英语国家概况(社会与文化入门)名词解释页码(上、下两册)
英语国家社会与文化入门(第三版)下册名词解释
1、the first English permanent settlementwas organized in 1607 by the London Company with a charter from the English KJing. 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 enslavedblackservants.These two events greatly influenced the political and social debelopment of the Unite States later2、Puritanswere those who followed the doctrine of John Calvin and wanted to purify the Chuurch 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 oork 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.3、George Washingtonwas one of the founding fathers of the American Republic.He was the Commander-in-chief of the Continental Aemy in the War of Independence against the British colonial rule and the first President of the US4、Benjamin Franklin was one of thefounding fathers of the United States of America.He participated in writing the declaration of independence and making the US Constitution5、The Declaration of Independence was mainly drafted by Tomas Jefferson and adopted by the Congress on July 4,1776,when the people of 13 English colonies in North America were fighting for their freedom and independence from the British colonial rule. The document declared that all men were equal and that they were entitled to have some unalineable rights such aslife,liberty and the pursuit of happiness.It also explained the philosophy of government:the power of government came from the consent of the governed and the purpose of governments were to secure the rights mentioned above.The theory of politics and the guiding principles of the Amenrican Revolution mainly came from John Locke6．The Articles of Confederation :After the War of Independence was won, the new nation of the United States was organized under the agreement of the Articles of Confederation with a weak national government called the Congress. Each state had its own government, made its own laws and handled its internal affairs. The states did not cooperate with the Congress and with each other. The Congress had no power to force any state to contribute money to the national government and the Congress could not tax any citizen either. As a result, the Articles of Confederation failed.7．Federal system :A federal system is one in which power is shared between a central authority and its constituent parts, with some rights reserved to each.8.the making of the U.S Constitution T he Articles of Confederation failed. The Congress decided to hold a constitutional convention to revise the Articles of Confederation. The delegates from 12 states (Rhode Island refused to participated) gathered in Philadelphia in 1787 and end up in writing a new constitution and set a federal system with a strong central government. The Constitution provided that an election of the president would be called for, federal laws would be made only by a Congress made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate and a Supreme Court would be set up. This new Constitution was finally approved by the majority of the citizens in over 9 of the 13 states and was officially put into effect in 1787 .9.The executive branch i s 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 appointfederal judges as vacancies occur. He is the commander in chief of the armed forces. The president has otherbroad authorities in running the government departments and handling foreign relations.10. 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.11. Eli Whitney i s an American inventor who invented the cotton gin, which made removing the seeds from the bolls of cotton much easier. He also began manufacturing rifles with machinery, using interchangeable part. This contributed to the American systemof mass production.12. Samuel Slater In 1793, Samuel Slater built the first factory in the U.S --- a cotton cloth factory in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He built the factory from memory, because it was a crime to carry factory plant out of England. The success of his factory started a process of change that turned the northeastern region of the United States into an important manufacturing center and helped the nation become a major cotton producer.13. Homeland security is short for the United States Department of HomelandSecurity(abbreviated as DHS). It is found on March 1,2003, and is a Cabinet department of the United States federal government with the primary responsibilities of protecting the territory of the US from terrorist attacks and responding to natural disasters. With more than 200, 000 employees, DHS is the third largest Cabinet department, after the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. Other agencies with significant homeland security responsibilities include the Department of Health and Human Services, and Energy.14. Corporation is a form of business organization. Compared with the sole proprietorship and the partnership, the corporation may survive the death of its founder or founders. Because it could draw on a pool of investor, it is a much more efficient tool for raising the large amounts of capital needed by expanding business. And it enjoys limited liability, so inventors only risk the amount of their investment and not their entire assets.15. Service industries industries that sell a service rather than make a product，which now dominate the economy. Service industries range from banking to telecommunications to he provision of meals in restaurants. As more and more people are employed in service industries in the US, it is sometimes said the US has moved into a “post-industrial era”16. Stock When starting or expanding business, corporations need to borrow money. They may issue stocks for people to buy. When people buy stock, they become part owner of the company. If the company makes a profit, they receive a share of it. Likewise, if the company loses money, the stockholders will not make a profit or the value of their shares will drop-they lose money. Therefore buying stock is a risk.17. Agribusiness Because American agriculture 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 businesses.18. Migrant workers Many big farms hire temporary workers only for a specific chore-such as picking crops. Many of these seasonal workers travel from farm to farm, staying only until the crops are picked. They are known as migrant workers.19. Religious liberty The Declaration of Independence guaranteed the basic right of religious freedom and this right was a political necessity. The First Amendment to the U.S Constitutionexplicitly forbade the federal government to give special favors to any religion or to hinder the free practice,or exercise, of religion. When disputes about the relationship between government and religion arise, American courts must settle them. But American institutions presuppose a Supreme being therefore Christianity is often in practice, more favored than other religions.20. The Baptists ar e the largest Protestant group in America. They believe in adult baptism by immersion, symbolizing a mature and responsible conversion experience. They are concentrated particularly in the Southern Bible Belt . White Baptists and black Baptists go separately to their own churches.The Methodists a re the second largest Protestant group in the U.S. The Methodist Church has a form of service based on that of the Church of England.21. The Catholic Church is the largest single religious group in the U.S. More than 25% of all Americans are now of the Roman Catholic faith. The majority of the Catholic are descendants of immigrants from Ireland, Italy and Poland. They have the main strength in the east coast. In American history,the Catholics were discriminated against. By 1960,J.F.Kennedy's presidential election victory put to rest the Catholic religion as an issue in national politics. Today, the Catholics are active in running their own institutions, and have risen to positions of leadership in business, politics and labor.22.the Jewish More l iberal Protestant and Jewish clergymen joined non-believers in maintaining that abortion is a basic right for women.23. Religious diversity Frontier America has made the U.S. a fertile ground for the growth of new religious movements. Many religious communities and secular utopias, experiments in new forms of social living, were founded in 18th and 19th century America. Many small,sects and cults appear in American society all the time. They have certain tendencies in common. They regard the larger society as hopelessly corrupt. Some of them never win a large following, but some others prosper and graduate into the rank of the respectable denominations. Some non-Western religious such as Buddhism, Hindus and Islam are also begging to grow.24. Transcendentalists I n his book Nature, Ralph Waldo Emerson(1803-1882)claimed that by studying and responding to nature individuals could reach a higher spiritual state without formal religion.. A circle of intellectuals who were discontented with the New England establishment gathered around Emerson. They accepted Emerson’s theories about spiritual transcendence. They are known as Transcendentalists.25. The Scarlet Letter 红字was published in 1850. Set in the Puritan past, this masterpiece is the stark drama of a woman harshly cast out from her community for committing the sin of adultery. In this novel, Hawthorne explored certain moral themes such as guilt, pride and emotional repression.26. Herman Melville (赫尔曼?梅尔维尔1819-1891) published Moby Dick 白鲸. Moby Dick is the name of a big white whale. In this book, the author uses a story of a whaling voyage to explore profound themes such as fate, the nature of evil, and the individual’s struggle against the universe.27. Leaves of Gra ss 草叶集is a collection of poems composed by Walt Whitman. It is a ground-breaking book Whitman used free-flowing structures and long irregular lines in his poetry. He ventured beyond traditional forms to meet his need for more space to express the American spirit. In one of the poems “Song of Myself” he dwelt on himself because he saw himself as a prototype of “The American”.28. Mark Twain(p en name of Samuel Clemens (1835-1910) one of the greatest American writersand the first major American writer to be born away from the East Coast. His major work was The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884) which has been called the greatest novel in American literature.29. Naturalists(自然主义作家) were novelists who concentrated upon the grim aspects of reality and a deterministic view of life. They were linked with European naturalists such as French novelist Zola. The most representative naturalists in American literature were StephenCrane,Theodore Dreiser, and Jack London.30. T.S. Eliot(托?斯?