英美概况上期末复习.docx

英美概况期末复习

一、名词解释

1、Prime Minister 首相

The Prime Minister is the number-one minister of all the British ministers. After a general election, the leader of the party that has won the majority of the seats in the House of Commons will be appointed Prime Minister by the monarch. The Prime Minister is the head of the British Government and is rather powerful in making appointments. The Prime Minister not only controls the Cabinet but also the Parliament

2、British Parliament 英国议会

The British Parliament comprises 3 elements --------- the Monarch, the House of Lords, and the House of Commons. In law, the Monarch is the official head of the Parliament; the two House are separate and equal. In reality, the Monarch is nothing but the symbolic part, the real power in passing laws is held mainly by the House of Commons. The British Parliament has the supreme legislative authority in the United Kingdom?

3、The Speaker 议长

The chief officer of the House of Commons is the Speaker, who is also known as the president of the Chambe匚The Speaker is elected by the House of Commons, but normally only after the party leaders have privately agreed beforehand on a particular person. Once elected, he can hold the position until his retirement when he will be made a pee匚Though he may belong to one of the political parties, the Speaker has to give up all party loyalties. He is next only to the Prime Minister in rank. The Speaker never votes except when the votes are equal. Then he gives the deciding vote.

4、Question Time 质询时间

Every day when the Commons meets, they begin their meeting with a "Question Time,M which is an hour of parliamentary time after prayers and some preliminaries. During the "Question Time"

ministers, in rotation, answer questions put to them on matters for which they are responsible? The questions are put forward by MPs and usually handed in beforehand?After the "Question Time”

follows the main debate of the day.

5、The "Three Readings"三独

The process of passing it is similar in both of the Houses. According to a long-established practice, it must have three "readings^. In the Commons, it has the "first reading9' on introduction announcing its coming forward? After a debate on its general principles and merits, it receives the "second reading^. At the end of the debate on the "second reading^, a vote is taken. Next the bill receives the "third reading^.

6、Jury陪审团

A Jury is a body of responsible, impartial citizens who are called to hear evidence in a law court and

bound under oath to give an honest answer based on the evidence to question put before them. A Jury normally comprises 12 jurors, but in Scotland it consists of 15 people. In the United Kingdom all people between the ages of 18 and 65 or 70 whose names are on the electoral register can be chosen to serve on a jury except the ineligible? Their names are chosen by lot. Those who are chosen cannot refuse jury service? The jury decides whether the defendant is guilty or not in jury trials.

7、By—elections 递补选举

When an MP dies or resigns, or becomes a peer, his seat in the House of Commons is vacant? Then a by一election is held to fill the vacancy? A by一election is a local election. It is usually regarded as

a test of national opinion in the period between general elections.

8、Public Schools 公立大学

"Public schools二the best—known of the independent schools in Great Britain, are secondary boarding schools preparing students academically for higher education, typically at Oxford or Cambridge University and ultimately for leadership in English life.

9、The "Eleven Plus"

Before 1965, after having finished their primary school education, pupils had to take a traditional selection test for entry to different types of secondary schools?It became known as the “Eleven Plus” for most children entered secondary schools shor什y after their 1 l lh birthday. Those who had got high marks went to grammar schools, and the rest, by far the majority, went to technical or secondary modern schools.

10、The College System 学院制

The administration of the university is the responsibility taken by their own governing councils?The universities decide the matters such as the prescription of syllabi, the arrangement of lectures, the conduct of examinations, and the award of degrees but the colleges are fairly independent. They are controlled by their own governing bodies, and all the colleges are parallel and equal institutions.

By this college system, all students live in college during at least part of their course?

11、The Tutorial System 导师制

The tutorial system is a system of individual tuition which is organized by the college? It is a way of teaching in these two universities. By this tutorial system, each student gets personal tuition once

a week in his tutor's own room? This, with a weekly programme of private study is considered so

important that students are not even compelled to attend general lectures. Students are free to choose the lectures they like? Any one from any college may attend the university lectures.

