英语国家概况名词解释新
英语国家概况归纳
英语国家概况归纳英语国家概况，是指以英语为官方语言的国家或地区。
由于英语在全球范围内的广泛应用，这些国家或地区在经济、文化等方面都具有重要影响力。
本文将归纳一些英语国家的共同特点和各自的特色。
一、英语国家的共同特点1. 英语为官方语言：在这些国家或地区，英语被广泛用于政府、商务、教育等领域，并且是人们日常交流的主要语言。
2. 政治体制多样：英语国家的政治体制包括君主制、共和制等多种形式，每个国家都有自己的政治体系和法律制度。
3. 经济发达：大部分英语国家在经济方面表现出色，拥有发达的制造业、金融业和科技创新能力。
4. 教育系统完善：英语国家注重教育，拥有世界一流的高等教育机构和先进的教育体制。
二、英语国家的特色1. 英国（United Kingdom）英国是英语的发源地，拥有悠久的历史和丰富的文化遗产。
伦敦作为英国的首都和全球金融中心，吸引着全世界的人才和投资。
2. 美国（United States）美国是世界上最大的英语国家，拥有丰富多样的文化和民主制度。
美国的经济实力和科技创新能力以及好莱坞的电影产业都在世界范围内具有巨大影响力。
3. 加拿大（Canada）加拿大位于北美洲，是一个多民族多文化的国家。
加拿大的教育质量一直很高，吸引了许多国际留学生。
同时，加拿大在自然资源方面拥有丰富的优势，如石油和天然气等。
4. 澳大利亚（Australia）澳大利亚位于南半球，是一个发达国家和移民国家。
澳大利亚拥有独特的自然环境，包括大堡礁和艾尔斯岩等著名景点，吸引了大量的游客。
5. 新西兰（New Zealand）新西兰是一个位于太平洋上的岛国，以其美丽的自然风景和友好的社会环境而闻名。
新西兰的教育质量也很高，在国际教育市场上具有竞争力。
6. 南非（South Africa）南非是非洲大陆唯一的英语国家，同时也是一个多元文化的国家。
南非拥有得天独厚的自然景观，如克鲁格国家公园和好望角等。
7. 印度（India）印度是世界上使用英语最广泛的国家之一，也是英语国家中人口最多的国家。
英美概况名词解释打印
英语国家概况名词解释系列（1）Amerigo V espucci----Amerigo V espucci, a navigator, proved that the land was not India,but a new continent. Therefore, the land was named America after.The Puritans----The Puritans were wealthy, well-educated gentlemen. They wanted to purify the Church of England and threatened with religious persecution, the Puritans leaders saw the New world as the a refuge provided by God for those He meant to save.英语国家概况名词解释系列（2）The Bill of Rights----In 1789, James Madison introduced in the House of Representatives a series of amendments which later were drafted into twelve proposed amendments and sent to the states for ratification. Ten of them were ratified in 1791 and the first ten amendments to the constitution were called the Bills of Rights because they were to insure individual liberties.The Emancipation Proclamation----After the Civil war began, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation to win more support at home and abroad. It granted freedom to all slaves in areas still controlled by the Confederacy.英语国家概况名词解释系列（3）Pilgrims Thanksgiving Day----The Pilgrims in 1620, 201 of them sailed to the New World in a ship called Mayflower. The first winter after their arrival was very cold and when spring came, half of them were dead. Then the Indians came to their help and taught them how to grow corn. They had a good harvest that year. So they invited the Indians and held the first Thanksgiving celebration in America to give thanks to God.The Chunnel----In 1985 the British government and French government decided to build a channel tunnel, which is called “Chunnel”, under the Straits of Dover so that England and France could be joined together by road. The Chunnel was open to traffic in May 1994.英语国家概况名词解释系列（4）Eisteddfod----Eisteddfod is the Welsh word for “sitting” National Eidteddfod is the most famous festival of music and verse in Wales. It takes place each August and lasts for about a week. The highlight of the festival is competition for the best epic poem about Wales written and read in Welsh. The winner is crowned Board, considered the supreme honour in Wales. In this way the Welsh people keep the Welsh language and culture alive.Cockney----A cockney is a Londoner who is born within the sound of Bow Bells-the Bells of the church of St. Mary-LeBow in east London.英语国家概况名词解释系列（5）Stonehenge----It is a group of huge monuments of grant rock Slabs on salisbury plain in Southwest England built as long ago as the New Stone Age. It is generally believed that stonehenge served some sort of religious purposes.The Celts----The Celts came to Britain in three main waves. The first wave were the Gales, the second wave were the Brythons and the Belgae came about 150BC. The Celts were practised farmers. The Celtic tribes are ancestors of the Highland Scots, the Irish and the Welsh, And their languages are the basis of both Welsh and Gaelic. They religion was Druidism.英语国家概况名词解释系列（6）Norman Conquest----The Norman Conquest of 1066 is perhaps the best-known event in English history. William the conqueror confiscated almost all the land and gave it to his Norman followers. He replaced the weak Saxon rule with a strong Norman government. So the feudal system was completely established in England.Alfred the Great----He was king of Wessex, one of the seven Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms. It was he who led the Anglo-Saxon to flight against the invading Danes and maintained peace for a long time.Alfred was not only a brave king at wartime, but also a wise king at peacetime. He encouraged education and introduced a legal system. He is known as “the father of the British navy”.英语国家概况名词解释系列（7）St. Augustine----In 597,Pope Gregory I sent St. Augustine, the Prior of St. Andrew’s Monastery in Rome, to England to convert the heathen English to Christianity. That year, St. Augustine became the first Archbishop of Canterbury. Augustine was remarkably successful in converting the king and the nobility, but the conversion of the common people was largely due to the missionary activities of the monks in the north.Domesday Book----It is a book compiled by a group of clerks under the sponsorship of King William the First in 1086. The book was in fact a property record. It was the result of a general survey of England. It recorded the extent, value, state of cultivation, and ownership of the land. It was one of the important measures adopted by William I to establish the full feudal system in England. Today, it is kept in the Public Records Office in London.英语国家概况名词解释系列（8）Geoffrey Chaucer----He was an important English poet in the fourteenth century. His best known is The Canterbury Tales, which describes a group of pilgrims travelling to Canterbury to visit Thomas Becket’s tomb. Because he was the first important English poet to write in English. He has been known as the “Father of English Poetry”.The Black Death----It is a modern name given to the dearly bubonic plague, an epidemic disease spread through Europe in the fourteenth century particularly in 1348-1349. It came without warning, and without any cue. In England, it killed almost half of the total population, causing far-reaching economic consequences.英语国家概况名词解释系列（9）The Wars of Roses玫瑰战争----the name Wars of the Roses was refer to the battles between the House of Lancaster, symbolized by the read rose, and that of Y ork, symbolized by the white, from 1455 to 1485. Henry Tudor, descendant of Duke of Lancaster won victory at Bosworth Fireld in 1485 and put ht country under the rule of the Tudors. From these Wars, English feudalism received its death blow. The great medieval nobility was much weakened.The Glorious Revolution of 1688光荣革命---- In 1685 Charles II died and was succeeded by his brother James II. James was brought up in exile in Europe, was a Catholic. He hoped to rule without giving up his personal religious vies. But England was no more tolerant of a Catholic king in 1688 than 40 years ago. So the English politicians rejected James II, and appealed to a Protestant king, William of Orange, to invade and take the English throne. William landed in England in 1688. The takeover was relatively smooth, with no bloodshed, nor any execution of the king. This was known as the Glorious Revolution.英语国家概况名词解释系列（10）The Gunpowder Plot of 1605火药阴谋案----The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 was the most famous of the Catholic conspiracies. On Nov. 5,1605, a few fanatical Catholics attempted to blow King James and his ministers up in the House of Parliament where Guy Fawkes had planted barrels of gun-powder in the cellars. The immediate result was the execution of Fawkes and his fellow-conspirators and imposition of severe anti-Catholic laws. The long-term result has been an annual celebration on Nov. 5, when a bonfire is lit to turn a guy and a firework display is arranged. Blood Mary血腥玛丽----It is the nickname given to Mary I, the English Queen who succeeded to the throne after Henry VIII. She was a devout Catholic and had so many Protestants burnt to death that she is remembered less by her official title Mary I by her nickname Blood Mary.英语国家概况名词解释系列（11）Thatcherism撒切尔主义----The election of 1979 returned the Conservative Party to power and Margaret Thatcher became the first woman prime minister in Britain. Her policies are popularly referred to as state-owned industries, the use of monetarist policies to control inflation, the weaking of trade forces unions, the strengthening of the role of market forces in the economy, and an emphasis on law and order.The Trade Union Act of 1871工会法----It legalized the trade unions and give financial security. It meant that in law there was no difference between money for benefic purposes and collecting it to support strike action.英语国家概况名词解释系列（12）Agribusiness农业产业----The new farming has been called “agribusiness”, because it is equipped and managed like an industrial business with a set of inputs into the processes which occur on the farm and outputs or products which leave the farm.British disease英国病----The term “British disease” is now often used to characterize Britain’s economic decline.英语国家概况名词解释系列（13）Constitutional monarchy君主立宪制----It is a political system that has been practised in Britain since the Glorious revolution of 1688. According to this system, the Constitution is superior to the Monarch. In law, the Monarch has many supreme powers, but in practice, the real power of monarchy has been greatly reduced and today the Queen acts solely on the advice of her ministers. She reigns but does not rule. The real power lies in the Parliament, or to be exact, in the House of Commons.Privy Council枢密院----A consultative body of the British monarch. Its origin can be traced back to the times of the Norman Kings. After the Glorious Revolution of 1688, its importance was gradually diminished and replaced by the Cabinet. Today, it is still a consultation body of the British monarch, Its membership is about 400, and includes al Cabinet ministers, the speaker of the House of Commons, the Archbishops of Canterbury and Y ork, and senior British and Commonwealth statesmen.英语国家概况名词解释系列（14）The National Health Service----It is a very important part of the welfare system in Britain. It is a nationwide organization based on Acts of Parliament. It provides all kinds of free or nearly free medical treatment both in hospital and outside. It is financed mainly by payments by the state out of general taxation. People are not obliged to use this service. The service is achieving its main objectives with outstanding success.Comprehensive schools----Comprehensives schools take pupils without reference to ability or aptitude and provide a wide-ranging secondary education for all or most of the children in a district.英语国家概况名词解释系列（15）Reuters----It was founded in 1851 by the German, Julius Reuter. It is now a publicly owned company, employing over 11000 staff in 80 countries. It has more than 1300 staff journalists and photographers.The Crown Court----A criminal court that deals with the more serious cases and holds sessions in towns throughout England and Wales. It is presided over either by a judge from the High Court of Justice or a local full-time judge.英语国家概况名词解释系列（16）The Great lakes----The Great Lakes are the five lakes in the northeast. They are Lake Superior which is the largest fresh water lake in the world, Lake Michigan (the only one entirely in the U.S.),Lake Huron, Lake Eire and Lake Ontario. They are all located between Canada and the United States expect Lake Michigan.The Mississippi----The Mississippi has been called “father of waters “or” old man river”. It and Its tributaries drain one of the richest farm areas in the world. It is the fourth longest river in the world and the most important river in the United States.