艾略特1888－1965) published a long poem The Waste Land 荒原in 1922. Using fragmented, haunting images and a dense structure of symbols, it revealed a pessimistic vision of post-World War I society. With t he publication of “The Waste Land”, Eliot dominated the so-called “Modern” movement in poetry.31. the “Lost Generation” (迷惘的一代)In the aftermath of World War I, many novelists produced a literature of disillusionment. Some lived abroad. They were known as the “Lost Generation”. The two most representative writers of the “Lost Generation” were Hemingway and Fitzgerald.32. Elementary School/Grammar school usually grades kindergarten through 8.But in some places,it incklude only K-6.Many Americans refers t o elementary grades as “grammer school”. They teach mathematics, language, arts, social studies and some other subjects33. Higher Education It refers to American education on the college level. It includes 4 categories of institutions. They are the uni versity, 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 satisfactory.34. The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act / GI Bill of Rights (军人重新安置法) was passed in 1944. It was soon popularly called the “GI Bill of Rights”. GI was a nickname for the American soldier. The nickname came from the abbreviation for “Government Issue”--- the uniforms and other article “issued” to a soldier. The Act promised financial aid for higher education to members of the armed forces.35. Affirmative action programs肯定行动计划were first advocated by some colleges in the 1960s. The purpose of the program was to equalize educational opportunities for all groups and to make up for past inequality by giving special reference to members of minorities seeking jobs or admission to college.36. Greensboro Sit-in On February 1, 1960, 4 freshmen from a black college in Greensboro, North Carolina (北卡罗莱纳州), sat down at a department lunch counter and ordered coffee. When refused, they continued to sit at the counter, openly defying the segregation law prevailing in the state. The next day, more students joined them. Thus began the civil rights movement, which spread from the sou th to the north. Later, this quiet “sit-in” became the major nonviolent direct action tactics to be used by black civil rights activists.37. The Civil Rights Movement One of the most important of all social movement in the 1960s U.S. history. Rosa Park’s spontaneous action in 1955 was believed to be the true beginning of the civil rights movement. The black students’ sit-in at a department lunch counter in North Carolina touched off the nationwide civil rights movement. During the first half of the decade, civil rights organizations like SNCC(the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, CORE (the Congress of Racial Equality, and SCLC(the Southern Christian Leadership Conference struggled for racial integration by providing leadership, tactics, network and the people. In the latter half ofthe decade, some black organizations changed their nonviolent tactics, and emphasized on more radical means to end discrimination and raised the self image of the blacks. The civil rights movement produced such great leaders as Martin Luther King, Jr., and Malcolm X, who inspireda generation of both blacks and whites to devote their lives to fighting for racial equality in theU.S.38. Montgomery Bus Boycot t蒙哥马利抵制公交车隔离政策运动In December 1995, Rosa Parks,a NAACP （National Association for the Advancement of Colored People member in Montgomery Alabama, refused to give up her seat to a white man on a public bus. Alabama law required that blacks sit at the back of the bus, and when asked, surrender their seats to whites. Mrs. Parks was arrested. Local black leaders decided to boycott the city’s bus system. Black people in the city spontaneously began to boycott the bus system refusing to ride on public buses. In the year long Montgomery bus boycott, blacks young and old, walked to work. Withthe bus com pany near bankruptcy, and the aid of a 1956 Supreme Court decision, Montgomery blacks triumphed. IN fact, the boycott was believed to be the true.39. Martin Luther King, Jr. Martin Luther King, Jr., an Atlanta-born Baptist minister (浸礼会牧师), was the leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. To promote his philosophy of nonviolent protest against segregation and other kinds of social injustice, King organized a series of “marches”, including the March on Washington of August, 1963, when King delivered his famous “I have a Dream” speech. As a civil rights leader, King worked not only to end racial discrimination 0and poverty, but also to raise the self image of the blacks. Due to his strong belief in nonviolent peaceful protest, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. He was assassinated in the city of Memphis in April 1968.40.“counterculture” In the wake of the Free Speech Movement and the New Left appeared a phenomenon that historians called the “counter culture”. The Counter Culture rejected capitalism and other American principles. They had morals different from taught by their parents. Some groups of youth tried to construct differentways of life. Among the most famous were the hippies. They sought new experience through dropping out, drugs. But it was music, rock music in particular, that became the chief vehicle for the counter cultural assault on traditional American society. The counter culture exerted a great influence upon people’s attitudes toward social mores, marriage, career, and success.41’ the black “underclass”(“最低层”黑人)The majority of the blacks today have failed to share in the general gains of progress made recently. The urban ghettos now contain a permanently impoverished “underclass” of habitually unemployed or underemployed black people. Many of them are young and unskilled. They live in cities where the unemployment rate for teenage black workers runs as high as 50% or about 8 times the rate for the American work force as a whole. This “underclass” could continue to persist, even in the absence of racial discrimination, in much the same way as other pockets of poverty persist—that is, for reasons of social-class inequality. Living in an environment of poverty, decay, crime, drug addiction, joblessness, and hopelessness, this ghetto underclass offers an explosive potential for the future.42. Poverty as a social problem The U.S is one of the most wealthy countries in the world. Yet over 24 million people or about 10% of the population are living at or below the official poverty line, on incomes that the federal government considers insufficient to meet basic requirement of food, clothing, and shelter. There are millions more, living slightly above the poverty line, whose plight is not much better. Also, the social services in the U.S compare unfavorably with those in most industrialized societies. Furthermore, the affluent majority seems indifferent to the problems of the poor. This raises some serious moral problems and inevitably creates fierce conflicts of interest and many political controversies. Therefore, poverty in the U.S becomes a social problem.43. Drug Abuse (滥用毒品) Drug abuse in the U.S. has come to be regarded as one of themost challenging social problems facing the nation. The drug issue always excites strong emotions of Americans because drug abuse is perceived as a major threat to American society, particularly to its younger members. Drug abuse is a social problem because it has a wide range of social costs. For example, drug is closely related with crime, automobile accidents. It has serious effects on individuals physically and mentally, and the economic losses caused by drug abuse are great44. white-collar crimes (白领阶层的犯罪) White-collar crimes are those committed by higher income groups such as the crimes of fraud, false advertising, corporate price fixing, bribery, embezzlement, industrial pollution, tax evasion and so on. Yet the statistics provided by the FBI tend to overlook white-collar crimes. In fact, white-collar crimes are often ignored by law enforcement agencies. Some sociologists argue that the higher classes may actually have a higher rate of crime than the lower classes.45. The abuse of power by government ：People believe that public organizations in the U.S. sometimes work in concert to advance their own interests rather than those of the people. Government in America is widely distrusted for the lack of answerability. Americans were convinced that the Johnson and Nixon administrations were deliberately and systematically lying to the people in the war against Vietnam and in the Watergate scandal. The FBI and the CIA are responsible for thousands of illegal acts. All these acts show the abuse of power by government.46. The abuse of power by corporations：The abuse of power by corporations is shown in the fact that these corporations are concerned with their own profits than with social responsibility, the quality or price of their products, or the truth of their advertising. They maintain professional lobbyists lobbyist in Washington to influence public officials behind the scenes. They argue for legislation to serve their own ends, influence the appointment of officials,block reforms they consider undesirable, and often seem to have more say in the councils of government than the ordinary voter. Many Americans believe that “big business” has taken the reins of government away from Congress and the Administration”, and that “government is run bya few big interest groups looking after themselves.”47. Social stratified American society ：American society is a stratified (有等级的) one, in which power, wealth, and prestige are unequally distributed among the population. It is divided into social classes that have varying degrees of access to the reward t he society offers. For example, the richest fifth of American individuals and families owns more than three-quarters of the wealth in the U.S., whereas the lowest fifth owns only 0.2% of the wealth. The richest fifth of American families receives over 40% of the national income, whereas the poorest fifth receives only 5.2%.48. Richard Nixon: Richard Nixon was the former President of the United States.He won the election in 1968 and was re-elected in 1972.While he was in office,he contributed to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the US and China and visited China in1972.Shortly after he was re-elected,he was involved in the Watergate scandal, for which he was forced to resign from the presidency.49. The World Wide Web commonly known as the Web or the "Information Superhighway", is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet. With a web browser, one can view web pages that may contain text, images, videos, and other multimedia, and navigate between them via hyperlinks.50. NRA : the National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit lobbying group that advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights, and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection of hunting and self-defense in the United States.51. The melting pot i s a metaphor for a heterogeneous society becoming more homogeneous, the different elements "melting together" into a harmonious whole with a common culture. It is particularly used to describe the assimilation of immigrants to the United States; themelting-together metaphor was in use by the 1780s.52.The USA a s a kaleidoscop e: this is a metaphor for nation self-definition.The metaphor emerged in the late 20th century .As a metaphor for a nation self-definition ,a kaleidoscope overcome the big problem with the never change mosaic image,which reflected the many different groups that have gone into making up the American population.53 shift marriage patterns in the USA:Before WWII,most families were patriarchal,thatis ,dominated by the senior male as husband and father. In the late 1970s and the introduction of "on fault"divorce laws that are now nearly universal in American states , the divorce rate has been about 50%.That is half of first marriages, half of second marriages,and so on,end in divorce.。
大学英语国家概况复习(名词解释+问答题)
名词解释Unit 1 A Brief Introduction to the United KingdomⅠ第一章英国简介1✧ 1. LondonLondon is the largest city located in the south of the country. It is dominant in Britain in all sorts of ways. It is the cultural and business centre and the headquarters of the vast majority of Britain's big companies. It is not only the financial centre of the nation, but also one of the three major international financial centres in the world.伦敦位于该国南部最大的城市。
从各方面来看，它是英国主导。
它是文化和商业中心，绝大多数英国大公司总部。
它不仅是国家的金融中心，而且在世界三大国际金融中心之一。
2.Robin HoodRobin Hood was a Saxon nobleman. As he could no longer put up with oppressions from the Normans, he became an outlaw and bid himself with his band of "merry men" in the forest. From this secret place, he went out to rob from the rich to give the poor.罗宾汉是一个撒克逊的贵族。
因为他再也无法容忍诺曼人的压迫，他成为逃犯并且让自己和他的"快活人" 帮派呆在森林里。
英语国家社会与文化（下）名词解释（中英）
英语国家社会与文化（下）名词解释（中英）The Resource Management Act 资源管理法案The Resource Management Act reflects New Zealander’s environmental awareness. Under the Act, laws governing land,air and water resources are combined together to ensure the sustainable management of natural resources. It focuses on the effects of human activities on the whole environment as well. The Act came into force in 1991. With it , New Zealand leads the world in environmental legislation.资源管理法案反映了新西兰人的环保意识。
根据该法案，法律将土地，空气和水资源结合在一起管理，以确保自然资源的可持续管理。
它侧重于人类活动对整个环境的影响。
该法案于1991生效。
有了它，新西兰在环境立法方面领先世界。
Maoritanga 毛利文化Maoritanga is the Maori word for “ Maori culture. It refers to all the elements of the rich cultural heritage of the indigenous people in New Zealand, including their languages, customs and traditions.毛利文化是毛利语中的“毛利文化。
它是指在新西兰土著居民丰富的文化遗产中的所有元素，包括他们的语言，习俗和传统。
英语国家概况名词解释
英语国家概况名词解释William the Conqueror。
also known as William I。
was the Duke of Normandy。
