英语国家社会与文化作业

The United Kingdom

Unit 1

1.What is the difference between the British Isles and Britain?

The Britain Isles consists of two large islands, Britain is one of them.

2.What is the difference between the United Kingdom and England?

England is a part of the United Kingdom.

3.What is the full title of the United Kingdom?

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

4.Where did the British people come from?

They are a mixture of many different races, and all the races invaded Britain at various times from Europe.

5.What do you know about Sinn Fein Party?

Sinn Fein Party is the legal party in Northern Ireland and supporters of the Irish terrorists or freedom-frighters.

Unit 2

1.What is the oldest institution of British government?

The oldest institution of British government is the Monarchy (ruled by the king or queen).

2.The government of Britain has been shared by three supreme authorities for many

centuries. What are they?

They are the Monarchy, the Lords and the Commons.

3.What does the British parliament consist of now?

The British parliament consists of the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

4.Who can form the government in the United Kingdom? And who can become Prime

Minister?

The party with the most supporters in the Commons forms the government, and the leader of the party becomes the Prime Minister.

5.What political system is the United Kingdom?

Britain is both a parliament democracy and a constitutional monarchy. While the

official head of state is queen, her powers are largely traditional and symbolic. The government at national and local levels is elected by the people and governs

according to British constitutional principle.

Unit 3

1.Was the British economy dominant in the world by 1880s? Why do you say that?

Yes. By 1880s, Britain produced one third of the world’s manufactured goods, half its cotton. The amount of its shipping was great than that in the rest of the world put together.

2.What about the situation by 1990 in United Kingdom?

The UK had been overtaken by both the United States and Germany; and from 1945 until the present, the UK economy is usually thought of as one of decline.

3.How do you understand the absolute and relative decline in the UK?

The decline is not a absolute decline. Britain is not poor, or producing less than was in 1945, in fact it is a lot wealthier and more productive than it was then. The problem is that though it has improved, other countries have improved more rapidly. So this decline is relative to some other economies rather than absolute.

4.What about the British economy in the 1970s?

Under Margaret Thatcher, an extensive program of privatization was carried out through the 1980s. The national economy as a whole continued to grow at lower rates.

5.The UK economies can be divided into three main areas. What are they?

Primary industries

Secondary industries

Tertiary industries

Unit 4