12、The Redbrick Universities 红砖大学

The redbrick universities refer to all universities founded between 1850and 1930. They were called "redbrick" because that was the favourite building material of the time? The University of London and Durham University included in this group?

13、The Open University 开放大学

The Open University was founded in 1969. It is a major innovation in the academic world providing

a second chance for those who missed the opportunity for higher education at the age of 18 or

thereabouts. The Open University offers tuition to degree standard to anyone who chooses to register.

Unlike students in the other universities, they pay no boarding fees for the live at home? After the end of their studies they take an examination. The successful students are granted a university degree.

14、The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)英国广播公司

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a state—owned corporation. As a public service body, the present BBC was incorporated by the Royal Charter inn 1927 replacing the then British Broadcasting Corporation, a consortium of receiving equipment manufacturers established in 1992 to provide radio broadcasting service on a regular basis. The BBC's regular television broadcasting service began in 1936? From 1927 to 1955 the BBC remained a monopoly of radio broadcasting,

and later television broadcasting in Great Britain. Now, the BBC controls five national radio services,

37 local radio stations and 2 national television channels.

15、U nion Jack/Union Flag 英国国旗

Union Jack/Union Flag is the national banner of the United Kingdom. It contains three crosses: St.

George\ Cross, standing for the English people; St. Andrew's Cross, representing the Scottish people;

and St. Patrick's Cross, for the Irish people. The first design was created in the 13th century, the ultimate design was settled in 1801.

16、J ohn Bull约翰牛(特指英国或者英国人)

John Bull is the nickname of the United Kingdom? It is a household word in Britain? It represents English people? The name came from a book The History of John Bull by a Scottish. Now John Bull is regarded as a jovial, honest, solid and foursquare^ farmer.

17、B ritish Isles不列颠群岛

British Isles is a geographical term- It refers to an area including the two big islands, Great Britain and Ireland and many small islands between them and around them? Two countries are located there: Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland?

18、O ld English 古英语

Old English is also known as An gio—Saxon. It is the term given to the language in its earliest written stage dating from 700 to 1150.Old English is a blend of German dialects spoken by the An gios, the Saxo ns and the Jutes. It is different from Modern English in phonology, morphology, spelling conventions, and syntax?

19、M iddle English 中世纪英语

The time: Middle English covered the time span from 1150 to 1500.The importance: The Middle English era was the era in which Britain broke the firm control of the Normans and became independent from France.The features of Middle English: It underwent greater changes than both Old English and Modern English A). The long bilingual phase in English history had exerted a profound effect on the structure of English, indirectly in its morphology and syntactic practice; and directly in its vocabulary?B) The great changes in this era made English become an analytic language instead of a synthetic one. C) Standard Pronunciation took shape by the end of the 14th century?

20、T he Established Churches

The Established Churches are the churches which are "legally recognized as official churches of the state：There are two established churches?the Church of England and the Church of Scotland. 21、T he Church of England

The Church of England is also called the Anglican Church. It is the national church of England.The Church of England has two provinces?Each province comprises some dioceses. A diocese is composed of many deaneries. A deanery is subdivided into many parishes.Though the Church of England is a national church, it is not financed by the state. The Church supports itself financially?It has its own properties, stocks and shares, and it receives endowment.The Church of England is Protestant in nature?

22、T he Church of Scotland

In Scotland, the established church is the Church of Scotland? Il derived its status as the national

church from The Treaty of Union 17O7.The government and nature of the Church. It is Presbyterian in church government and Calvinist (a branch of Protestantism) in nature.The central governing body is the General Assembly, in which the monarch is represented by the Lord High commissioner.

Below the General Assembly is the Court of the Synod, then comes the Court of presbytery, and fin ally the Kirk Session.

23、T he Free Churches 自由教会

Generally, The Free Churches refer to the non—onformist churches in England? The members of the Free churches are the "dissenters" as they are originally called. After the reformation in the 16th century, many Protestants separated from the Church of England (because they thought that the Church of England had not completely ridded of itself of the rules and practices of the Church of Rome.) and threw away all the Roman rules and formed the free churches of their own. Now in the Free Churches there are no archbishops and bishops and the churches are bare, and services are simple?