In October 1066.he led his army to England and defeated King Harold。
after which he was crowned King of England on Christmas Day of the same year。
William establisheda strong Norman government and XXX.To ensure reliable records of all the land。
tenants。
and their properties。
XXX in 1086.this book was the result of a general survey of England and recorded the extent。
value。
state of n。
and ownership of the land。
It was one of the important measures adopted by William I to establish the full XXX。
Today。
the Domesday Book is kept in the Public Records Office XXX.According to the Domesday Book。
in 1086.about half of the rural land was held by ten tenants。
or nobles。
of which only two were English。
Approximately one-fifth of the land belonged to the king himself。
英语国家概况
weddingsWeddings don't always take place in churches. If a woman is getting married for a second time, she will usually get married in a registry office. These are much smaller than churches and the services are less religious. Weddings are usually organized by the bride‟s parents. They send out invitations to the members of their families, and to the couple‟s friends. The best man is usually the groom‟s best friend. He makes a speech at the reception. The bride‟s parents also have a cake made. This usually has three times, or levels.The guests usually drink champagne(香槟酒) at the beginning of the reception. Cake is eaten at the end of the meal.For the wedding the groom will wear a special jacket, which is longer at the back than the front. We call this a morning coat. The bride will often wear a diamond necklace.Vicars in England, and often throughout Europe, wear white collars on their black shirts. We call these dog collars.In church the congregation(集合) sit on long wooden benches(长椅子). These are called pews.It‟s not only bridesmaids that accompany the bride. Sometimes young boys do as well. We call these boys …pages‟, after the boys that accompanied the knights in medieval times.If the couple is really rich they will be taken from the church to thereception by a horse and carriage. The man that takes them is called the coachman.1 Engagement: If you give this to your boyfriend or your girlfriend it means you intend to marry them.2 Reception: the name given to the party which rakes place after a wedding.3 Organ(风琴, 管风琴): special wedding music is play on thi s instrument.4 Groom: the name given to the man who is getting married.5 Champagne(香槟酒): the alcoholic drink usually consumed after a wedding.6 Church: in Europe, weddings usually take place in this place.7 Honeymoon: this is a holiday that the couple go on after the wedding.8 bestman (男傧相): this is the best friend of the man getting married. He makes a speech.9 wedding day: in the west this is said to be the most important day in a woman‟s life.10 bride: the name given to the woman who is getting married.11 cake: this is traditionally eaten at the end of the wedding meal.1 at the end of a wedding, the vicar says the following words‟ in the name of the father, the son, and the Holy Ghost, I pronounce you man and wife.‟2 A wedding when the bride is already pregnant is a …shotgun wedding(强制婚姻)‟.3 weddings traditionally take place on Saturdays4 how is the couple‟s car decorated? Empty card are tied to the back bumper(缓冲器).5 how old do you have to be to marry in England?6 in weddings, the vicar usually starts his speech with the words …dearly beloved‟. Who does this refer to? Jesus Christ7 which of these words is not a word for …vicar‟?A clericB preacherC clerkD priest8 a set of crockery is commonly given to the couple.9 if a woman is married a second time, she will not usually get married in a church and her dress won‟t be white. A white dress is a symbol of the bride‟s virginity(童贞).10 traditionally the bride should come to her wedding late.11 what musical instrument is played at Scottish weddings?the trumpet (喇叭)12 which is the odd ore out?A BellsB ringsC photosD dressE bootsEnglish slang通俗英语------俚语Mouth ----gob five pounds----a fiverStupid person----bonehead a walk---a wanderHow are you?----how‟s it hanging tea---rosie leeTalking rubbish----talking through your hatMake me angry----get my goat beautiful woman--- a babe Something difficult and frustrating----a headachePlace where you live--- gaff nose---hooterCar----wheels stairs------apples and pearsFashionable clothes-----cool threads one pound-----a quidDog----mutt making a joke/being funny----acting the goat Tired/exhausted-------wiped—out ten pounds----a tenner something too expensive----a rip-off an unfaithful lover---a rat friend---china plate to be crazy-----off your headTwo students, Simon and Jane, meet in their university bar.Simon: Hi Jane. How‟s it hanging?Jane: I‟m just wiped—out at the moment. I just finished my chemistry exam. It was a headache!Simon: I‟m sorry to hear that. Say, could you lend me a few quid? I‟m dying for a drink.Jane: sure. What do you want, a fiver or a tenner?Simon: a fiver‟s great.(to the barman) can I have a coke please?Jane: that will be one pound fifty. Thank you.Simon: one pound fifty! What a rip—off! The prices in this place really get my coat!Jane: usually I just stay at home and drink rosie lee.Simon: how is your gaff at the moment? How‟s your boyfriend?Jane: don‟t talk to me about that rat. He was seeing someone else! Simon: terrible. I always thought he was a bonehead. How‟s your mutt? Jane: last week he destroyed one of my shoes. I went off my head! Are you still single?Simon: I met a real babe last week. But you know how it is: unless you‟ve got some cool threads or a nice set of wheels, the girls aren‟t interested.Jane: you‟re a good china plate, but you‟re talking through your hat. We…re not all like that!Simon: I know, I was just acting the goat. But I‟m not handsome, my hooter is too big, and my ob is too small. God was unkind to me. Jane: well, let‟s drink to true love. May we both find it. Here‟s to happiness.Simon: cheers. Say, I need to take a wander to the WC. Know where it is? Jane: round the corner and up the apples and pears.Simon: OK. See you in a moment.George Washington (1732--1799) the first president of the United StatesWhen Washington retired from public life in 1797, his homeland was vastly different from what it had been when he entered public service in 1749. To each of the principal changes, he had made an outstanding contribution. Largely because of his leadership the thirteen colonies had become the United States, a sovereign, independent nation.As commander in chief during the American Revolution, Washington built a large army, held it together, kept it in a maneuverable condition and prevented it from being destroyed by a crushing defeat. The British evacuation of Boston in 1776, under Washington‟s siege, gave security to nearly all of New England.After the war Washington took a leading part in the making of the constitution and the campaign for its ratification. Its success was assured by 1797, at the end of the second term of his presidency. In 1799 the country included nearly all its present—day territory between the Atlantic coast and the Mississippi river.He acted with congress to establish the first great executive departments and to lay the foundations of the modern federal judiciary. He directed the creation of a diplomatic service. Three presidential and five congressional elections carried the new government, under the constitution, through its initial trials.In the conduct of public affairs, Washington originated many practices that have survived. He withheld confidential diplomatic documents fromthe House of Representatives and made treaties without discussing them in the senate chamber. About all, he conferred on the presidency a prestige so great that political leaders afterward esteemed it the highest distinction to occupy the chair he had honored.A national army and navy came into being, and Washington acted with vigour to provide land titles, security, and trade outlets for pioneers of the Trans---Allegheny west. His policy procured adequate revenue for the national government and supplied the country with a sound currenct, a well—supported public credit, and an efficient network of national banks. Manufacturing and shipping received aid for continuing growth.Most of the work that engaged Washington had to be achieved through people. He found that success depended on their cooperation and that they would do best if they had faith in causes and leaders. To gain and hold their approval were among his foremost objectives. He thought of people, in the main, as right—minded and dependable, and he believed that a leader should make the best of their good qualities.As a Virginian, Washington belonged to, attended, and served as a warden of the established (Anglican) church. But he did not participate in communion, nor did he adhere to a sectarian creed. He frequently expressed a faith in divine providence and a belief that religion is needed to sustain morality in society. As a national leader he upheld the right of every sect to freedom of worship and equality before the law,condemning all forms of bigotry, intolerance, discrimination and persecution.Of Washington, Thomas Jefferson wrote:”his integrity was the most pure, his justice the most inflexible I have ever known. He was, in every sense of the word, a wise, a good, and a great man.”Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, on Nolin creek in Kentucky. His father, Thomas Lincoln, was a poverty—stricken farmer, who could never seem to make ends meet. Consequently, Lincoln spent his childhood learning how to use an axe, hunt and work a plow. He was tall, athletic and active. During his campaign for the presidency, Lincoln liked to recount how during his childhood he was kecked in the teeth by a horse and “apparently killed for a time.” His mother, Nancy hanks, died soon after the family moved to Spencer County, Indiana, in 1819.Left with two children to support, Thomas Lincoln remarried Sarah Bush, in 1830 the Lincolns moved to Macon, Illinois, and had 3 more children. Although both of his parents were illiterate, Lincoln learned to read and some of his favorite books included …Arabian nights …and…Robinson Crusoe‟. Lincoln was also popular among his friends, known for his good humor and storytelling abilities.At the age of 22, Lincoln set out on his own for New Orleans. There, he became a partner in a grocery store, although the store eventually foldedand left Lincoln deeply in debt. Before going into law, Lincoln tried many different professions; he worked as a postmaster, a land surveyor, and a rail splitter. He also enlisted as a volunteer in the black hawk war, but he never saw any action during his time of service. Throughout all his odd jobs and failed professions, Lincoln racked up a significant amount of debt, but he later repaid it, earning the nickname …honest Abe（亚伯, Abraham 的昵称）‟. In 1834, Lincoln was elected as a representative for the Illinois general assembly.In 1856, Lincoln became a member of the republic party and quickly became a political front—runner as a moderate who could woo both conservatives and abolitionists. However, Lincoln didn‟t completely oppose slavery as he believed that it was an evil that should be contained and not allowed to grow. After gaining recognition as a possible vice presidential candidate in 1856, he was picked to oppose Stephen Doun gals in the Illinois senatorial race. It was during this race that Lincoln and Douglas began a series of famous debates over the topic of slavery. while Lincoln lost the race, he became a pick for the republican presidential bid in 1860 and won the presidency with a minority of the popular vote. Lincoln presided over the country during one of its most tumultuous periods. However, despite the ravaging of America‟s civil war, Lincoln was able to maintain the continuity of the union. The main goals of his presidency were restoration and preservation of the union. Although he isoften remembered as …the great emancipator‟Lincoln, not wanting to alienate any American, at first tried to preserve the integrity of the union by allowing for a gradual elimination to slavery, yet, later he realized that in order for the union to prevail slavery must end. Consequently, on September 22, 1862 Lincoln issued an emancipation proclamation, which attempted to free confederate