英语国家概况名词解释系列（17）Uncle Tom’s Cabin----It was a sentimental but powerful antislavery novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It converted many readers to the abolitionist cause.Gettysburg----It refer to the short speech President Lincoln made when he dedicated the national cemetery at Gettyburg. He ended the speech with “the government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth”.英语国家概况名词解释系列（18）The Red Scare----When the WWI was over, there existed a highly aggressive and intolerant nationalism. Between 1919 and 1920, the Red Scare happened. On Nov.7,1919 and Jan.2,1920, the Justice Department launched two waves of mass arrests. Over 4000 suspected Communists and radical were arrested.The New Deal----In order to deal with the Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt put forward the New Deal program. It passed a lot of New Deal laws and set up many efficient social security systems. The New Deal helped to save American democracy and the development of American economy.英语国家概况名词解释系列（19）Truman Doctrine----On Mar.12, 1949, President Truman put forward the Truman Doctrine in his speech to the joint session of Congress. The Doctrine meant to support any country which said it was fighting communism.Marshall Plan----It was announced by George Marshall on June.5, 1947, and was the economic aid plan for Western Europe. It was also used to prevent the loss of Western Europe into the Soviet sphere.英语国家概况名词解释系列（20）London smog----In 195, the sulphur dioxide in the four-day London smog, an unhealthy atmosphere formed by mixing smoke and dirt with fog. It left 4000 people dead or dying. Since then most cities in Britain have introduced “clean air zones” whereby factories and households are only allowed to burn smokeless fuel.Family Doctor----In order to obtain the benefits of the NHS a person must normally be registered on the list of a general practitioner, sometimes known as a “family doctor”. The family doctor gives treatment or prescribes medicine, or, if necessary, arranges for the patient to go to hospital or to be seen at home by a specialist.英语国家概况名词解释系列（21）Marvellous Melbourne----After the gold rush in 1850s and 1860s, there was an important revolution in transport, especially with the network of tram and railway systems. This changed the pace of urban life and the appearance of the city and soon people were calling the city “Marvellous Melbourne”. But by the 1890s outsiders were calling the city “Marvellous Melbourne” because of the bad smell of the city.Waitangi Day----In 1840 the first official governor, William Hobson, was sent to negotiate with Maori leaders. In 1840 Hobson, representing Queen Victoria, and some Maori chiefs, signed the Treaty of Waitangi. Modern New Zealand was founded. The anniversary of the signing, February 6, is celebrated as New Zealand National Day, Waitangi Day, and is a national holiday.英语国家概况名词解释系列（22）Multiculturalism----The term multiculturalism was coined in Canada in the late 1960s. It was in official use in Australia by 1973. In other words, under multiculturalism migrant groups are able to speak their own language and maintain their own customs. Multiculturalism as a policy recognizes that social cohesion is attained by tolerating differences within an agreed legal and constitutional framework.Quiet Revolution----Ever since 1763, when France lost its empire in North America to England, French Canadians have struggled to preserve their language and culture. In the early 1960s French Canadians became more vocal in their protests. In particular, they complained that were kept out of jobs in government and in some large businesses because they spoke only French. They have been struggling more rights common which was called “Quiet revolution”.英美概况（名词解释+简答+论述）1. The W atergate ScandalThe Watergate Scandal refers to the arrest of people breaking into Democratic National Committee offices who worked for the re-election of Nixon and the cover-up afterwards with the support of Nixon. It led to the resignation of Nixon.2. The British CommonwealthThe Commonwealth (of Nations) is a free association of independent countries that were once colonies of Britain. Member nations are joined together economically and have certain trading arrangements. The Commonwealth has no special powers. The decision to become a member of the Commonwealth is left to each nation.3. The White Australia PolicyThe White Australia Policy refers to the Immigration restriction Act of 1901. Under the White Australia Policy, only white Europeans, especially British and Irish, were allowed to migrate to Australia. The migration of colored people such as Asians was restricted.4. Checks and BalancesIn American political system, each of the three branches of the government--the legislative, the executive and the judicial--has part of the powers but not all the power. Each branch can check, or block, the actions of the other branches. The three branches are thus in balance. This is called" checks and balances".5. Federal SystemA federal system of government has two layers of rule: central or federal government for the whole country; state and local governments. Each layer of government has separate and distinct powers laid down in the Constitution.6. Comprehensive High SchoolIt is a school that provides students with both academic and vocational education.7. Research UniversitySuch a university offers a full range of programs leading to a BA degree and is committed to postgraduate education through the doctorate. It gives high priority to research and award doctoral degrees.8. MonopolyMonopoly, economic situation in which only a single seller or producer supplies a commodity or a service. One or more of the following elements are of great importance in establishing a monopoly: (1) control of a major resource necessary to produce a product, as was the case withbauxite in the pre-World War II aluminum industry; (2) technological capabilities that allow a single firm to produce at reasonable prices all the output of a particular commodity or service, a situation sometimes described as a "natural" monopoly; (3) exclusive control over a patent on a product or on the processes used to produce the product; and (4) a government franchise that awards a company the sole right to produce a commodity or service in a given area. Among the various kinds of economic monopolies are public utilities, trusts, cartels, and industrial mergers.9. Big BenBig Ben is the largest clock in Britain and has kept exact time for the nation since May 1859. It is famous the world over for being the giant four faced clock in London, England. Big Ben is the name of the giant 14-tonne bell that hangs inside the clock tower and chimes every hour of every day in England. The huge bell was hung in 1858 and named after Sir Benjamin Hall, Chief Commissioner of Works at the time the bell was hung. In England you can hear Big Ben chiming daily the nation over, either on television news or radio.10. Independent schoolsIndependent schools are fee-paying educational institutions. Independent schools usually provide pupils with two stages of education. The principal schools for children of over thirteen (13 ~ 18) are usually called public schools and those for younger pupils (8 ~ 13) are usually called preparatory (colloquially "prep") schools. Many such schools are long established and have gaineda reputation for their high standards. However, only about 6% of all children attend these schools.11. RedbrickRedbrick is the name for a group of universities founded between 1850 and 1930, including London University. They were so called because red brick was the favorite building material of the time. As the term red brick" already fell into disfavor, they are sometimes called middle-aged universities. Most of these higher education institutions were founded in the biggest industrial towns and in a few other centers. Their first purpose was to provide higher education for local inhabitants who could not afford the cost of going away from home for their studies. As these universities grew bigger and more solidly established, all of them have achieved independent status.12. The new universitiesThe new universities were all founded after the Second World War. Most of these are in the biggest cities where are already established universities. Although these universities were new, some of them quickly became popular because of their modem approach to university courses.13. The Open UniversityThe Open University is a recent innovation, which provides chances for people of all ages and to which entry is much less restricted. It was founded in 1969 and began its first course in 1971. This educational institution is so named because it is "open" to all to become students with no formal qualifications to study for a degree. Courses are followed in the students' sp are time; lectures are broad-cast on radio and TV, and students correspond with their tutors by post. For some of the Open University courses students have to attend one-week summer schools which are held in many of Britain's traditional universities. At the end of the course, successful students are awarded a university degree.14.The Prime MinisterThe Prime Minister is the chief executive of the government. He or she is the leader of the party that holds the most seats in the House of Commons. The prime minister presides over the Cabinet and selects the other Cabinet members, who join him or her to form the government that is part of the functioning executive. When legislation comes before the House of Commons, the prime minister can usually count on the support of a majority of the votes because his or her party has amajority of the seats. The prime minister serves as the first lord of the treasury and as minister for the civil service.15. Statue of Liberty1. Liberty Enlightening the World, commonly known as the Statue of Liberty2. Presented to the United States by the people of France on October 28, 1886.3. Commemorating the centennial of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence4. A gesture of friendship from France to the United States5. Standing on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, it welcomes visitors, immigrants, and returning Americans.16. Ivy League1. The eight private institutions of higher education located in the Northeastern United States.2. The top in the U.S. college and university rankings and ranking within the top one percent of the world’s academic institutions3. Harvard University; Yale University; University of Pennsylvania; Princeton University; Columbia University; Brown University; Dartmouth College;Cornell University17. The Bill of Rights1. US Constitution has a total of 27 amendments. The first ten, collectively known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified simultaneously (1791)2. Spirit of the Bill of Rights: freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of assembly, freedom of petition and freedom of religion3. Protection of individual rights instead of the privileges of the government4. Considered as the original body of the Constitution1. Which system was completely established under William in English?The feudal system was completely established under William in English.2. What is the most central functions of the Congress in America?It is the passage of laws.3 .Which city is Canada's largest city?It is Toronto.4. What was Australia called in the 1950s?Australia was called "the lucky country" in the 1950s.5. What do you think is the most noticeable feature of New Zealand geography?It is its mountains widely spread all over the country where active volcanoes scatter.6. Why was Britain known as the factory of the world in the mid-19th century?Because the British economy was among the strongest in the world.