiwi is a New Zealand bird, a kind of bird which cannot fly. It is thenational symbol of New Zealand and New Zealanders refer to themselves as Kiwis.60.The Treaty of Waitangi: It was signed between the chiefs of the Maori people andthe British Crown on February 6, 1840. It has three articles. Under the first article, the Maori people gave the Queen of England the right to make laws for the country; the second article promised the Maori full exclusive possession over their lands. If Maori owners wanted to sell land, only the Crown had the right to buy;Under the third article Maoris were granted all the rights and privileges of British subjects. The anniversary of the signing, February 6, is celebrated as New Zealand National Day, Waitangi Day, and is a national holiday.。
英语国家概况名词解释（新）
英语国家概况名词解释1、The Constitution:Britain 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 commom practice in courts;and conventions.2、The house of Common: It‟s the real center of British political life because it is the place where about 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.3、The electoral campaign:Before a general election,the political parties would start their electoral campaigns in order to make their ideologies and policies known to the public.The campaign involves advertisements in newspapers, door-to-door campaigning,postal deliveries of leaflets and …party electoral broadcasts” on the television.The parties also try to attack and critisise the opponents‟ policies.Therefore,these campaigns sometimes can be quite aggressive and critical.4、Class system in British society:The class system does exist in British society.Most of 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 defferent may differ in the kind of newspaper 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.5、Relative decline of the UK economy:The UK has experienced an economic decline since 1945.But this is a relative decline rather than an absolute one.Britain is wealthier and more productive than it was in 1945,but since other countries developed more rapidly,it has slid from being the second largest economy to being the six.6、Comprehensive schools: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 cooking7、Grammar school s:it‟s a type of secondary schools in Britain.Grammar schools select children at the 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 expect many of their pupils to go on to universities.8、Independent schools:are commonly called public schools which are actually private schools that receive their funding through the private sector and tuition rates,with some government assitance.Independent schools are not part of national education system,but the quality of instruction and standards are maintained through visits from Her Majesty‟s Inspectors of Schools.These schools are restricted to the students whose parents are comparatively rich.9、the first English settle in North America:The first English permanent settlement was organized in 1607 by the London Company with a charter from the English King.The colonists settled in Virginia and survived by imposing strict discipline on themselves and by transplanting tobacco into the colony of Virginia.In 1619,the settlers elected their delegates and set up the House of Burgesses,and the same time they bought and enslaved black servants.These two events greatly influenced the political and social development of the United States later.10、Puritanism:were those who followes 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 good 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.11、George W ashington:was one of the founding fathers of the American Republic.He was the Commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in War of Independence against the British colonial rule and the first President of the United States.12、The executive:The chief executive is the President,who is elected to a four-year term.A president can be elected to only two terms according to an amendment passed in 1951.The president can propose legislation to Congress.He can veto any bill passed by Congress.The veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in both houses.The president can appoint federal judges as vacancies occur.He is the commander in chief of the armed forced.The president has other broad authorities in running the government departments and handling foreign relations.13、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.14、Industrial Revolution in America:After independence,American was principally an agricultural country.The Industrial Revolution in England brought many changes to American industry between 1776 and 1860.One key development was the introduction of the factory system.A second development was the “American system” of mass production.A third development was the application of new technologies to industrial tasks.Afourth development was the emergence of new forms of business organization---the bank and the corporation.15、Agribusiness:Because American agricuiture is big business,people coined the term “agribusiness” to reflect the large-scale nature of agricultural enterprises in the modern US economy.The term covers the entire complex of farm-related business,from the individual farmer to the multinational maker of farm chemicals.It also includes farmer cooperatives,ruralbanks,shippers of farm products,commodity dealers,firms that manufacture farmequipment,food-processing industries,grocery chains and many other business.16、Higher education:In America,higher education refers to education on the college level.American higher education includes four categories of institutions.They are the university,the four-year undergraduate institution(the college) the technical training institution and the two-year or community college.Some are supported by public funds and some by private funds.Many universities and colleges have won reputations for providing their students with a higher quality of education.The great majority are generally regarded as quite satisfatory.17、NBA:stands for National Basketball Association.Founded in 1950,it‟s the association of professional teams in the United States.It has two divisions:the Eastern Division and the Western Division.NBA is very popular not only in the US.but all over the world.The best NBA star in NBA history is Mcchiael Jordan.18、Y ellowstone Nationa Park:is the oldest and one of the largest national park in the US.It‟s named after the Y ellowstone River that flows through the area.It is known for its geysers and hot springs among other natural wonders.19、Football hooligans:reflect the violence associated with football.While all social classes used to join in the local football march,it was regarded as being not at all suitable for gentlemen.Visitors from abroad sometimes complained about stumbling into the midst of a rough and dangerous game when walking the streets of London,while local householders and merchants were troubled by having their windows broken by stray footballs.Dringking hard went along with playing hard.Today,violence is still associated with football.They are supporters of rival teams.They sometimes clash before,during and after matches and occationally run riot through the town,breaking windows and beating each other up.20、Winbledon:is the name of a London suburb.In Winbledon the world‟s best players gather to compete on grass courts.It‟s one of the major events of the British sporting calendar and probably the most famous tennis event in the world.Besides actually watching the tennis matches,other activies closely associated with the Winbledon fortnight are eating strawberries andcream,drinking champagne and hoping that it doesn‟t rain.21、The three traditions of Chrismas 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 is to hear the Queen give her Christmas message to her realm over the televition and radio.A third 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 thecities:shopping.Shops open up to sell off all their Christmas stock decorations,food,cards and gift items at low prices.。