slaves. In addition to being both doubtful legally and feasibly, Lincoln‟s efforts only freed a minority didn‟t come into full effect until after his death.Lincoln was reelected to the presidency in 1864 with an overwhelming majority. He summed up his sentiments in his second inaugural address, stating, “With malice toward none; with charity for all.”Although he lived to see the end of the war, he did not see his plans for the reconstruction of the United States realized. On the night of April 14th, 1865, Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes booth while attending a performance at ford‟s theater.Franklin D. Roosevelt 罗斯福Franklin D. Roosevelt was born in Hyde Park, New York on January 30, 1882, the son of James Roosevelt and Sara Delano Roosevelt. He attended grogon (1896--1890), a prestigious preparatory school in Massachusetts, and received a BA degree in history from Harvardin only three years. He next studied law at New York‟s ColumbiaUniversity. When he passed the bar examination in 1907, he lift school without taking a degree. For the next 3 years he practiced law with a prominent New York city law firm. He entered politics in 1910 and was elected to the New York state senate as a democrat from his traditionally republican home district.While vacationing at Campobello Island, New Brunswick, in the summer of 1921, Roosevelt contracted poliomyelitis. Despite courageous efforts to overcome his crippling illness, he never regained the use of his legs. As governor of New York in 1930, he began to campaign for the presidency. While the economic depression damaged Hoover and the republicans, Roosevelt‟s bold efforts to combat it in New York enhanced his reputation. In Chicago in 1932 Roosevelt won the nomination as the Democratic Party candidate for president. He broke with tradition and flew to Chicago to accept the nomination in person. He then campaigned energetically calling for government intervention in the economy to provide relief, recovery and reform. His activist approach and personal charm helped to defeat Hoover in November 1932 by seven million votes. The depression worsened in the months preceding his inauguration, March 4, 1933. Factory closings, farm foreclosures, and bank failures increased, while unemployment soared. Roosevelt faced the greatest crisis in America since the civil war. He undertook immediate actions to initiate his new deal. To halt depositor panics, he closed the bankstemporally. Then he set up alphabet agencies such as the AAA( civilian conservation corps ) to employ young men. Other agencies assisted business and labor, insured bank deposits, regulated the stock market, subsidized home and farm mortgage payments, and aided the unemployed. These measures revived confidence in the economy. Banks re—opened and direct relief saved millions from starvation.Roosevelt easily defeated Alfred M. London in 1936 and went on to defeat, by lesser margins, Wendell willies in 1940 and Thomas e Dewey in 1944. He thus became the only American president to serve more than 2 terms.The Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, followed 4 days later by Germany‟s and Italy‟s declarations of war against the USA, brought the nation irrevocably into the Second World War.He gave priority to the western European front and had General George Marshall, chief of staff; plan a holding operation in the pacific and organize an expeditionary force for an invasion of Europe. The USA and its allies invaded North Africa in 1942, Italy in 1943, and the d—day landings on the Normandy beaches in France, June 6, 1944, were followed by the invasion of Germany six months later.The unending stress and strain of the war literally wore Roosevelt out. By early 1944 a full medical examination disclosed serious heart andcirculatory problems. During victory a vacation at warm springs, Georgia, on April 12, 1945, he suffered a massive stroke and died later. He was 63 years old. His death came on the eve of complete military in Europe and within months of victory over Japan in the pacific.Dinner manners1grace: A prayer said at the beginning of the meal.2gravy: this come in a jug and is poured on to the food.3Cheese: This is eaten with biscuits at t he end of the meal.4Scold: to tale to in an angry way.5Mashed: soft potatoes with butter and milk.6Soup: usually the second course.7Pepper: you can put this on the main course.8Cellar: salt comes in one of these.9Crumble: a pudding made with apples and biscuit crumbs.10Melon: this doesn‟t come on sticks, like it does in china.11Meat: main part of the main course.12Mint: the very last food---made with chocolate.13Cutlery: knives, forks and spoons are types of this.14Red: this wine accompanies meat.Gestures and behaviors1 if while you are driving, and waiting at a junction, a driver driving at 90” to you flashes his lights quickly, it is an indication that he will stopto let you out into the road.2 in Elizabethan England, when William Shakespeare was alive, it was true that putting your thumb in your mouth was a sign of disrespect, and if you did this, a fight would ensue.3 using a car horn in England can be very rude. Horns are used to indicate danger, but also to indicate if someone is angry with you.4 if men hold hands in England people think that are gay. If moment hold hands people think they are lesbians.5 If you meet an Englishman for the first time, you should not give him a firm handshake.6 if you spit near someone in England, you think they will interpret it that you want to fight.7 in England, people touch wood because they believe it is lucky.8 rolling your eyes upward is a sign that you think something is stupid. Is this true?9 if when someone is talking about someone, and they put their finger to the side of their head, does it mean that they think the person is clever or stupid?10 friendliness, fear, embarrassment, condescension, understanding can a smile communicate.11 putting your fingers in your nose is perfectly acceptable in England. N12 in England, people speak loudly in restaurants. N13 scratching your hair wildly is seen as a sign of frustration and anger, whereas stroking your hair slowly is a sign of calmness.14 putting one finger to your lips is a sign that you want someone to be quiet. Is this true?1 arm raised, open hand …waggles‟ back and forth. Come here.2 palm facing out with the index and middle fingers displayed in the shape of a …v‟. victory.3 thumb and forefinger form a circle with the other three fingers splayed upward. OK4 thumb up with a closed fist. Good5 extend the forefinger and make a circular motion near the ear. Crazy6 rubbing hands together. ??7 scratching the side of the head. Confused8 winking with one eye.9 putting the tongue out of the mouth. Horrible10 holding the nose with thumb and forefinger.11 yawning.12 stroking the chin.13 standing with feet wide apart, and hands in pockets.14men standing with one hand on their hip, the other arm forward with a limp wrist.15arms folded across the chest.16Moving the arms like the flapping of a chickens wings.Beauty standardsBeauty standards are reference points set by our culture which shape our opinions and understanding of beauty, usually with reference to age, size, race, height, outfit and overall physical appearance. Beauty standards achieve this through shaping aesthetic values of individuals in a society. In some cased beauty standards might have certain positive effects on an individual‟s health. As they involve emphasis on the body, they might force people to pay more attention to their bodies.But there are negative side to these standards. They impose limits on people. Societies are usually more concerned about the standards for women than men. singers are expected to conform to the standards more than doctors. Beauty standards shape our perceptions of sexuality, but they have little effect in decisions we make about intellectual, spiritual, political or religious matters. Sometimes other qualities, like a large intellect, can make up for a lack of physical beauty in people‟s eyes, but this may not bring happiness. For example, a scientist who doesn‟t look good may be highly valued by society, but people may not wish to have an intimate relationship with him.Beauty standards can cause pain. Examples of this are the foot binding practices of china, the medieval corset of Europe, and the modern day eating disorder anorexia. These situations usually only effect women.But in other cases, emotional damage can be caused by rhe common values that shape our understanding of what is beautiful. People who do not conform or who do not feel that they conform to the generally established and accepted standards might experience feelings of anxiety, loneliness, insecurity, and low self—esteem.Mostly, discrimination based on beauty standards is based on race and size, and might well affect a person‟s opportunities of social interaction, and even financial status, as these standards might get in the way of career growth.The most common physical and mental problems in the USASleep deprivation is one of the biggest problems in the united states. Nearly half of all Americans have difficulty sleeping because of busy schedules or insomnia. If has been proven that people who sleep fewer than six hours a night don‟t live as long as those who sleep seven hours or more. The national commission on sleep disorders estimates that sleep deprivation costs $150 billion a year in high stress and reduced workplace activity.Another enormous problem in America is obesity. For the vast majority of overweight people, obesity usually results from excess calorie consumption and inadequate physical activity. Unhealthy dietary habits and sedentary behavior together account for approximately 300000 deaths every year. In a survey conducted by the US department of agriculturebetween 1994 and 1996, only 3% of Americans are a healthy balance of grains, fruit, vegetables, dairy product and meats. In 1997 less than one—third of adults engaged in the recommended amount of physical activity ( at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day) and 40% of adults engaged in no leisure—time physical activity.The youth in America are becoming increasingly unhealthy. Almost 18% of under 20—year—olds are overweight, and 80% do do not eat the recommended servings of fruit and vegetables. Every day about 4000 Americans aged between 12—17 try their first cigarette. It is estimated that smoking causes 435000 deaths each ye in the United States. Alcohol abuse is the third leading preventable cause of death( 4% of the total deaths in 2000) and is a factor in approximately 41% of all deaths from motor vehicle crashes. Injury and violence is the leaning cause of death among youth aged 10—24 years: motor vehicle crashes (37% of all deaths), all other unintentional injuries (16%), homicide(18%), and suicide(13%). Each year, there are approximately 19 million new std infections in the US, and almost half of them are among youth aged 15 to 24. 