(or) At that time many goods were made in Britain and then sold all over the world.7. What are the established churches in Britain?They are the Church of England in England, and the Church of Scotland in Scotland.8. What does the British Parliament consist of?The British Parliament consists of the Sovereign, the House of Lord s and the House of Commons.9. What does W ASP stand for?It stands for White Anglo-Saxon Protestant.10. When did the history of Australia begin?It began with the arrival of Aborigines between 50,000 and 100,000 years ago.11. What law made French the official language in Quebec?The “Charter of the French Language in Quebec” made French the official language in Quebec.1. How does the British climate influence characters of English people?Other countries have a climate; in England we have weather. This statement, often made by Englishmen to describe the peculiar meteorological conditions of their country, is both revealing and true. It is revealing because in it we see the Englishman insisting once again that what happens in England is not the same as what happens elsewhere.In no country other than England, can one experience four seasons in the course of a single day! In England one can experience almost every kind of weather except the most extreme. The snag is that we never can be sure when the different types of weather will occur. This uncertainty about the weather has had a definite effect upon the Englishman's character; it tends to make him cautious. The foreigner may laugh when he sees the Englishman setting forth on a brilliantly sunny morning wearing a raincoat and carrying an umbrella, but he may well regret his laughter later in the day! The English weather has also helped to make the Englishman adaptable. It has been said that one of the reasons why the English colonized so much of the world was that, whatever the weather conditions they met abroad, they had already experienced something like them at home!2. Introduce the 3 main certificates required for secondary schooling students.For secondary schooling students, at least one of the three main certificates is required to demonstrate their educational attainment. Moderately children take the Certificates of Secondary Education (CSE), which indicates satisfactory completion of schooling to the age of 16. More ambitious children take the examinations for the General Certificate of Education at Ordinary Level (GCE "0" Level), which is the required starting-point for many types of professional training. Most young pupils who stay at school after passing their Ordinary Level examinations prepare themselves for the General Certificate of Education at Advanced Level (GCE "A" Level), which is the standard for entrance to universities and other higher education.3. What’s your idea about the diversity of US population？A. US is a melting potB. Racial and ethnic groupsC. Religious differencesD. Language diversityE. Social classes4. What’s your idea about the power-sharing and power-checking policy of US government?A. three branches of the federal governmentB. power sharing systemC. power checking policyD. foundation of the US politics5. Give comments on relationship between UK and USA.The British foreign policy is also affected by its relationship with the United States. During World War II, the two countries were closely allied and continued to work together closely in the postwar years, because they had many things in common about the past and the world situation. Even today, British and American policy-makers share the general ideas in many respects. However,Britain’s “special relationship” with the United States has gone through many ups and downs. The Britain are beginning to realize that their own foreign policy actions can be limited by the United States. But both sides have worked hard to maint ain the “special relationship”.6. What powers does the Queen of Britain have theoretically? Why is it said that she has no real power at all in reality?The British monarchy stands for the continuity of British history going back to Anglo-Saxon times, and today it serves as a figurehead for the state In theory, the British monarch has enormous powers, but in reality those powers are limited and the Crown follows the dictates and advice of the ministers in Parliament.As the official head of state, the monarch formally summons and dismisses Parliament and the ministers of the Cabinet. The monarch also serves as head of the judiciary, commander in chief of the armed forces, and Supreme Governor of the Church of England and the Church of Scotland. In reality, the government carries out the duties associated with these functions. Theoretically, the monarch appoints all judges, military officers, diplomats, and archbishops, as well as other church officers. The monarch also bestows honors and awards, such as knighthoods and peerages. In reality, all of these appointments are made upon the advice of the prime minister. The prime minister declares war and peace and concludes treaties with foreign states in the name of the Crown. The monarch serves as the ceremonial head of the Commonwealth of Nations and is the ceremonial head of state for 16 Commonwealth countries.7. What are the characteristics of the two major parties in the United States today? Tell briefly the history of the two-party system in the United States .There have been four periods in the history of the two-party system in the United States. In the last years of the 18th century, the debate over the ratification of the Constitution gave rise to the beginnings of the first two major parties. They were the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. After the adoption of the constitution with the Bill of Rights, the Anti-federalists began to call themselves Democratic-Republicans. The Federalists gradually disintegrated. After the 1828 election of Andrew Jackson, the Democratic-Republican Party split. The main faction led by Jackson was called the Democratic Party. The faction opposed to Jackson was called the Whig Party which formed in 1834. As the struggle over slavery intensified, the majority of the Whig Party, part of the democrats, and other anti-slavery elements formed the Republican Party in 1854. From 1860s to 1920s, the Republican Party dominated the political scene. The Four period began with Franklin Roosevelt’s coming iron power and casted till the 1980s. During this period, the Democratic Party was dominant, with short interruptions. The two major parties are really not very different today. But this does not mean there is no difference between them. On economic issues, the Democrats traditionally favor government intervention while the Republicans stress the role of the market more. On social issues the Democrats support a strong social security system while the Republicans oppose large governmental social security programs. In spite of these differences, the two parties both believe in individualism, defending capitalism and uphold private ownership of means of production.8. What were the consequences of the Norman Conquest?The Norman Conquest of 1066 is perhaps the best-known event in English history. (1 point) William the Conqueror confiscated almost all the land and gave it to his Norman followers. (1 point) He replaced the weak Saxon rule with a strong Norman government. So the feudal system was completely established in England. (2 points) Relations with the Continent were opened, and civilization and commerce were extended, (2 points) Norman-French culture, language, manners,。
英语国家概况名词解释
美国山脉：The Appalachians on the east stretch almost unbroken from Alabama to the Canadian border and beyond.The eastern United States is broad, flat coastal plain.The Great Plain lie west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains.To the west of the interior basin lies the mighty system of mountain Cordillera.英国议会：The UK Parliament is one of the oldest representative assemblies in the world, having its origins in the mid-thirteenth-century great councils. Parliaments is the supreme legislative body and the assembly that Government is drawn from and answerable to. It comprise three elements: the Crown, the non-elected House of Commons, of which the latter is the source of real political power in the United Kingdom. In theory, the main function of Parliament is to legislate, that is, to create, abolish or amend new laws for the entire nation. But, in practice, it normally passes bills that are often proposed by the government. In addition, Parliament also votes the taxation and expenditures of the government; examines government policies and administration; and debates major political issues of the day.New England:New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states.It was one of the settlements by British colonists.it is a leader in innovative business methods,publishing,and the design and production of high-tech weaponry,aircraft,engines, tools and computers.Protestantism:One of the three major branches of Christianity,originating in the sixteenth-century reformation in Europe. The term applies to the belief of Christians who do not adhere to roman catholicism or eastern orthodoxy.The RenaissanceThe Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned the period roughly from the 14th to the 17th century and profoundly affected European intellectual life in the early modern period. Beginning in Italy, and spreading to the rest of Europe by the 16th century, its influence was felt in literature, philosophy, art, music, politics, science, religion, and other aspects of intellectual inquiry. Renaissance scholars employed thehumanistmethod in study, and searched for realism and human emotion in art.英国资产阶级革命:English Bourgeois Revolution:The Marxist view of the English Revolution suggests that the events of 1640 to 1660 in Britain was a bourgeois revolution in which the final section of English feudalism (the state) was destroyed by a bourgeois class (and its supporters) and replaced with a state (and society) which reflected the wider establishment of agrarian (and later industrial) capitalism. Such an analysis sees the English Revolution as pivotal in the transition from feudalism tocapitalism and from a feudal state to a capitalist state in Britain.In Marxism, the "English Revolution" is the period of the English Civil Wars and Commonwealth period (1640–1660), in which Parliament challenged KingCharles I's authority, engaged in civil conflict against his forces, and executed him in 1649. This was followed by a ten-year period of bourgeoisrepublican government, the "Commonwealth", before monarchy was restored in the shape of Charles' son, Charles II in 1660.The Industrial Revolution:The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, and transport had a profound effect on the socioeconomic and cultural conditions in the United Kingdom. The changes subsequently spread throughout Europe, North America, and eventually the world. The Declaration of Independence:The Declaration of Independence is the usual name of a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies, then at war with Great Britain, regarded themselves as 13 newly independent sovereign states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. Instead they formed a new nation—theUnited States of America.英国宗教改革:Background:①In the Middle Ages, the Church had gained not only material importance,but also extensive power in politics and law.②During Herry VIII’s early reign, there emerged an atmosphere of widespread criticism of the church for the immorality of it’s clergy and corruption of it’s structure.