24、B ritish Cabinet 英国公民

British Cabinet is a committee of important ministers, departmental or non-departmental. It came into being in the late 17th and early 18th centuries? And it emerged out of the Privy Council when the body grew to large for effective discussion. The Cabinet today is composed of about 20 ministers headed by the Prime Ministe匚But the number of the members is not fixed. In time of emergency or in the war time, the Cabinet is usually small in order to make decisions effectively.

二、填空

I、 The official name of Great Britain is The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland .

2> The Union Flag is composed of 3 (St. Geonge's Cross. St. Andrew's Cross- St. Patrick's Cross)

crosses,

3s The national song in Britain is God Save the Oueen(Kin2)?

4^ Of all four parts in Britain, Engkind is largest in area.

5、The Republic of Ireland is the only land neighbour to Great Britain.

6、The British Isles is composed of two big islands: Great Britain and Ireland ?

7^ In topography, traditionally, Great Britain is divided into two parts: a Highland Zone and a Lowland Zone ?

8、The Pennines is called Backbone of England ?

9、There live g peoples in Britain.

10、T he pre-Celts were the Iberians and Beaker Folk ?

II、A part from English, Welsh and Gaelic are spoken in Britain.

12、The English language belongs to the Germanic branch of Indo—European language family.

13、English is one of the even smaller divisions of Low West Germanic and it is descended from Old

English

14^ Modern English is mainly the marriage of Anglo—Sax on and Norma n? French ?

15、Old English is also known as An21o?Saxon ?

16> It is in the stage of Middle English that English became an analytic language instead of a synthetic

one.

17^ Johnson's A Dictionary of the English Lan^ua^c is taken as the first English dictionary.

18、T oday, English is the closest thing to a “lingua franca”, an in ternational language ?

19、I n the year 597 , St. Augustine was sent by Pope Gregory I to spread Christianity in

Eng land ?

20、T here are two established churches in Britain ■一the Church of England and the Church of

Scotland .

21、T he Church of England is Protestant in nature?

22> The Church of Scotland is Presbyterian in church government and Calvinist in doctrine.

23、T he British government is usually called Her Majesty's Government ?

24、T he British Prime Minister lives and works in Number 10 Downing Street .

25、T he tenure of office for the British Prime Minister is 5 years ?

26 > The British Cabinet emerged out of the Priv# Council .

27、T he present monarch in Britain is Oucen Elizabeth II ?

28、T he official birthday of the Queen Elizabeth is celebrated on Thursday of the second week in

June .

29、T he British Parliament I composed of 3 elements.

30、T he life of British Parliament lasts 5 years,

31、T he life of the British Parliament is divided into sessions ?

32^ The British parliament is the “Mother of Parliaments”and it is the oldest Parliament?

33、The House of Lords consists of the Lords Spiritual and Lords Temporal.

34> The House of Lords is presides over by the Lord Speaker .

35、T he head of Lower House in Britain is the Speaker ?

36、T he head of the British central government is The Prime Minister .

37^ The head of state in Britain is the monarch ?

38、The two major political parties in Britain are the Conservative Party and the Labour Party.

39> The Conservative Party developed from the Independent Labour Party .

40、T he Labour Party is the successor of the Tories ?

41、T he general election in Britain is held every 5 years.

42、I n each constituency a suitable person is appointed as a Returning officer , an official in charge of

a parliamentary election.

43 > After general election in Britain the party in opposition forms a Shadow Cabinet .

三、问答题

1、Whaf the official name of Britain?

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

2> How many popular names do you know about the country?

3? England> Great Britain > Britain

How much do you know about the British Isles?