34% of young women become pregnant at least once before they reach the age of 20.An estimated 22.1% of Americans aged 18 and over—about 1 in 5 adults—suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. The most common is depression. Nearly twice as many women as men sufferfrom depression. But four times as many men than women commit suicide. Schizophrenia is another common mental illness. It affects men and women with equal frequency.There are 3 main types of eating disorder: anorexia, bulimia, and binge—eating disorder. Females are much more likely than males to develop an eating disorder. In their lifetime, an estimated 0.5 to 3.7% of females suffer from anorexia, and an estimated 1.1 to 4.2% suffer from bulimia.Adhd is an increasing problem for children, with roughly 4% of under 18s being affected by it. The letters stand for …attention deficit hyperactivity disorder‟. Children affected find concentrating very difficult, and it is hard for them to sit still. It usually becomes evident in pre—school years, and it frequently persists into adolescence and occasionally into adulthood.Phobias, or irrational fears, are becoming more common in America. The most common is, surprisingly, an irrational fear of spiders---arachnophobia. Half of American women and 10% of American men suffer with this problem. The second largest fear is called social phobia. This is a fear of being evaluated negatively in social situations. This affects 3.7% of Americans every year. The third is aerophobia—a fear of flying. Three other strange phobias are: acrophobia, claustrophobia and agoraphobia. These are fears of heights, confinedspaces and being outdoors, respectively.Problems in the west1 In England, over 50% of 16 year—old have taken illegal drugs.2 Football hooliganism is slowly decreasing in England, but it‟s still a problem. Italy has lots of football hooliganism too.3 America has the biggest problem with poor literacy.4 Homophobia is the dislike of gay people. Gay people are often victimized in England, and the word gay is often used as an insult. In England it is legal for gay people to have sex if they are over 18.5 you should avoid town centers in England at 11.pm.6 skinheads are young men (and sometimes women) who are racist and like beating—up foreigners and immigrants. They have shaved heads, and often tattooed hands and faces. The trend started in England, but in Germany you are most likely to see them today.7 “Yardies”亚迪（牙买加人贩毒运毒集团成员）are dangerous gangs that import drugs into Europe. They are from Jamaica牙买加.8 Switzerland is the richest country in Europe.9 Italy is famous for it‟s previously corrupt governments.Introduction to the U.SThe USA is located in the southern Part of N. America and has a total area of 9,327,200 square kilometers. The USA is divided into three major geographic regions: the highlands in the east, the mountains in the west,and a vast plain in between, then two youngest of the 50 states of America are Alaska and Hawaii, which are far away from the continental United States.The largest river in the USA is the Mississippi, which has the Missouri river and the Ohio River as it‟s two main tributaries. The other important rivers are: the Hudson River, the Columbia River, the Colorado river, the saint Lawrence river and Rio Grande.The five great lakes are: Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, Lake Huron and Lake Ontario.The climate in the USA varies from extremely cold in Alaska to semitropical in southern Florida and Hawaii.The USA is rich in natural resources, such as fresh water, forests, minerals and metals.Washington D.C is the seat of the federal government of the USA.The continental United States stretches 4,500 kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean on the east to the Pacific Ocean on the west.It is the forth largest country in the world.1 The seat of the federal government of the USA. Washington2 the second largest city in the USA and the working class there has a glorious revolutionary tradition. Chicago3 the third among the largest cities in the USA and the largest city in the pacific coast. Los Angeles4 the fourth largest city and the birth place of the American declaration of independence. Houston5 the largest city and port in the USA and the seat of the United Nations. New York6 the second largest city in the pacific coast and has the largest Chinese settlement in the UAS. San Francisco7 it is called motor city, UAS, because it is the heart of America‟s car industry. Detroit8 it‟s called space city, USA, because N.A.S.A is based there. Houston9 it lies in Florida, America‟s sunshine state. MiamiThe differences between England, America and china1 Which of these of countries never successfully invaded England?A ScandinaviaB FranceC Italy Spain2 who are the most religious?A the ChineseB the BritishC the Americans3 in England, which class like to hunt foxes”A the working classB the middle classC the upper class4 which country invented the lawn mower割草机?A EnglandB ChinaC America5 in American English, the phrase “smoke a fag”mean “to shoot a homosexual”.6 in England you can identify a gay man by he wearing a gold earring.。
英语国家社会与文化入门2名词解释
英语国家社会与文化入门2名词解释第一篇：英语国家社会与文化入门2名词解释1.American IndiansAmerican Indians , who were mistakenly called by Columbus, moved to theAmericas from Asia about 25 000 years ago.They developed their own aboriginal cultures and some of them such as the Aztecs, the Incas and the mayas were very advanced when Europeans arrived in the New World.But, as a result of European conquest, the Indian population was quickly reduced and their cultures were ruthlessly destroyed.2.the Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence was mainly drafted by Thomas Jefferson and was adopted by the Congresson July 4,1776, when the people of 13 English colonies in North America were fighting fortheir freedom and independence from the British colonial rule.The documentdeclared that all men were equal and that they were entitled to have some unalienable rights such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.It also explained the philosophy of governments:the powers of governments came from the consent of the governed and the purpose of governmemts was to secure the rights mentioned above.The theory of politics and the guiding principles of the American Revolution mainly came from John Locke.3.Ggeorge WashingtonGeorge Washington was one of the founding fathers of the American Republic.He was the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army in the War of Independence against the Britishcolonial rule and the first President of the United States.4.Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson was one of the founding fathers of the American Republic He was the chief author of the Declaration of Independence and the third President of the United States.5.Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin was one of the founding fathers of the American Republic.He participated in writing the Declaration of Independence and making the U.S.Constitution.6.the Articles of ConfederationAfter the War of Independence was won, the new nation of the United States was organized under the agreement of the Articles of Confederation with a weak nationalgovernment called the Congress.Each state had its own government, made its own laws and handle its internal affairs.The states did not cooperate with the Congress and with each other.The Congress had no power to force anystate to contribute money to the national government and the Congress could not tax any citizen either.As a ressult,the Articles of Confederation failed.7.the Bill of RightsThe Bill of Rights consssists 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.8.Eli WhitneyEli Whitney is an American inventor who invented the cotton gin, which maderemoving the seeds from the bolls of cotton much easier.He also began manufacuring rifles with machinery, using interchanageable part.This contributed to the American systemof massproduction.9.service industriesService industries are industries that sell a service rather than make a product.Service industries range from banking to telecommunications to the provision of meals in restaurants.Aas more and more people are employed iin service industries in the US, it is sometimed said that the US has moved into a “post-industrial era “.10.stockWhen starting or expanding business, corporations need to borrow money.They may issue stocks for people to buy.When people buy stock, they become part owner of the company.If the company makes a profit, they receive a share of it.Likewise, if the company loses money, the stockholders will not make a profit or the value of their shares will drop---they lose money.Therefore buying s tock is a risk.11.Mattin Luther Ling,JrMartin Luther King,Jr.,an Atlanta-born Baptist minister, was the leader of theSouthern Christian Leadership Conference during the civil rights movement of the 1960s.To promote his philosophy of nonviolent protest against segregationand other kindds of social injustice, King organized a series of “marches”.King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.Due to his strong belief in nonviolent peaceful protest, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.He was assassinated in the city of Memphis in April 1968.12.Counter CultureIn the wake of the Free Speech Movement and the New Left appeared aphenomenon that historians called the “counter culture.” The Counter Culture rejected capitalism andd other American principles.They had morals different from those taught by theirparents.Some groups of youth tried to construct different ways of life.The counter culture exerted a great influence upon people’s attitudes toward socialmores,marriage,career,and success.13.Now:With the publication of The Feminine Mystique in 1963,Betty Friedan became the chief spokesperson of the Women’s Liberation Movement.In her book,she compared the American family,or the American society as a whole,to a “comfortable concentration camp”,where women were discriminated against and oppressed.In 1996,she helped to found the national Organization for Women(NOW).A reform organization,NOW battle for “equal rights in parnership with men.14.white-collar crimesWhite-collar crimes are those committed by higher income groups such as thecrimes of fraud,false advertising,corporate price fixing,bribery,embezzlement,industrial pollution,tax evasion and so on.Yet the statistics provided by the FBI tend to overrlook white-collar crimes.In fact,white-collarcrimes are often ignored by law enforcement agencies.Some sociologists aargue that the higher classes may actually have a higher rate of crime than the lower classes.15.the abuse of power by governmentPeople believe that public organizations in the United States sometimes work in concert to advance their own interests rather than those of the ernment in America is widely distrusted for the lack of answerability.Americans were convinced that the Johnson and Nixon administrations were deliberately and systematically lying to the people in the war against Vietnam and in the Watergate scandal.The FBI and the CIA are responsible for thousands of illegal acts.All these acts show the abuse ofpower by government.16.Richard NixonRichard Buxib was the former President of the United states… Iin the early 1970s, he was involved in the Watergate scandal, for which he was forced to resign from the presidency.17.the Prairies The prairie provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba lie east of the Rockies.The prairies are flat and featureless and have a harsh continental climate.They are called the breadbasket of Canada becaussse the land is well-suited to farming, and wheat is one of the biggest agricultural crops in this area.The praairies are also rich in energy resources.18.central Canada Central Canada, Ontario and Quebec, are the parts of the country that were first settled.They are the industrial heartland of the country and are also the most densely populated provincees.They have the largest cities like Toronto and Montreal.19.The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms The canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which was introduced in 1982, expressed the idea thaat any ethnic, racial and religious groups which wanted to retain their cultural identity would be supported by the federal government.This promise was further strengthened and explained in the 1988 Multiculturalism Act.20.Structures of governmeentCanada’s systerm of government is based on the British system of parliamentary democracy.Like Britain,Canada is a monarchy.The official head of state is the Queen, but she is represented by an official called a Governor General as she doesn’t live in Canada.Canada is a federation with ten provinces and two territories.The government of the country is referred to as “the federal government”,t o distinguish it from the lower level government of each province.21.Immigration Act 1976 The Immigration Act 1976 encouraged Asian immigration,offering passports to those with capital and entrepreneurial skills.Would-be immigrants with more than $250 000(Cdn)to invest in businesses that will create jobs and wealth wer welcomed to settle in Canada.This created a new category of ”entrepreneurial immigrants”.22.The Canadian Mosaic Canada is a nation of immigrants.When Canada is described as a mosaic, itmeaans that each if the immigrant groups do not have to throw off their oldd customs, languages and traditions, because there is no particular concept of an overarchingCanadian identity..This resembles a mosaic of different cultures which overlap but do not o verwhelm each other.23.“the First Nnations”The First Nations are the native tribes of aboriginal people who lived in Canada before the European explorers settled.They were officially referred to as “the FirstNations”because they are the original inhabita nts of the country, and because there is not one single group or culture----there are many”nations”,or tribes, which have different languages,customs and beliefs.24.migrant workersMany big farms hire temporary workers only for a specific chore---such as picking crops.Many of these seasonal workers travel from farm to farm,staying only until the cropss are picked…They are known as migrant workers.25.Samuel Slater In 1793,Samuel Slater built the first factory in the United States---a cotton cloth factory in Pawtuckket,Rhode Island.He built the factory from memory, because it was a crime to carry factory plant out of England.The success of his factory started a process ofchange that turned the northeastern region of the UnitedStates into an important manufacturing center and helped the nation become a major cotton producer.第二篇：英语国家社会与文化入门英语国家社会与文化入门节日⌝蒙特利尔爵士音乐节世界上最有名的国际爵士音乐节之一。