③King Herry desired to make the pope and all church officers of England acknowledge his superior jurisdiction over the church in England.Time:14th-15th century,the period of the House of TudorPerson:Herry VIII initiated a revolution in 1533Direct cause:The king Herry VIII failed to get the papal approval for divorcing his wife,Catherine,who had failed to get the male heir for him.Result:①separate the English church from Rome and establish himself head of the church.②It was only a reform in the sense of administration or outward structures.③Herry VIII was not theologically closer to the newly arising Protestantism.④Did not changes the doctrines and ceremonies of his independent church.⑤Herry VIII’s power was greatly enlarged,especially by transferring to the crown the wealth of the monasteries and by new clerical taxes.In 1553,Mary restored Roman Catholicism to England and burned many Protestants at the stake as heretics (1516-1558).this was called “Bloody Mary”.In 1588,British history entered the reign of Elizabeth 1,an age of glory.despite her own protestant background,she succeeded in putting to rest the religious issue which had divided the country since her father herry viii,most notably by balancing the interests of puritans and the “die-hard” Catholics.美国西进运动:Westward movement happened in late 18th,and continued to early 20c. In 1763,the British proclamation ordered a halt to the westward movement at the Appalachians. Throughout the 19th century, America greatly expanded its size with massive westward movement.After the American revolution, a flood of people crossed the mountains into the fertile lands between the Appalachians and the Mississippi river. During the 1830s and 40s ,the flood of pioneers poured westward. In 1849 fortune seekers rushed into California in search of gold. in July 1803, napoleon of France, in a surprise move, offered the whole Louisiana territory to the united states for $ 15000000. America accepted and overnight the united states grew by about one million square miles, from the Mississippi to the Rockies and from the gulf of Mexico to canada.the westward movement was of enormous significance. By expanding the nation’s borders to include more than three million square miles, the united states became one of the most powerful nations of the 20th century, however, this expansion also resulted in great suffering, destruction, and cultural loss for the Native Americans of North America.。
英语国家概况(名词解释)
英语国家概况(名词解释)第一部分英国概况1 the Commonwealth:It is a free association of independent countries that were once colonies of Britain. Member nations are joined together economically and have certain trading arrangements. The Commonwealth has no special powers. The decision to become a member of the Commonwealth is left to each nation.2. British Empire:Britain has been one of the most important countries in the world. About a hundred years ago, as a result of its imperialist expansion, Britain ruled an empire that had one fourth of the world’s people and one fourth of the world’s land area. It had colonies ont only in North America, but also I Asia, Africa and Australia. However, the two world wars greatly weakened Britain. The British colonies became independent one after another . The British Empire gradually disappeared and it was replaced by the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1931.3 Alfred the Great: Alfred was the King of Wessex, who was strong enough to defeat the invading Danes and reached a friendly agreement with them. He founded a strong fleet and is known as ‘the father of the British navy.’He also reorganized the Saxon army, making it more efficient. He encouraged learning in others, established schools and formulated a legal system. He translated a Latin book into English. All these make him worthy of his title ‘ Alfred the Great’4Heptarchy:During the Anglo-Saxon’s time, Britain was divided into many kingdoms. These seven principal kingdoms of Kent, Essex, Sussex, Wessex, East Anglia,Mercia and Nothumbria have beengiven the name of Heptarchy.5the Witan: The Witnam was thecouncil or meeting of the wisemen. Itwas created by the Anglo-Saxons toadvise the king. It’s the basis of thePrivy Council which still exists today.6 English feudal system: In thissystem, the King owned all the landpersonally, who gave his barons largeestates in England in return for apromise of lilitary service and aproportion of the land’s produce.7 the Black Death: It was the modernname given to the deadly bubonicplague, an epidemic disease spread byrat fleas through Europe in the 14thcentury, particularly in 1347-1350. Itswept through England in the summerof 1348 without warning, and withoutany cure. It killed between one half andone third of the population of England,causing far-reaching economicconsequences.8 Oliver Cromwell: He was the leaderof the Parliamentary Army during theEnglish Civil War in the revolutionaryperiod of the 17th century. He defeatedKing Charles I and condemned him todeath in 1649. After that, he establishedthe Commonwealth in England andbecame the Lord Protector of thecountry. The Commonwealth endedwith the Restoration of Charles II in1660.9 Blood Mary: It is the nicknamegiven to Mary I , the English Queenwho succeeded to the throne afterEdward VI. She was a devout Catholicand had so many protestants burnt todeath that she is remembered less byher official title Mary I that by hernickname Blood Mary.10 the Industrial Revolution :It referto the mechanization of industry andthe consequent changes in social andeconomic organization in Britain in thelate 18th and early 19th centuries.Britain was the first country toindustrialize in Europe.11 Whigs(in Britain):The name ofWhigs originated with the GloriousRevolution. It was known by thenickname. It was a derogatory name forcattle drivers. Loosely speaking, theWhigs were those who opposedabsolute monarchy and supported theright to religious freedom forNonconformists.12 Tories (in Britain) : The name ofTories originated with the GloriousRevolution . It was known by thenickname. It was an Irish wordmeaning thugs. The Tories were thosewho supported hereditary monarchyand were reluctant to remove kings.The Tories were the forerunners of theConservative Party, which still bearsthe nickname today.13 the House of Lords: The House ofLords is a part of Parliament . It ismade up of the Lords Spiritual and theLords Temporal. The main function ofthe House of Lords is to bring the wideexperience of its members into theprocess of law-making.14 the House of Commons:TheHouse of Commons is a part ofparliament , and its members areelected by universal adult suffrage. Itconsists of 651 Members of Parliament(MPs). It has the ultimate authority inmaking laws.15 constitutional monarchy : It is aform of government in which themonarch’s power is limited byParliament. The United Kingdom is aconstitutional monarchy: the head of State is a king or a queen. In practice, the Sovereigh reigns, but does not rule. The United Kingdom is governed, in the name of the Sovereign, by His or Her majestry’s Government.16 the Cabinet:The Cabinet consists of usually 20 most senior ministers. Ministers are appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. Ministers are responsible collectively to Parliament for all Cabinet decisions; individual Ministers are responsibl to Parliament for the work of their departments.17 the Privy Council:The Privy Council is a consultative body of the British monarch. Its origin can be traced back to the times of the Norman Kings. After the Gloious Revolution of 1688, its importance was gradually diminished and replaced by the Cabinet. Today, it is still a consultation body of the British monarch. Its membership is about 400, and includes all Cabinet ministers, the speaker of the House of Commons, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, and senior British and Commonwealth statesmen.18 the Metropolitan Police Force:The police service for the United Kingdom is organized and controlled on a local basis under the Home Secretary and the Scottish and Northern Ireland Secretaries. London’s Metropolitan Police Force is directly under the control of the Home Secretary.19NHS:The full name of NHS is National Health Service. The National Health Service provides for every resident, regardless of income, a full range of medical service. The service was established in the United Kingdom in 1948. 20 bank holidays:Official publicholidays are also called ‘bank holidays’.The term ‘Bank Holidays’ goes back tothe Bank Holidays Act of 1871, whichowes its name to the fact that banks areclosed on the days specified.21Remembrance Sunday:The onlyreally important patriotic festival isRemembrance Sunday. It is also calledArmistice Day, which is the Sundaynearest to November 11. On thisSunday the dead of both world wars areremembered in special church servicesand civic ceremonies, the chief ofwhich is the laying of wreathes at theCenotaph, London by members of theroyal family in the presence of leadingstatesmen and politicians.22 Church of England:Church ofEngland is the most importantestablished church in Britain. It islegally recognized as official church ofthe State. It is uniquely related to theCrown in that the Sovereign must be amember of that Church and mustpromise to uphold it. The Church isalso linked with the State through theHouse of Lords, in which the twoarchbishops and some other bishopshave seats.23 Boxing Day:In Britain December26th is called Boxing Day because itwas formerly the custom to give‘Christmas boxes’, or gifts of money ,to servants and tradesmen on this day.24Open University:The OpenUniversity is a non-residentialuniversity. It is so named because it isopen to all to become students. TheUniversity was founded in 1969 andbegan its first courses in 1970. TheUniversity offers degree and othercourses for adult students of all ages inBritain and the other member countriesof the European Union. It uses acombination of specially producedprinted texts, correspondence tuition ,television and radio broadcasts andaudio/ video cassettes.25IRA :The full name for IRA is IrishRepublic Army. It is a nationalistorganization formed by MichaelCollins after the Easter Uprising of1916. The IRA opposed the separationof Northern Ireland from the Republicof Ireland in the 1920s by terroristmethods. It has been responsible formany raids and bomb explosions inEngland and in Northern Ireland.26the Anglo-Irish Treaty: In 1921 theBritish signed the Anglo-Irish Treatyestablishing an Irish Free State withdominion status with a separategovernment in theProtestant-dominated Northern Ireland.27the Great Famine:The GreatFaminine began in Ireland in 1845. Itwas caused by the failure of potatocrop. One of the most dramatic,large-scale sociological consequencesof the Great Famine was a significantpopulation decline in Ireland. Manypeople died of hunger. There was also abig flow of emigration from Ireland.About 6 million people left Irelandeither for Britain, the United States orCanada in the century following theGreat Famine.