It is a geographical term. It refers to an area including the two big islands, Great Britain and Ireland and many small islands between them and around them. Two countries are located there: Great

Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

4. What is the national song of Britain? God Save the Queen/God Save the King

5x How many parts does Britain contain? 4. Engla nd、Scotia nd、Wales Northern Ireland

6> What is the only land neighbour of Britain? The Republic of Ireland

7> Name the surrounding waters of Britain?

the east: the North Sea; the south: the English Channel;

the north: the Atlantic Ocean; the west: the Irish Sea and the Atlantic Ocean

8、What kind of climate does Britain have?

the prevailing south-westerly wind, the numerous inlets in the western coasts

9> What are the features of English weather? changeable> rainy > foggy > windy

10> Where is the population in Britain concentrated? England

11> Why do we say Britain is a highly urbanized nation?

96 percent of the total population in Britain live in cities and towns. Only 4 percent live in rural

areas. That makes Britain an urbanized nation.

12> How many peoples are there in Britain? What are they? Who are the majorities and who are

the minorities?

4 peoples. The English> The Scots、The WelshThe Irish

The English is the majority； The Scots, The Welsh and The Irish are the minorities.

13N Who are the ancestors of the Welsh? Who are the ancestors of the Scots? Who are the ancestors of the Irish? And who are the ancestors of the English?

the Brythons> the Gaels> the Gaels、Anglo一Saxons, the Normans and other races.

14.What's the official language spoken in Britain? English

15> What other languages are spoken in Britain besides English? Welsh and Gaelic 16N What is the origin of English language?

The English language belongs to the Germanic branch of the Indo-European language family.

English is one of the even smaller division of Low West Germanic and is descended from Old English.

17> Who and when for the first time came to Britain and spread Christianity?

In 597, St. Augustine?

18. Where did he choose to spread Christianity? Canterbury

19> What are established churches?

The Established Churches are the churches which are "legally recognized as official churches of the state”.

20N H OW many established churches are there in Britain? And what are they?

2 The Church of England and the Church of Scotland

21> Who are the spiritual leaders of the Church of England?

the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York

22> What is the relation between the Monarch and the Church of England?

By law, the Monarch (Sovereign) is the supreme head of the Church of England? He is the temporal leader of the Church.

23、W hat is the nature of the Church of England?

The Church of Engla nd is Protesta nt in nature. Its doctrine, services and prayers are set in the Thirty—Nine Articles and The Books of Common Praye匚In addition, there are differences

between the High Church and the Low Church?

24、W hat is the nature of the Church of Scotland?

It is Calvinist (a branch of Protestantism) in nature?

25> What are major Free Churches in Britain?

the Methodist Church> the United Reformed Church >

the Baptist Church > the Quakers and the Salvation Army.

26> By whom is the Roman Catholic Church headed in Britain? The Roman Pope

27.Who is the head of state in Britain? The monarch

28.Who is the head of the British central government? The Prime Minister

29.Where does the British Prime Minister live and work? Number 10 Downing Street

30.How long is the tenure of office for the British Prime Minister? 5 years

3K Who is the present monarch in Britain? Queen Elizabeth II

32* When is the national day in Britain? Thursday of the second week in June?

33.What elements is the British Parliament composed of ?

The Monarch, the House of Lords, and the House of Commons?

34.What is the major function of a jury in Britain?

The jury decides whether the defendant is guilty or not in jury trials.

35> What are the two major political parties now in Britain ?

The Conservative Party and the Labour Party?

36、What is the electoral method in Britain ?

The electoral method is the first-past-post method or simply the majority method?37> How many British national dailies do you know?

The Times> The Guardian、Financial Times、The Daily TelegraphThe Independent

Daily Express> Daily Mail. Daily Star> Morning Star> Daily Mirror> The Sun* Today

38.How many British national Sundays do you know?

The observer> Sunday Telegraphs The Sunday Times> The Independent on Sunday>

The Mail on Sunday > News of the World> Sunday Express> Sunday Mirror> The People> Sun day Sport

39.How many famous British magazines do you know?

Classification> The Economists The Spectator

40^ Of all news agencies in Britain, which one is the most influential? Reuters