英语国家概况名词解释
英语国家概况名词解释VOA: It’s the abbreviation of the voice of America.It’s the American official international broadcasting. Station and it was established in 1942. It was controlled by the American government and subordinate to the American international communi cation. Bureau. VOA’s headquarter is located in Washington and it has 16 broadcasting stations. It’s programs are broadcasted by 41 languagesBBC: it’s the abbreviation of the British broadcasting corporation. It was established in1922, and it was moved and operated in 1927. It was financed by the government and it’s managed by the Minister of Posts and Telecommunication. And its program is broadcasted by 39 languages. It is also financed by the payment from all people who possess TV setsABC: it’s the abbreviation of the American Broadcasting Company.NBC: it’s stands for the National Broadcasting CompanyCNN: It’s the abbreviation of the Cable News NetworkQuality Newspaper:It’s one of the 2 types of British Newspapers. The Times, The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph all belong to this kind ofnewspaperTimes: It’s a very famous weekly magazine in the USA.It was founded in 1923. It has 5.5 million copies.Five Great lakes:These are the most important lakes in America,extending about 1600km and forming a section of the boundary between the United States and Canada. The Great Lakes include Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.Mississippi river:it is the second longest river, after the Missouri,in the United States and it is the largest river system in North America.The Severn River:it is the longest river in the UK,is 338km in length,beginning in Wales flowing through the Midlands of England and emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near BristolThe Mackenzie Ri ver: the major river in Canada.It’s 4241km long.Nickname of British people: John Bull. It’s originated from a book named History of John Bull.Nickname of American people: Uncle Sam.Boxing Day: it’s on the first work day after Christmas. This festival is celebrated in order to show the respect to those people sending newspaper and milk everyday.Constitutional Monarchy: Constitutional Monarchy: it’s the Political System of U.K. It was established at the end of the 17th century. The Monarch is hereditary, she or he reigns but does not rule the country, and it takes no part in policies. The monarch is just the symbol and the representative of the interest of people.Cabinet of Britain: the head of Cabinet of Britain is the Prime Minister, and the members of the cabinet are nominated by the Prime Minister and appointed by the MonarchParliament: Its headquarter is the Palace of Westminster. And it is divided into House of Loads and House of Commons. House of Load’s President called The Load Chancellor. It has the load temporal, the load spiritual and law loads. The House of loads sits in the south part of the Palace of West Minster.And the President of the House of Commons is called The Speaker. It sits at the Northern Part of the Palace of Westminster.Conservative Party: it was founded in 1833. It was originated from the Tory Party, it’s the party of right, and it represents monopolists’ interest.Labor Party: it was founded in 1900. After 1922, Labor party tool place the Liberal Party,becoming one of the two major parties in the UK. It’s a Bourgeois Party,socialism and nationalization.The prime Minister: the Prime Minister is the leader of UK Government. He lives in NO.10 Downing Street.The Prime Minister is the leader of the Party that holds the most seats in the House of Commons; he serves as the chief executive of the Government and performs the executive functions of the United Kingdom.White Hall: It’s the name of a street but it is the symbol of the U.K Government. It is the administrative center of the Britain,the official Building of the Prime Minister.Constitution of America: it was adapted in 1787. On Sept.17.1787, came into effect in 1789.it is the first comparatively complete written, constitution in the world. It consists of one short preamble, 7 articles and 26 amendmentsElection of the UK: it’s held every 5 years. Controlled by two major parties, it has 659 constituencies in2001 and 646 constituencies in 2005Congress: Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government. Law-making and supreme legislative body of the nation. It is divided into the senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate has 100 V oting members, 2 from each state. And the House of Representatives has 435 membersPentagon: It’s the official building of the USA National Defense Department, it is located in the Washington .D.C. It was attacked by terrorists in 2001.9.11CIA: It is the abbreviation of Central Intelligence Agency. It is the Executive office of the PresidentFBI: It’s t he abbreviation of the Federal Bream of Investigation. It is subordinate to the Department of JusticeAbraham Lincoln:He was the first president of the Republic Party in the U.S.A. And he was also the leader of the Civil War. He abolished theSlavery Policy. But was assassinated unfortunatelyFranklin Roosevelt: He is one of the most famous presidents in the U.S.A. He played an initial important role in the Great Depression in the 20th century. He saved the economic crisisThe War of Independence: It occurred in 1775, and in 1776.7.4. The Declaration of Independence was passed by the Continental Congress, which symbolizes the Independence of the U.S.A.The Civil War: It was led by Abraham Lincoln and it occurred in 1861. It was ended by the victory of Northern Army and then the Slavery Policy was abolished.Election of America: It was held every 4 years. The president candidates have to make speeches, debate and compete for more votes. If one of the president candidates has more than 270votes, he will win the election and he will make a speech again on the20th.January the next yearWhite House: it’s the settlement of the President and it’s situated in Washington. D.C.Democratic Party:it was founded in 1828.It’s symbol is Donkey Thomas Jefferson, is a famous president in Democratic Party.Republican Party:it was founded in 1854. The symbol is elephant,it’s a more conservative Party. Lincoln is the first republican president in 1860The Open University of UK:a degree granting institution that provides courses of study for adults of all ages through TV. Radio, produced books and so on. It opened in 1969, and was intended to give opportunities to adults who had been unable to take conventional higher education.The Boat race: it was a result of a challenge issued to Oxford by Cambridge in 1829.A Level of GC5: A level of General Certificate of Educationanswer two of the following questions.1.Talk about the two systems of secondary education in Great Britain. Selective system and comprehensive systemSelective system: is an old unreasonable system. It’s now totally abolished. The Eleven Plus: the result is very importantIt contains The grammar school, Technical schools and Secondarymodern schoolscomprehensive system was established before 1960.It is a given district, regardless of their background and intelligence system.O students graduated from it can gain a level of the General Certificate of Education (GCE), in 16 or 182.What are the three main principles for the political system of USA?1.Federalism2.The Separation of Powers3.Respect for the Constitution and the rule of law3.What is the procedure of making-laws in America?1. The first houseIntroduce a bill or legislative proposalSent to an appropriate legislative committeeThe recommendations of the bill are reported to the house by the committee (the House of Representatives and the Senate are divided into small groups which take care of special matters such as education or foreign affairs. )2. The second house do the same thing like the first house3. Goes to the White House for presidential actionWhat is the procedure of making-laws in Britain?A bill will begin in the House of Commons, After the period of three readings in the House of Commons, the House of Lords does the same and finally it goes to the Queen for her signature.3 readings:The 1st reading: introduce a billhe 2nd reading: the bill is read in detail, a vote is taken by the whole House, the bill is sent to a committee for a detailed examinationThe 3rd reading: short debate before the whole house5.What is quality newspaper in Great Britain?Quality Newspaper were Founded before 1896And Contain political, industrial, financial and cultural news in the U.K. and international news as well.Their Characteristic Lengthy articles and have an undramatic design.What are the features of British newspaper?British newspapers are characterized by freedom of speech, freedom of the press.What are the features of American newspaper?The United States newspaper features is rich in content, do not belong to any political party and lots of advertisements.8.How many types of higher educational institutions are there in America? What are they?1. Two-year college: community collegeMaster’s degree2. Four-year college: college of arts and scienceBA : Bachelor of ArtsBS : Bachelor of ScienceDoctor’s degree3. Universities: comprehensive and complexDoctor’s degree9.What are the two features of the old universities in Britain?Oxford University: 1167 , artsCambridge University: 1284, scientific studiesCollege System 学院制Tutorial System 大学导师制What are the common features of the Canadian educational system?Free schooling available throughout Canada from kindergarten (age 5) to grade 12(grade 13 in Ontario and grade 11 in Quebec).School attendance is compulsory from the age of 6 or 7 to 14 or 16.The elementary schools include kindergarten through grades 6 to 8. Secondary or high schools provide instruction up to grades 9 or 10 or 12.The provincial governments have the power in the field of education. The thirteen education systems are established by 13 legislatures of the provinces and territories. The 13 educational systems are unique in their own ways.第三大题，explanation一.VOA：voice of American，1942，founded by government, American International Communication Bureau, Washington, 16 broadcasting stations,（广播站）41 languages.BBC；the British Broadcasting Corporation, 1922, 1927, the governmentand the Minister of Posts and Telecommunication, 39 languages, financed by payment from all people who possess TV sets。
英语国家概况名词解释