第二部分美国部分1Ellis Island: Ellis Island of New Yorkas an important immigration receptionspot in the 1890s and at the turn of thecentury.2baby boom: Baby boom refers to thegreat increase of birth ratebetween1946 and 1964. Nearly 80million Americans were born in thisperiod . People born in this period arecalled baby boomers.3 ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’:The first blacks were brought to North America as slaves in 1619. For a long period of time they were concentrated in the agricultural South, working on plantations growing cotton and tobacco. Their life was no better than that of cattle. In order to keep the black slaves under control, the slave-owners resorted to brutal methods. Uncle Tom’s Cabin is the novel giving a vivid description of the miserable life of the black slaves.4the Civil Rights Act of 1964: The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is considered to be the most far-reaching act on civil rights in modern times, forbidding discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, gender and national origin. It’s the result of a strong Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. The act added protections for the rights to vote, to use public facilities and to enjoy the same education as white people. It also contained provisions guaranteeing equal employment opportunities.5 the Puritans: The Puritans were wealthy, well-educated gentlemen. They wanted to purify the Church of England. Dissatisfied with the political corruption in England and threatened with religious persecution, the Puritan leaders saw the New World as a refuge provided by God for those he meant to save.6 ‘No taxation without representation’:This was the slogan of the people in the colonies before the War of Independence. They opposed the British policies toward the colonies. By the slogan they declared that, without their representatives taking part in decision-making, they had no obligation to pay taxes.7the Bill of Rights:In 1789, JamesMadison introduced in the House ofRepresentatives a series ofamendments which later were draftedinto twelve proposed amendents andsent to the states for ratification. Ten ofthem were ratified in 1791 and this firstten amendments to the constitutionwere called the Bill of Rights.8 abolitionists:They were people,mostly Northern humanitarians, whostrongly opposed slavery and aimed toabolish the system.9 the Gettysburg Address:TheGettysburg Address refers to the shortspeech made by President Lincolnwhen he dedicated the nationalcemetery at Gettysburg. He ended hisspeech with ‘the government of thepeopled, by the people, for the people,shall not perish from the earth’10 the Emancipation Proclamation:After the Civil War began, Lincolnissued the Emancipation Proclamationto win more support at home andabroad. It granted freedom to all slavesin areas still controlled by theConfederacy.11 the First Bontinental Congress: In1774, the First Continental Congresswas held in Philadelphia, whichencouraged Americans to refuse to buyBritish goods, and organized colonialmilitia units.12 the New Deal: The program wasput forward by President Franklin D.Roosevelt in 1932 to deal with theGreat Depression. Roosevelt madeCongress pass a large number of NewDeal acts and helped to set up manyefficient social economical andfinancial systems. The New Deal didhelp overcome the most seriouseconomic crisis of the capitalist systemup to that time.13 the Muchrakers: At the turn of the20th century in the United States, thereemerged a group of reform-mindedjournalists, who made investigationsand exposed various dark sides of theseemingly prosperous society.President Theodore Roosevelt calledthem Muchrakers.14 The stock market crash of 1929:On October24, 1929, the New Yorkstock market crashed. It was calledBlack Thursday, because it was thebeginning of a long economicdepression. The Great Depression hadfar-reaching consequences. It sweptthrough the globe quickly. The rate ofunemployment increased rapidly. Agreat deal of companies and businessesclosed and went into bankruptcy.American economy didn’t recover untilthe New Deal was put forward.15 the Ku Klux Klan: The Ku KluxKlan was the first organized in 1866and then reformed in 1867. The KuKlux Klan terrorized and attacked notonly blacks, but also progressives,labor union organizers ,Communist orsocialist party members.16. McCarthyism:Joseph R.McCarthy was a senator. He started acampain of wild accusation and arrestsin 1950. His full-scale anti-Communisthysteria in American history was calledMcCarthyism . In December 1954,theSenate condemned him for certainimproper, extreme behavior andMcCarthysim ended.17 Richard Nixon: Richard Nixon wasthe former President of the UnitedStates of America. In the early 1970s,he was involved in the Watergatescandal, for which he was forced toresign from the presidency.18Truman Doctrine:On March 20, 1949, President Truman put forward the Truman Doctrine in his speech to the joint session of Congress. The Doctrine meant to support any country which said it was fighting communism.19 monetarist policies:Since the American economy was plagued by stagflation, in the early 1980s, the traditional Keynesian approach was replaced by new monetarist policies, which sought to fight inflation by increasing supply and reducing demand. On the one hand, taxes were cut to increase economic dynamism. On the other hand, interest rates were raised to reduce the supply of money.20 the US Federal system:It is a system of government in which has two layers of rule. There is central or federal government for the nation which alone has the power to answer questions that affect the nation as a whole. There are also state and local governments . Each layer of government has separate and distinct powers laid down in the Constitution. 21 separation of power:It refers to the principle that the national government is divided into three branches: legislative, executive and judicial. In the legislative branch, power is divided further nto two houses. Each branch has part of the powers but not all the power.22 US presidential inauguration: In the US the presidential term of four years begins on January 20. The President starts his official duties with an inauguraton ceremony, traditionally held on the steps of the US Capitol. The President publicly takes an oath of office, which is administered by the Chief Justice of the United States. Theoath-taking ceremony is usuallyfollowed by an inauguration address.23 public school: Public schoolsusually larger in size, are operated bypublicly elected or appointed schooloffcials. The program and activities ofthe schools are under the control ofthese officials. The schools aresupported mainly by public funds.24 private school: Private schools arecontrolled by an individual or by anagency other than a state, a subdivisionof a state or the federal government .They are usually supported by fundswhich are not public funds and theoperation of the school’s program restswith people who are not publiclyelected or appointed officials.25 school districts: They aresubdivisions of the states.Currently,there are some 15,500 operating localpublic school districts. Each localschool district has a governing boardwhich is usually elected by thevoters.Its major responsibilities are thehiring of professional and support staff,determining the most suitable localcurriculum, and developing andapproving a budget to carry outeducational program.26 Easter Sunday:Easter Sunday isthe second of the two most importantreligious holidays for Christians. It’s onthe first Sunday after the full moon thatoccurs on or after March 21, and it’sfor celebrating the rising of JesusChrist from his tomb, where he hadlain for three days following his death.On the Easter morning, millions ofpeople gather together to salute anotherEaster dawn. The Easter Parade is verypopular in the United States. There areseveral symbols for Easter. The eggand the hare are those most frequentlyassociated with Easter.27 Halloween:Halloween is anight-time children’s day and a time forfrightening costumes, masks , parties,games and tricks--- all for fun.Children with curious masks fo fromhouse to house to frighten friends orneighbours and threaten them with‘Trick or treat’.第三部分加拿大，澳大利亚28the Canadian Shield : Almost halfof Canada is covered by the CanadianShield. It is a semicircular band ofrocky highlands and plateaus aroundHudson Bay from the northern shoresof Quebec to the Artic shores of theNorthwest Territories. It is a region ofrounded hills, tens of thousands oflakes and swamp. The Shield containsa wealth of minerals , much water andgreat forests.29 the Statute of Westminster: By theStatute of Westminster in 1931 theBritish Dominions, including Canada,were formally declared to be partnernations with Britain and ‘equal instatus, in no way subordinate to eachother’, and bound together only bytheir loyalty to a common Crown.Since then, Canada became a memberof the Commonwealth of Nations.30 Bilingualism in Canada:Bilingualism means having twolanguages. In Canada the officialLanguage Act went into effect in 1969.The Act made English and French theofficial languages of Canada. Theyhave equal status and rights in allinstituations of Parliament and theFederal Government.31 Multiculturalism:For a long timethe Canadian Government pursued apolicy of assimilation , that is toassimilate different minority groups into the mainstream Canadian culture. But immigrants from different countries still kept their own cultures, religious, languages, and ways of life. So in 1976, the Canadian Government adopted a policy of multiculturalism. Accordingly immigrants may be instructed in at least one official language to help them become full participants in Canadian society and, at the same time, are encouraged to maintain their particular cultural heritage.32 school of air :children learn their lessons through a radio educational system called School of the Air. Lessons are transmitted by radio. Homework is now exchanged by fax.33 the Flying Doctors:It is a special health service which provides medical care for people living in isolated areas in Australia. Doctors travel by plane from their base and keep in touch with their patients by radio.34 Maoritanga:In New Zealand, Maoritanga in Maori culture, the Maori way of life and view of the world. Maori views of the world, of nature, of education, of spirituality and of death, are becoming more and more part of the New Zealand way of life.35 Kiwi:The kiwi is a noctural bird that can’t fly in New Zealand. The kiwi is a national symbol an New Zealanders refer to themselves as Kiwis.36 the Treaty of Waitangi:The Treaty of Waitangi was an agreement between the chiefs of the Maori people and the British Crown in 1840.37 Waitangi Day:In 1840, the first official governor, William Hobson, was sent to negotiate with Maori leaders. In 1840 Hobson, representng QueenVictoria, and some Maori chiefs,signed the Treaty of Waitangi. ModernNew Zealand was founded. Theanniversary of the signing, February 6,is celebrated as New Zealand NationalDay, Waitangi Day, and is a nationalholiday.38Mark Twain: Mark Twain’s realname was Samuel Langhorne Clemens.He gained a wide knowledge ofhumanity through his life experience.In 1865, he became nationally famouswith his short story The CelebratedJumping Frog. The Adventures of TomSawyer was an immediate success as‘a boy book’, and The Adventures ofHuckleberry Finn became his masterbook. All stories of his novels aresimple and he presented Americansocial life through portrayal of localplaces he knew best and through hiscolloquial style. His other famousbooks are: A Tramp Abroad, Life on theMississippi, The Gilded Age andInnocents Abroad.39Walt Whitman:Walt Whitman is anAmerican poet. He broke free from theconvention of the poetic rhymeexhibiting a freedom in form unknownbefore. In his masterpiece Leaves ofGrass, he praised the ideas of equalityand democracy and celebrated thedignity, the self-reliant spirit and thejoy of the common man. He was thefirst to explore fully the possibilities offree verse. He invented a completelynew and completely American form ofpoetic expression.40knicherbockers era: In the early partof the nineteenth century, New YorkCity was the centre of Americanwriting. Its writers were called‘Knickerbockers’and the period from1810 to 1840 is known as the‘knickerbockers era’of Americanliterature. The name comes from AHistory of New York, by DiedrickKnickerbocker written by WashingtonIrving.41 Ernest Hemingway:ErnestHemingway was one of the mostimportant American writers in the 20th ,and was the spokensman for the ‘LostGeneration’ of young intellectuals whobecame disappointed and bitter afterWorld War I. He was awarded theNobel Prize for Literature in 1954. Hisfirst important novel The Sun AlsoRises is a description of young peoplein the post-war era.He wrote a lot ofother novels and short stories. AFarewell to Arms and For Whom theBell Tolls are two novels about the Firstand Second World Wars. The Old Manand the Sea is considered to be hisrepresentative work . He is also famousfor his simple style and carefulstructuring of his fiction.42 Theodore Dreiser:TheodoreDreiser was one of the naturalists whoin their works reported truthfully andobjectively the life in the slums. Hisfirst novel Sister Carrie traces thematerial rise of Carrie Meeber and thetragic decline of Hurstwood. Hispursue was to describe the actual stateof things in the United States. Hisdescription of the sharp contrast ofwealth and poverty in Chicago andNew York was another example. Hewas also famous for his Trilogy ofDesire and An American Tragedy ,which is considered to be his best.。