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英语国家概况名词解释1、The Constitution:Britain has no written Constitution.The foundations of the British state arelaid out in statute law,which are laws passed by Parliament; the common laws, which are laws established through commom practice in courts;and conventions.2、The house of Common: It’s the real center of British political life because it is the placewhere about 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.3、The electoral campaign:Before a general election,the political parties would start their electoralcampaigns in order to make their ideologies and policies known to the public.The campaign involves advertisements in newspapers, door-to-door campaigning,postal deliveries of leaflets and ‘party electoral broadcasts” on the television.The parties also try to attack and critisise the opponents’policies.Therefore,these campaigns sometimes can be quite aggressive and critical.4、Class system in British society:The class system does exist in British society.Most of Britishpopulation 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 defferent may differ in the kind of newspaper 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.5、Relative decline of the UK economy:The UK has experienced an economic decline since1945.But this is a relative decline rather than an absolute one.Britain is wealthier and more productive than it was in 1945,but since other countries developed more rapidly,it has slid from being the second largest economy to being the six.6、Comprehensive schools:are the most popular secondary schools in Britain today.Such schoolsadmit 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 cooking7、Grammar school s:it’s a type of secondary schools in Britain.Grammar schools select childrenat the 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 expect many of their pupils to go on to universities.8、Independent schools:are commonly called public schools which are actually private schools thatreceive their funding through the private sector and tuition rates,with some government assitance.Independent schools are not part of national education system,but the quality of instruction and standards are maintained through visits from Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools.Theseschools are restricted to the students whose parents are comparatively rich.9、the first English settle in North America:The first English permanent settlement wasorganized in 1607 by the London Company with a charter from the English King.The colonists settled in Virginia and survived by imposing strict discipline on themselves and by transplanting tobacco into the colony of Virginia.In 1619,the settlers elected their delegates and set up the House of Burgesses,and the same time they bought and enslaved black servants.These two events greatly influenced the political and social development of the United States later.10、Puritanism:were those who followes the doctrine of John Calvin and wanted to purify theChurch 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 good 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 establisha direct contact with God.These beliefs had great impact on American culture.11、George Washington:was one of the founding fathers of the American Republic.He was theCommander-in-chief of the Continental Army in War of Independence against the British colonial rule and the first President of the United States.12、The executive:The chief executive is the President,who is elected to a four-year term.Apresident can be elected to only two terms according to an amendment passed in 1951.The president can propose legislation to Congress.He can veto any bill passed by Congress.The veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in both houses.The president can appoint federal judges as vacancies occur.He is the commander in chief of the armed forced.The president has other broad authorities in running the government departments and handling foreign relations.13、The Bill of Rights:consists of the first 10 amendments which were added to the Constitution in1791.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.14、Industrial Revolution in America:After independence,American was principally anagricultural country.The Industrial Revolution in England brought many changes to American industry between 1776 and 1860.One key development was the introduction of the factory system.A second development was the “American system” of mass production.A third development was the application of new technologies to industrial tasks.Afourth development was the emergence of new forms of business organization---the bank and the corporation.15、Agribusiness:Because American agricuiture is big business,people coined the term“agribusiness” to reflect the large-scale nature of agricultural enterprises in the modern US economy.The term covers the entire complex of farm-related business,from the individual farmer to the multinational maker of farm chemicals.It also includes farmer cooperatives,rural banks,shippers of farm products,commodity dealers,firms that manufacture farm equipment,food-processing industries,grocery chains and many other business.16、Higher education:In America,higher education refers to education on the collegelevel.American higher education includes four categories of institutions.They are the university,the four-year undergraduate institution(the college) the technical training institution and the two-year or community college.Some are supported by public funds and some by private funds.Many universities and colleges have won reputations for providing their students with a higher quality of education.The great majority are generally regarded as quite satisfatory.17、NBA:stands for National Basketball Association.Founded in 1950,it’s the association ofprofessional teams in the United States.It has two divisions:the Eastern Division and the Western Division.NBA is very popular not only in the US.but all over the world.The best NBA star in NBA history is Mcchiael Jordan.18、Yellowstone Nationa Park:is the oldest and one of the largest national park in the US.It’snamed after the Yellowstone River that flows through the area.It is known for its geysers and hot springs among other natural wonders.19、Football hooligans:reflect the violence associated with football.While all social classes used tojoin in the local football march,it was regarded as being not at all suitable for gentlemen.Visitors from abroad sometimes complained about stumbling into the midst of a rough and dangerous game when walking the streets of London,while local householders and merchants were troubled by having their windows broken by stray footballs.Dringking hard went along with playing hard.Today,violence is still associated with football.They are supporters of rival teams.They sometimes clash before,during and after matches and occationally run riot through the town,breaking windows and beating each other up.20、Winbledon:is the name of a London suburb.In Winbledon the world’s best players gather tocompete on grass courts.It’s one of the major events of the British sporting calendar and probably the most famous tennis event in the world.Besides actually watching the tennis matches,other activies closely associated with the Winbledon fortnight are eating strawberries and cream,drinking champagne and hoping that it doesn’t rain.21、The three traditions of Chrismas in Britain:one is the Christmas Pantomime,a comicalmusical 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 is to hear the Queen give her Christmas message to her realm over the televition and radio.A third 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.。