英语国家概况名词解释第一篇：英语国家概况名词解释Terms1.A-level: General Certificate of Education Advanced Level referred to as A-level, It is a British general secondary education certificate examination’ advanced courses, is the British national curriculum system, and the students of the university entrance exam courses.2.bible: The Bible is the holy book of Christianity.It consists of two testaments.The Old T estament contains the Jewish writings before the coming of Christ.The much shorter New Testament contains four accounts(“gospel”)of the life of Christ, followed by the writings of the early Christians, of whom St Paul was the greatest.3.WASP:White Anglo-Saxon Protestant of the original meaning is to point to the United States in power elite group and its culture, customs and moral behavior standard, can now be referring to the European American Protestant people.This group has a huge economic and political power, American society and for the most part of the upper middle class.Despite the increasingly diverse American society, but their cultural, moral and value orientation is to a great extent, affects the development of the United States.4.Independence Day: commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States celebrating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.5.wall street:Wall Street is the financial district of New York City, named after and centered on the eight-block-long, 0.7 miles(1.1 km)long street running from Broadway to South Street on the East River in Lower Manhattan.Over time,the term has become a metonym for the financial markets of the United States as a whole, the American financial sector(even if financial firms are not physically located there), or signifying New York-based financial interests.Wall Street is the home of the New York Stock Exchange, the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies.Several other major exchanges have or had headquarters in the Wall Street area, including NASDAQ, the New York Mercantile Exchange, the New York Board of Trade, and the former American Stock Exchange.Anchored by Wall Street, New York City has been called the world's principal financial center.6.Hollywood:is a district in the central region of Los Angeles, California, in the United States.It is notable for its place as the home of the entertainment industry, including several of its historic studios.Its name has come to represent the motion picture industry of the United States.Hollywood is also a highly ethnically diverse, densely populated, economically diverse neighborhood and retail business district.Hollywood was a small community in 1870 and was incorporated as a municipality in 1903.It merged with the City of Los Angeles in 1910, and soon thereafter a film industry began to emerge, eventually becoming dominant in the world.7.Pilgrim Fathers: is a name commonly applied to early settlers of the Plymouth Colony inpresent-day Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States.Their leadership came from the religious congregations of Brownist English Dissenters who had fled the volatile political environment in England for the relative calm and tolerance of 16th–17th century Holland in the Netherlands.Concerned with losing their cultural identity, the group later arranged with English investors to establish a new colony in North America.8.GreatCharter:Magna Carta(Latin for Great Charter), also called Magna Carta Libertatum or The Great Charter of the Liberties of England, is an Angevin charter originally issued in Latin in June 1215.It was sealed under oath by King John at Runnymede, on the bank of the River Thames near Windsor, England at June 15, 1215.Magna Carta was the first document forced onto a King of England by a group of his subjects, the feudal barons, in an attempt to limit his powers by law and protect their rights.Question:Melting pot: is a metaphor for a heterogeneous society becoming more homogeneous, the different elements “melting together” into a harmonious whole with a common culture.It is particularly used to describe the assimilation of immigrants to the United States.The melting-together metaphor was in use by the 1780s.The exact term “melting pot” came into general usage in the United States after it was used as a metaphor describing a fusion of nationalities, cultures and ethnicities in the 1908 play of the same name.Separation of powers: Separation of Powers(三权分立)is the basic of thewestern capitalist countries.The origin of the principle of separation of powers can be traced back to(追溯到)the period of Aristotle(亚里士多德时期).It is proposed to avoid the abuse of power(滥用权力).The US Government is divided into three branches so that no one branch has all the power.Each branch has its own purpose:Legislative Branch(立法机构)— to make laws;Executive Branch(行政机构)—to executive laws;Judicial Branch(司法)—interpret the laws;Civil war(U.S.): was a civil war fought from 1861 to 1865, after seven Southern slave states declared their secession and formed the Confederate States of America(the “Confederacy” or the “South”, which grew to include eleven states).The states thatremained in the Union were known as the “Union” or the “North”.The war had its origin in the frac tious issue of slavery, especially the extension of slavery into the western territories.Foreign powers did not intervene.After four years of bloody combat that left over 600,000 soldiers dead and destroyed much of the South's infrastructure, the Confederacy collapsed, slavery was abolished, and the difficult Reconstruction process of restoring national unity and guaranteeing civil rights to the freed slaves began.Presidential Election: is an indirect vote in which citizens cast ballots for a slate of members of the U.S.Electoral College;these electors in turn directly elect the President and Vice President.Presidential elections occur quadrennially(the count beginning with the year 1792)on Election Day, the Tuesday between November 2 and 8, coinciding with the general elections of variousother federal, states and local races.The most recent was the 2012 election, held on November 6.The next election will be the 2016 election, which will be held on November 8, 2016.British Newspaper culture: Traditionally, UK newspapers could be split into more serious-minded newspapers, usually referred to as the broadsheets due to their large size, and sometimes known collectively as “the quality press ”, and less serious newspapers, generally known as tabloids , and collec tively as “the popular press”, which have tended to focus more on celebrity coverage and human interest stories rather than political reporting or overseas news.Democracy with a constitutional monarchy : Initially after the American and French revolutions, the question was open whether a democracy, in order to restrain unchecked majority rule, should have an élite upper chamber, the members perhaps appointed meritorious experts or having lifetime tenures,or should have a constitutional monarch with limited but real powers.Some countries(as The United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Scandinavian countries, Thailand, Japan and Bhutan)turned powerful monarchs into constitutional monarchs with limited or, often gradually, merely symbolic roles.Often the monarchy was abolished along with the aristocratic system(as in France, China, Russia, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Italy, Greece and Egypt).Many nations had élite upper houses of legislatures which often had lifetime tenure, but eventually these lost power(as in Britain)or else became elective and remained powerful.Industrial Revolution: was the transition to new manufacturing processes in the period from about 1760 to sometime between 1820 and 1840.This transition included going from hand production methods to machines, new chemical manufacturing and iron production processes, improved efficiency of water power, the increasing use of steam power, and the development of machine tools.It also included the change from wood and other bio-fuels to coal.第二篇：英美国家概况名词解释等1.The civil rights movementIt is one of the most important of all social movements in the 1960s in America.Rosa Parks’ spontaneous action in 1955 was believed to the true beginning of the civil rights movement.The black students’ sit-in at a department lunch counter in North Carolina touched off the nationwide civil rights movement.During the first half of the decade, civil rights organizations like the SNCC,CORE,and SCLC struggled for racial intergration by providing leaderships,network and the people.In the latter half of the decade, some black organizations changed their nonviolent tactics, and emphasized on more radical meansto end discrimination and raised the self-image of the blacks.The civil rights movement produced such great leaders as Martin Luther King.Jr, and Malcolm X, who inspired a generation of both blacks and whites to devote their lives to fighting for racial equality in th US.2.A federal system【联邦制】It is one in which power is shared between a central authority and its constiuent parts, with some rights reserved to each.3.King ArthurIt is said that he was the King of England in the 5th century and united the British and drove the Saxons back with his magica sword,Excalibur.His real existence is in doubt.He is the central figure of many legends.4.The Anglo-SaxonsThey were two groups of Germanic peoples who settled down in England from the 5th century.They were regarded as the ancestors of the English and the founders of England.5.Riverdance[大河舞] It is a very popular form of dancing based on Ireland’s intricate[错综复杂的]folk dances which are rearranged and modernized and adapted onto current stage performance.Dancing is traditionally part of Irish culture.It is usually accompanied by the Irish pipe and fiddle.The music usually sounds fast and furious.Most of the actionis from the waist down, with the arms held rigidly at the sides.6.The House of CommonsIt is 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.7.The Commonwealth【英联邦】In the author’s opinion, the Commowealth is a voluntary association of states which is made up mostly of former Britishcolonies.There are 50 members of the Commonwealth: many of these are developing countries like India and Cyprus;others are developed nations like Australia,Canada and New Zealand.The Commonwealth was set up as a form for continued cooperation and as a sort of support network.8.MaoritangaIt is the Maori word for “Maori culture.” It refers to all the elements of the rich cultural heritage of the indigenous people in New Zealand, including their language, customs and traditions,9.The “Washminster” form polityIt is adopted by the Australian government.It is a mixture of the US Washington system of government and the British Westminster system.This means that the political structure of the government is base on a Federation of States with a three-tier system of government.However, the chief executive is a Prime Minister, instead of a President as in the US system.10.Yellowstone National ParkIt is the oldest and one of the largest national parks in the US.It is named after the Yellowstone River that flows through the area.It is known for its geysers and hot springs among other natural wonders.counterculture[反主流文化]In the wake of the Free Speech Movement and the New Left, there appeared a phenomenon that historians called the “counterculture”.The counterculture rejected capitalism and other Americans principles.They had morals different from those taught by their parents.Some group of youth tried to construct different ways of life,.Among the most famous were the hippies.They thought new experience through dropping out, and drug taking.But it was music,rock music particular, that became the chief vehicle for the counter cultural assault on the traditional American society.The counterculture exerted a great influenceupon people’s attitudes tow ard social morals, marriage, career and success.Martin Luther King, Jr.A black Baptist minister, he was leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference during the civil rights movements of the 1960s.To promote his philosophy of nonviolent protest against segregation and other kinds of social injustice, King organized a series of “marches”, including the march on Washington of August 1963, when King delivered his famous “ I Have a Dream” speech.As a civil rights leader, King worked not only to end racial discrimination and poverty, but also to raise the self image of the blacks.Due to his strong belief in non-violent peaceful protest, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Price in 1964.He was assassinated in the city of Memphis in April 1968.13．