英语国家概况名词解释(新)
英语国家概况名词解释1、The Constitution:Britain has no written Constitution.The foundations of the British state are laid out in statute law,which are laws passed by Parliament; the common laws, which are laws established through commom practice in courts;and conventions.2、The house of Common: It’s the real center of British political life because it is the place where about 650 elected representatives(Members of Parliament) make and debate policy,These MPs are elected in the General Elections and should represent the interests of the people who vote for them.3、The electoral campaign:Before a general election,the political parties would start their electoral campaigns in order to make their ideologies and policies known to the public.The campaign involves advertisements in newspapers, door-to-door campaigning,postal deliveries of leaflets and ‘party electoral broadcasts” on the television.The parties also try to attack and critisise the opponents’ policies.Therefore,these campaigns sometimes can be quite aggressive and critical.4、Class system in British society:The class system does exist in British society.Most of British population would claim themselves to be either of middle-class or working-class,though some people would actually belong to the upper middle-class or lower middle-class.Class divisions are not simply economic,they are cultural as well.People of different classes may defferent may differ in the kind of newspaper they read,in the way they speak and in the kind of education they receive.One of the distinctive features about the British class system is that aristocratic titles can still be inherited.5、Relative decline of the UK economy:The UK has experienced an economic decline since 1945.But this is a relative decline rather than an absolute one.Britain is wealthier and more productive than it was in 1945,but since other countries developed more rapidly,it has slid from being the second largest economy to being the six.6、Comprehensive schools:are the most popular secondary schools in Britain today.Such schools admit children without reference to their academic abilities and provide a general education.Pupils can study everything from academic subjects like literature to more practical subjects like cooking7、Grammar school s:it’s a type of secondary schools in Britain.Grammar schools select children at the age 11,through an examination called “the 11-plus”.Those children with the highest marks go to grammar schools.These schools lay emphasis on advanced academic subjects rather than the more general curriculum of the comprehensive schools and expect many of their pupils to go on to universities.8、Independent schools:are commonly called public schools which are actually private schools that receive their funding through the private sector and tuition rates,with some government assitance.Independent schools are not part of national education system,but the quality of instruction and standards are maintained through visits from Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools.These schools are restricted to the students whose parents are comparatively rich.9、the first English settle in North America:The first English permanent settlement was organized in 1607 by the London Company with a charter from the English King.The colonists settled in Virginia and survived by imposing strict discipline on themselves and by transplanting tobacco into the colony of Virginia.In 1619,the settlers elected their delegates and set up the House of Burgesses,and the same time they bought and enslaved black servants.These two events greatly influenced the political and social development of the United States later.10、Puritanism:were those who followes the doctrine of John Calvin and wanted to purify the Church of England.They believe that human beings were predestined by God before they were born.Some were God’s chosen people while others were damned to hell.No church nor good works could save people.The sign of being God’s elect was the success in his work or the prosperity in his calling.They also argued that everyone must read the Bible in order to find God’s will and establish a direct contact with God.These beliefs had great impact on American culture.11、George Washington:was one of the founding fathers of the American Republic.He was the Commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in War of Independence against the British colonial rule and the first President of the United States.12、The executive:The chief executive is the President,who is elected to a four-year term.A president can be elected to only two terms according to an amendment passed in 1951.The president can propose legislation to Congress.He can veto any bill passed by Congress.The veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in both houses.The president can appoint federal judges as vacancies occur.He is the commander in chief of the armed forced.The president has other broad authorities in running the government departments and handling foreign relations.13、The Bill of Rights:consists of the first 10 amendments which were added to the Constitution in 1791.The Bill of Rights was passed to guarantee freedom and individual rights such as freedom of speech,the right to assemble in public places,the right to own weapons and so on.14、Industrial Revolution in America:After independence,American was principally an agricultural country.The Industrial Revolution in England brought many changes to American industry between 1776 and 1860.One key development was the introduction of the factory system.A second development was the “American system” of mass production.A third development was the application of new technologies to industrial tasks.Afourth development was the emergence of new forms of business organization---the bank and the corporation.15、Agribusiness:Because American agricuiture is big business,people coined the term “agribusiness” to reflect the large-scale nature of agricultural enterprises in the modern US economy.The term covers the entire complex of farm-related business,from the individual farmer to the multinational maker of farm chemicals.It also includes farmer cooperatives,ruralbanks,shippers of farm products,commodity dealers,firms that manufacture farmequipment,food-processing industries,grocery chains and many other business.16、Higher education:In America,higher education refers to education on the college level.American higher education includes four categories of institutions.They are the university,the four-year undergraduate institution(the college) the technical training institution and the two-year or community college.Some are supported by public funds and some by private funds.Many universities and colleges have won reputations for providing their students with a higher quality of education.The great majority are generally regarded as quite satisfatory.17、NBA:stands for National Basketball Association.Founded in 1950,it’s the association of professional teams in the United States.It has two divisions:the Eastern Division and the Western Division.NBA is very popular not only in the US.but all over the world.The best NBA star in NBA history is Mcchiael Jordan.18、Yellowstone Nationa Park:is the oldest and one of the largest national park in the US.It’s named after the Yellowstone River that flows through the area.It is known for its geysers and hot springs among other natural wonders.19、Football hooligans:reflect the violence associated with football.While all social classes used to join in the local football march,it was regarded as being not at all suitable for gentlemen.Visitors from abroad sometimes complained about stumbling into the midst of a rough and dangerous game when walking the streets of London,while local householders and merchants were troubled by having their windows broken by stray footballs.Dringking hard went along with playing hard.Today,violence is still associated with football.They are supporters of rival teams.They sometimes clash before,during and after matches and occationally run riot through the town,breaking windows and beating each other up.20、Winbledon:is the name of a London suburb.In Winbledon the world’s best players gather to compete on grass courts.It’s one of the major events of the British sporting calendar and probably the most famous tennis event in the world.Besides actually watching the tennis matches,other activies closely associated with the Winbledon fortnight are eating strawberries andcream,drinking champagne and hoping that it doesn’t rain.21、The three traditions of Chrismas in Britain:one is the Christmas Pantomime,a comical musical play.The main male character is played by a young woman while the main female character,often an ugly woman called ‘the Dame,’ is played by a man.Another is to hear the Queen give her Christmas message to her realm over the televition and radio.A third is Boxing Day,which falls on the day after Christmas.Traditionally,it was on Boxing Day that people gave Christmas gifts or money to their staff or servants.Now that most British people do not have servants,this custom is no longer observed.However,a new Boxing Day custom has emerged,in thecities:shopping.Shops open up to sell off all their Christmas stock decorations,food,cards and gift items at low prices.。
英语国家概况名词解释新
英语国家概况名词解释新Document number【980KGB-6898YT-769T8CB-246UT-18GG08】英语国家概况名词解释1、The Constitution:Britain has no written Constitution.The foundations of the British state are laid out in statute law,which are laws passed by Parliament; the common laws, which are laws established through commom practice in courts;and conventions.2、The house of Common: It’s the real center of British political life because it is the place where about 650 elected representatives(Members of Parliament) make and debate policy,These MPs are elected in the General Elections and should represent the interests of the people who vote for them.3、The electoral campaign:Before a general election,the political parties would start their electoral campaigns in order to make their ideologies and policies known to the public.The campaign involves advertisements in newspapers, door-to-door campaigning,postal deliveries of leaflets and ‘party electoral broadcasts” on the television.The parties also try to attack and critisise the opponents’ policies.Therefore,these campaigns sometimes can be quiteaggressive and critical.4、Class system in British society:The class system does exist in British society.Most of British population would claim themselves to be either of middle-class or working-class,though some people would actually belong to the upper middle-class or lower middle-class.Class divisions are not simply economic,they are cultural as well.People of different classes may defferent may differ in the kind of newspaper they read,in the way they speak and in the kind of education they receive.One of the distinctive features about the British class system is that aristocratic titles can still be inherited.5、Relative decline of the UK economy:The UK has experienced an economic decline since 1945.But this is a relative decline ratherthan an absolute one.Britain is wealthier and more productive than it was in 1945,but since other countries developed more rapidly,it has slid from being the second largest economy to being the six.6、Comprehensive schools:are the most popular secondary schools in Britain today.Such schools admit children without reference to their academic abilities and provide a general education.Pupils can study everything from academic subjects like literature to more practical subjects like cooking7、Grammar schools:it’s a type of secondary schools inBritain.Grammar schools select children at the age 11,through an examination called “the 11-plus”.Those children with the highest marks go to grammar schools.These schools lay emphasis on advanced academic subjects rather than the more general curriculum of the comprehensive schools and expect many of their pupils to go on to universities.8、Independent schools:are commonly called public schools which are actually private schools that receive their funding through theprivate sector and tuition rates,with some governmentassitance.Independent schools are not part of national education system,but the quality of instruction and standards are maintained through visits from Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools.These schools are restricted to the students whose parents are comparatively rich.9、the first English settle in North America:The first English permanent settlement was organized in 1607 by the London Company with a charter from the English King.The colonists settled in Virginia and survived by imposing strict discipline on themselves and by transplanting tobacco into the colony of Virginia.In 1619,the settlers elected their delegates and set up the House of Burgesses,and the same time they bought and enslaved black servants.These two events greatly influenced the political and social development of the United States later.10、Puritanism:were those who followes the doctrine of John Calvin and wanted to purify the Church of England.They believe that human beings were predestined by God before they were born.Some were God’s chosen people while others were damned to hell.No church nor good works could save people.The sign of being God’s elect was the success in his work or the prosperity in his calling.They also argued that everyone must read the Bible in order to find God’s will and establish a direct contact with God.These beliefs had great impact on American culture.11、George Washington:was one of the founding fathers of the American Republic.He was the Commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in War of Independence against the British colonial rule and the first President of the United States.12、The executive:The chief executive is the President,who is elected to a four-year term.A president can be elected to only two terms according to an amendment passed in 1951.The president can propose legislation to Congress.He can veto any bill passed by Congress.The veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in both houses.The president can appoint federal judges as vacancies occur.He is the commander in chief of the armed forced.The president has other broad authorities in running the government departments and handling foreign relations.13、The Bill of Rights:consists of the first 10 amendments which were added to the Constitution in 1791.The Bill of Rights was passed to guarantee freedom and individual rights such as freedom of speech,the right to assemble in public places,the right to own weapons and so on.14、Industrial Revolution in America:After independence,American was principally an agricultural country.The Industrial Revolution in England brought many changes to American industry between 1776 and 1860.One key development was the introduction of the factory system.A second development was the “American system” of mass production.A third development was theapplication of new technologies to industrial tasks.Afourth development was the emergence of new forms of business organization---the bank and the corporation.15、Agribusiness:Because American agricuiture is big business,people coined the term “agribusiness” to reflect the large-scale nature of agricultural enterprises in the modern US economy.The term covers the entire complex offarm-related business,from the individual farmer to the multinational maker of farm chemicals.It also includes farmer cooperatives,rural banks,shippers of farm products,commodity dealers,firms that manufacture farm equipment,food-processing industries,grocery chains and many other business.16、Higher education:In America,higher education refers to education on the college level.American higher education includes four categories of institutions.They are the university,the four-year undergraduateinstitution(the college) the technical training institution and the two-year or community college.Some are supported by public funds and some by private funds.Many universities and colleges have won reputations for providing their students with a higher quality of education.The great majority are generally regarded as quite satisfatory.17、NBA:stands for National Basketball Association.Founded in 1950,it’s the association of professional teams in the United States.It has two divisions:the Eastern Division and the Western Division.NBA is very popular not only in the US.but all over the world.The best NBA star in NBA history is Mcchiael Jordan.18、Yellowstone Nationa Park:is the oldest and one of the largest national park in the US.It’s named after the Yellowstone River that flows through the area.It is known for its geysers and hot springs among other natural wonders. 19、Football hooligans:reflect the violence associated with football.While all social classes used to join in the local football march,it was regarded as being not at all suitable for gentlemen.Visitors from abroad sometimes complained about stumbling into the midst of a rough and dangerous game when walking the streets of London,while local householders and merchants were troubled by having their windows broken by stray footballs.Dringking hard went along with playing hard.Today,violence is still associated with football.They are supporters of rival teams.They sometimes clash before,during and after matches and occationally run riot through the town,breaking windows and beating each other up.20、Winbledon:is the name of a London suburb.In Winbledon the world’s best players gather to compete on grass courts.It’s one of the major events of the British sporting calendar and probably the most famous tennis event in the world.Besides actually watching the tennis matches,other activies closely associated with the Winbledon fortnight are eating strawberries andcream,drinking champagne and hoping that it doesn’t rain.21、The three traditions of Chrismas in Britain:one is the Christmas Pantomime,a comical musical play.The main male character is played by a young woman while the main female character,often an ugly woman called ‘the Dame,’is played by a man.Another is to hear the Queen give her Christmas message toher realm over the televition and radio.A third is Boxing Day,which falls on the day after Christmas.Traditionally,it was on Boxing Day that people gave Christmas gifts or money to their staff or servants.Now that most British people do not have servants,this custom is no longer observed.However,a new Boxing Day custom has emerged,in the cities:shopping.Shops open up to sell off all their Christmas stock decorations,food,cards and gift items at low prices.。
自考英语国家概况重点名词解释
1.The British Isles: The British Isles are made up of two large islands and hundredsof small ones. The two large islands are Great Britain and Ireland.2.The Commonwealth ( or the British Commonwealth): It is a free association ofindependent countries that were once colonies of Britain. It has no special powers.The decision is left to each nation. At present there are 50 member countries within the Commonwealth.3.Witan: It was the council or meeting of the wise men. It was created by theAnglo-Saxons to advise the king. It’s the basis of the Privy Council which still exists today.4.Alred the Great: Alfred was a strong king of Wessex. He defeated the Danes andreached a friendly agreement with them. He founded a strong fleet and is known as “ the father of the British navy”. He also translated books, established schools and formulated a legal system. He got the title “Alfred the Great”.5.William the Conqueror: He was the Duke of Normandy and was crowned King ofEngland after having defeated King Harold. He established a strong Norman government and the feudal system in England.6.Edward the Confessor: He was the king of England but he spent most of his life inNormandy. He appointed many Norman priest and ministers. He is also said to have promised the English throne to William, Duke of Normandy. When Edward died , four men laid claim to the English throne and finally William won the victory and established a Norman government.7.The Great Charter: King John’s reign caused much discontent among the barons.In 1215, he was forded to sign a document, known as Magna Carta, or the Great Charter. It has 63 clauses. Though it has long been regarded as the foundation of English liberties, its spirit was the limitation of the king’s powers, keeping them within the bounds of the feudal law of the land.8.The Black Death: It was a deadly disease which spread through Europe includingEngland in the 14th century. It killed between one half and one third of the population of England and reduced England’s population from four million to two million by the end of the 14the century. As a result, much land was left untendedand labor was short.9.The Wars of Roses: It refers to the battles between the House of Lancaster and theHouse of York between 1455 and 1485. The former was symbolized by the red rose and latter by the white one. After the wars, feudalism received its death blow and the kin g’s power became supreme. Tudor monarchs ruled England and Wales for over two hundred years.10.Elizabeth I: One of the greatest monarchs on British history. She reigned Englandfor 45 years and remained single in her life. Her reign was a time of confident English nationalism and of great achievements in literature and other art, in exploration and in battle.11.Oliver Cromwell: He was the leader of the Parliamentary army in the Civil Warsof the Great Britain in the middle of the 17th century. Under his leadership, the parliamentary army defeated the King’s army. Cromwell signed the death warrant of the King Charles and declared England a Commonwealth. He became Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England. Then he suppressed the rebellion in Ireland, killing many people there. He died in 1658.12.The Glorious Revolution of 1688: As John II was a Catholic king and wasintolerant by England. The English politicians appealed to a Protestant king, William of Orange, Jame’s Dutch nephew and the husband of Mary, James’s daughter, to invade and take the English throne. In 1688, William landed at England and took over the English throne. Because this takeover was relatively smooth, with no bloodshed, nor any execution of the King. It was known as the Glorious Revolution.13.Whigs: It refers to one party name which originated with the Glorious Revolutionof 1688. The Whigs were those who opposed absolute monarchy and supported the right to religious freedom for Nonconformists. They formed a coalition with dissident Tories and became the Liberal Party.14.Tories: It refers to one party name which originated with the Glorious Revolutionof 1688. The Tories were those who supported hereditary monarchy and were reluctant to remove kings. The Tories were the forerunners of the ConservativeParty.15.Luddites: After the industrial revolution in Britain, many workers worked andlived in bad conditions. Luddites were led by Ludd to destroy the hated machines, ubt were severely punished by the government.16.The people’s Charter of 1838: In 1838, the Chartists drew up a charter of politicaldemands, known as the People’s Charter. It has 6 points: 1) the vote for all adult males, 2) voting by secret ballot, 3) equal electoral districts, 4) abolition of property qualifications for members of Parliament. 