Richard NixonRichard Nixon was the former President of the United States.He won the elction in 1968 and was re-elected in 1972.While he was in office, he contributed to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the US and China and visited China in 1972.Shortly after he was re-elected ,he was involved in theWatergate scandal,for which he was forced to resign from the presidency.1.Explain your understanding of how the United States is governed according to its constitution, including its polity and the check and balance mechanism of governing.if Congress proposes a law that the president think is unwise, the president can veto it.That means the proposal does not became law.Congress can enact the law despite the president’s views only if two-thirds of the members of both houses vote in favor of it.If Congress passes a low which is the challenged in the courts as unconstitutional, the Supreme Court has the power to declare the law unconstitutional and therefore no longer in effect.Thepresident has the power to make treaties with other nations and to make all appointments to federal positions,including the position, of Supreme Court justice.The Senate,however,must approve all treaties and confirm all appointments before they become official.In this way the Congress can prevent the president from making unwise appointments.2.How do you understand the saying: ”British history has been a history of invasion.” ?Before the 1st century AD Britain was made up of many tribal kingdoms of Celtic people:a powerful cultural originating in central Europe.Then in 43AD Britain was invaded by Roman Empire, and England and Wales became part of the Roman Empire for nearly400 years.As the Roman Empire came under threat from the east, the Roman armies and Roman protection were withdrawn from Britain, and Britain was again divided into small kindoms, andagain it came under threat from outside, this time from Germanic peoples:the Angles,and the Saxon.In the 5th century AD it is said that a great leader-King Arthur appeared, united the British, and with his magical sword, Excalibur,drove the Saxons back.whatever Arthur’s success,legend or not,it did not last,for the Anglo-Saxons did succeed in invading Britain,and either absorbed the Celticpeople,or pushed them to the western and northern edges of Britain.From the late 8th century on, raiders from Scandinavia, the ferocious Vikings, threatened Britain’s shores.Their settlements in England grew until large areas of northern and eastern England were under their control.1066, the Normans, from northern France, whowere descendants of Vikings.Under William of Normandy they cross the English Channel and in the Battle of Hastings, defeated an English armyunder King Harold.This marks the last time.that an army from outside the British Isles succeeded in invading3.Your understanding of the characteristics of American religion and its social functionsFirst of all, American with different religions live together under the same law.The Bill of Rights in the US Constitution insists that there should be no state religion.That means that the government has no right to interfere in people’s religious affairs.The freedom of religion and the separation of state and church guaranted in the Constitution is believed to be the basic principles against religious persecution.Secondly,the religious beliefs of Americans continue to be strong with social progress.Every Sunday morning, all over America people pour into the churches.Half of American Protestants are active church members, and there are few who habitually stay away.Not only the Catholic churches,but the Protestant ones too,are flourishing,and new ever-growing suburbs.Through all the social and economic changes religion has remained a constant factor.Thirdly,in the united states every church is a completeluy independent organization,and concerned with its own finance and its own building.if one goes to a Protestant church,he or she will hear morality preached,but not a word of doctrine.Churches and religious sects are expressions of group solidarity rather than of rigid adherence to doctrine.第三篇：国家概况名词解释与问答题汇总--美国英语国家概况名词解释与问答题汇总Unit One GeographyTerms:1.The Star-spangled Banner(the flag)2.The Yellowstone National Park3.Mount Rushmore National Memorial4.The Great Lakes5.The Grand Canyon 删除6.Mississippi River删除Questions:1.Please list five famous buildings or things in New York City.Unit Two HistoryTerms:1.The Declaration of Independence2.The Bill of Rights3.The Boston Tea Party4.Thomas Jefferson5.Monroe Doctrine6.Gold Rush7.Uncle T om’s Cabin删除8.The American Civil War9.Abraham Lincoln10.Westward Movement11.Progressive Movement12.The lost generation13.The Monkey Trial删除14.The Great Depression 15.Franklin Roosevelt16.Lend-lease Bill删除17.The Beat Generation删除18.The Civil Rights Movement19.Martin Luther King, Jr.Questions:1.What were the reasons for people to found colonies in North America?2.What do you know about the War of Independence(reasons, process, and significance)?3.How was American Constitution established and what doyou know about it?4.5.6.7.8.What do you know about Monroe Doctrine? What do you know about the U.S.-Mexican War and its result? What do you know about the Civil War(reasons, process, and significance)? What do you know about the Progressive Movement? What kind of changes did modern America experienced at the beginning of the 20th century?9.What do you know about World War One and America’s policy during the war?10.The target of the Progressive Movement was trust and monopoly.What were the negative effects brought by monopoly?11.What were the nature and effects of WW I?12.What do you know about Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal?13.“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government….”Who is the writer and what is the name of the document?What is the historical background of the document and how did it come into being?Unit Three American IdentityTerms:1.Hispanics(Latinos)2.Model minority3.Melting potQuestions:1.Why America is called “a nation of immigrants”?2.What contributions did immigrants make to America?(Please list at least three points of views)Unit Four Political InstitutionTerms:1.The checks and balances2.CongressQuestions: 1.What are the US government principles?2.What do you know about the Presidential election in America?Unit 5 EconomyQuestions:1.What is the most striking characteristic of the American economy in terms of its diversity?2.When did service industries in the U.S.experience rapid growth? How significant is the service industry in the American economy?Unit 8 EducationTerms:1.Harvard College2.Ivy League Questions1.How have the goals and purposes of education in the U.S.evolved over time? Trance them briefly.Unit 9 Religion Questions:1.In your opinion, why do so many Americans want to keep “In God We Trust” on their currency?2.How did American religion become pluralistic and diversified?第四篇：2014英语国家概况判断题In the early 20th century, those dominating American life were mostly WASPs.正确In the US, scientific and economic advance and rising material progress have been accompanied by a decline in religious observance.错误The title of Prince of Wales is held by a Welsh according to tradition.错误In Britain, class and educational differences are reflected in the newspaper people read.正确The world' s oldest daily newspaper is The Observer.错误Horse racing is the true royal sport.正确Under a Constitutional Amendament passed in 1951, a president can be elected to only one term.错误The state of Hawaii is a big island in the central Pacific Ocean 错误.Most British people are Protestants while most Irish people are Catholics.正确There is more violence in the US than in other industrialized countries.正确According to the textbook, larger American universities are always better, and more desirable universities are always more expensive错误.Harvard College was originally founded to train government officials.错误“ We Shall Overcome!” is a very famous song during the 1960s.错误The largest of the racial and ethnic minorities in the US now is the blacks, or Afro-Americans.错误Drug abuse in the US has come to be regarded as one of the most challenging social problems facing the nation.错误Yellowstone National Park is the oldest national park in the US正确.John F.Kennedy was the first Catholic elected as the USpresident正确.The theory of poltiics of the American Revolution came from John Locke, a French philosopher in the 17th century.错误Britain has a written constitution like most countries.错误Queen Elizabeth II is both the head of the state and the head of government in the UK.错误Secrecy is an important part of the voting process.正确 The Labour Party is the oldest party in the UK.错误By the early 1760s, the 13 English colonies in North America were ready to separate themselves from Europe.正确The British state actively interferes with the decision of when,where, how and what children are taught.错误The tradition of having Sunday off derived from the Christian Church.正确It takes at least four years to get a bachelor' s degree from an institution of higher education in the US.正确You must have the A-level qualification to enter British university.错误Britain is no longer an imperial country.正确Scotland was never conquered by the Romans.正确A great moment for the civil rights movement was the March on Washington on August, 1963 when President Kennedy gave the famous “ I Have a Dream” speech.错误It is not very difficult to generalize about the American way of life.错误The most exciting moment in baseball game is a homerun.正确 Most people in Scotland speak the old Celtic language, called “ Gaelic”.错误The British media play an important role in shaping a national culture.正确To advertise in a British newspaper, the only thing you have to worry about is the cost.错误Easter is the biggest and best loved British holiday.错误When the War of Independence was over, the US was on unified nation as it is today.错误The 10 very short paragraphs which guarantee freedom and individual rights and forbid interference with lives of individuals by the government are called the Bill of Rights.正确Super Bowl will decide the champion baseball team of the year in the US.错误Ireland is part of Great Britain错误The Good Friday Agreement was approved on 10 April 1998.正确 Critics of the affirmative action programs are of the opinion that this results in reverse discrimination.正确The anti-war teach-in by white students in Berkeley began the civil rights movement in the 1960s.错误When the civil rights movement began, non-violent, direct action tactics like “ sit-ins” and boycotts were he chief vehicle for social protest.正确George Washington, Banjamin Franklin, and Abraham Lincoln were regarded as the founing fathers of the USA.错误Hollywood films give the wrong impressions that all Americans are rich.正确Thre are more than 100 Protestants sects in the US today.正确Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492.正确It is commonly believed that Boxing Day involved the sport of boxing.错误It is no doubt that Britain is the oldest representativedemocracy in the world.正确The British Prime Minister is directly elected by the people.错误According to the textbook, there are two major political parties in the UK.错误The Conservative Party is the party that spent most time in power正确.The purpose of British education is not only to provide children with literacy and the other basic skills but also to socialize children.正确All secondary schools in Britain are run and supervised by the government.错误The Open Univeristy uses many non-traditional ways to teach students, such as TV and radio broadcasts, correspondence, videos, and a network of study centers.正确The stereotype of the English gentleman never applied to the majority of the British people.正确Scotland was unified with England through violent means.错误 Segregating blacks into separate schools was unconstitutional after the decision of the Supreme Court in 1954.正确The US was founded on the principle of human equality, and in reality the nation has lived up to that ideal.错误第五篇：英语国家概况选择题Chapter1 1.The two main islands of the British Isles are A.不列颠群岛的两个主要岛屿是A.Great Britain and Ireland C.Great Britain and WalesB.Great Britain and ScotlandD.Great Britain and England 2.B is the capital city of Scotland.是苏格兰的首府A.BelfastB.EdinburghC.AberdeenD.Cardiff 3.Among the four parts ofthe United Kingdom, D is the smallest.在英国的四个部分中，是最小的A.England IrelandB.ScotlandC.WalesD.Northern 4.English belongs to the C group of Indo-European family of languages.英语属于印欧语系语系A.CelticB.Indo-IranianC.GermanicD.Roman 5.The introduction of Christianity to Britain added the first element of D words to English.基督教传入英国，增加了英语的第一个元素。
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