5)payment of members of Parliament, and 6) annual Parliament. The 6 points were achieved gradually although the 6th has never been practical.17.Thatcherism: Mrs. Thatcher’s policies were called Thatcherism. It included thereturn to private ownership of state-owned industries, the use of monetarist policies to control inflation, the weakening of trade unions, the strengthening of the role of market forces in the economy and an emphasis on law and order.18.The monarchy: It is the oldest institution of government, going back to at leastthe9th century; the head of State is a king or a queen, but in practice, the queen or king reigns, does not rule.19.The Civil List: It is an annual grant approved by parliament. The grant is made tothe British Sovereign and members of the royal family. It is used to cover the expense involved in carry out their public duties.20.Black Rod: it is also called the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod which isresponsible for security , accommodation and services in the House of Lords’ part of the Palace of Westminster.21.The National Health Service: It was established in the UK in 1948, and providesfor every resident in the UK, regardless of income, a full range of medical services.22.Bank holidays: Bank holidays are also called official public holidays. The term“Bank Holiday”goes back to the Bank Holidays Act in 1871, which owes its name to the fact that banks are closed on the days specified.23.Easter: It is the chief Christian festival, which celebrates the Resurrection ofChrist, on the first Sunday after the first full moon that coincides with, or comes after, the spring equinox. Easter is traditionally associated with the eating of Easter eggs.24.Good Friday: It commemorates the crucifixion of Christ.25.Whit Sunday: It is a major festival in the Christian church that falls on the 7thSunday after Easter. It celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit to Christ’s apostles seven weeks after his death.26.Guy Fawkes Day: It originates from the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. A Catholic GuyFawkes attempted to blow up the House of Parliament but was discovered. Now, on this day, children make a “guy” out of straw. At night, they let off fireworks and burn the guy.27.Oxbridge: It refers to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge.28.Quality newspapers: they are directed at readers who want full information on awide range of public matters. There are 5 quality daily and 4 quality Sundays.They are normally broadsheet in format.29.Pantomime: It is a kind of play based on a traditional fairy tale and performed atChristmas time. It is characterized y singing, dancing, clowning, topical jokes. It is developed out of dumb show. Dan Leno was one of the great pantomime actors.But it decline after the WWI.30.IRA: It stands for Irish Republican Army. It commits in to the goal of a unitedIreland, probably in violent way.31.the Declaration of Independence: It was drafted y Thomas Jefferson, and it wasadopted by the American Congress o July 4, 1776 which later became the National Day of the US. It is a clear explanation of the political theory behind the revolution and this theory came from the British philosopher John Locker.32.Manifest Destiny: The expansionist movement produced a theory of “ManifestDestiny”. It first appeared I an article written by John Sullivan. Its implications are three fold: 1) the inevitability of the founding of the US. 2) the legitimacy of the expansion of American Territory; 3) the spread of American democracy being the task of American people who were chosen to do the Lord’s work.issez faire: It is a tradition on the 19th century in American government. It meansthe government should merely preserve order and protect property, leaving the control over the economy to the business people.34.baby boom: It refers to the great increase of birth rate between 1946 and 1964.People born in this period are called baby boomers.35.The Federalist Papers: In 1787, the newspapers of New York City carried at shortintervals 85 letters to the public written under the name of Publius. Later it was known that these letters were written by Hamilton, Madison and Jay and they were called the Federalist Papers.36.The Bill of Rights: In 1789, Madison introduced in the House a series ofamendments for ratification. Ten of them were ratified in 1791 and became the first ten amendments to the constitution---the Bill of Rights.37.The Emancipation Proclamation: During the Civil War, Lincoln issued theEmancipation Proclamation to get more support for the Union at home and abroad.It granted freedom to all slaves.38.The Muckrakers: They are a group of reform-minded journalists. They madeinvestigations and exposed various dark sides of the seemingly prosperous society.39.The Progressive Movement: It is a movement demanding government regulationof the economy and social conditions. It spread quickly with the support of large numbers of people across the country. It was not an organized campaign with clearly defined goals.40.the Red Scare: In 1917, the October Revolution took place in Russia andCommunist ideas spread quickly in Europe. This caused fear among some people who whipped up a kind of senseless excitement about eh danger of Communism in 1919-1920. Many radicals and Communists were arrested or forced to leave the US.41.Isolationist: It was the American foreign policy in the early 1930s, that is, to keepthe United States out of the fighting that was going on in Europe and Asia.42.The Truman Doctrine: In 1949, President Truman put forward the TrumanDoctrine in a speech to the Congress. It meant to say that the US governmentwould support any country which said it was fighting against Communism.43.The Marshall Plan: In 1947, the Secretary of State Marshall announced theMarshall Plan. It meant that in order to protect Western Europe from possible Soviet expansion, the US decided to offer Western European countries economic aid.44.the Smith Act: It was passed by American Congress in 1940 which made itunlawful for many group to advocate or teach the violent overthrow of government in the US, or for nay person to belong to such a group.45.the federal system in the US: It has two layers of rule. There is a central or federalgovernment for the nation which alone has the power to answer questions that affect the nation as a whole. There are also state and local governments. Each layer of government has separate and distinct powers laid down in the Constitution.46.Checks and balances in the US: American government is divided into threebranches, the legislative, the executive and the judicial, each has part of the powers but not all the power. And each branch of government can check the actions of the other branches. The three branches are thus in balance. This is called “ checks and balances”.47.ACTP: American College Testing Program’s examination.48.the community college: This kind of two-year colleges emerged in the early 1990sin the US to meet the immediate need of the economic expansion and rapid rise in immigrants. It calls for education to serve the good of both the individual and society. It is one of the most important innovation in the history of American higher education. Its guiding principle is higher education for everyone and the philosophy that equality must mean equal opportunity for self realization and for the recognition of individual differences.49.Knickerbockers era: In the early part of the 19th century, New York City was thecentre of American writing. Is writers were called “knickerbockers” and the period from 1810 to 1840 is known as the “knickerbockers era”. The name comes from A History of New York, by Knickerbocker written by Washington Irving.50.Transcendentalism: It was a movement that emerged in the 1830s and 1840samong American young intellectuals which emphasized man’s potentiality for goodness, creativity, and self-development. Emerson was regarded as the leader of the movement.51.Lost Generation: It refers to the young intellectuals who became disappointed andbitter after WWI in the US. T. S. Eliot’s Waste Land is considered the manifesto of the “ Lost Generation” and Hemingway is the spokesman for it.52.Harlem Renaissance: Harlem is the north-eastern part of New York City whereblack people are concentrated and where Black writers wrote freely what they wanted to say. They managed to build a battle literature which reflects the feeling, the experience, the history, and the ambitions of the black people. Hughes and Wright were the representatives.53.Independence Day: It is on 4th of July. It is a legal holiday throughout the US. It isAmerica’s most important patriotic holiday, the birthday of the nation.54.Halloween: It is a night-time children’s day on October 31. It is a time for fun.Children with curious masks go from house to house to frighten friends or neighbors and threaten them with “Trick or treat”which means “give me something nice, or I’ll play a trick on you”.55.Thanksgiving Day: It is on the 4th Thursday of November. It is a typical Americanholiday to show thanks for the blessings people have enjoyed.56.The Statute of Westminster: By the Statute of Westminster in 1931 the BritishDominions, including Canada, were formally declared to be partner nations with Britain and “equal in status, in no way subordinate to each other”, and bound together only by their loyalty to a common Crown. Since then Canada became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.57.Eskimo: It is an Indian word meaning “ eaters of raw flesh”. Most of them live inthe northern provinces and territories of Canada.58.multiculturalism: It is a policy recognized in Canada and Australia. According tothis policy migrant groups are able to speak their own language and maintain their own customs.59.Kiwi: The Kiwi is a New Zealand bird, a kind of bird which cannot fly. It is thenational symbol of New Zealand and New Zealanders refer to themselves as Kiwis.60.The Treaty of Waitangi: It was signed between the chiefs of the Maori people andthe British Crown on February 6, 1840. It has three articles. Under the first article, the Maori people gave the Queen of England the right to make laws for the country; the second article promised the Maori full exclusive possession over their lands. If Maori owners wanted to sell land, only the Crown had the right to buy;Under the third article Maoris were granted all the rights and privileges of British subjects. The anniversary of the signing, February 6, is celebrated as New Zealand National Day, Waitangi Day, and is a national holiday.。
英语国家概况名词解释（新）
英语国家概况名词解释1、The Constitution:Britain has no written Constitution.The foundations of the British state are laid out in statute law,which are laws passed by Parliament; the common laws, which are laws established through commom practice in courts;and conventions.2、The house of Common: It‟s the real center of British political life because it is the place where about 650 elected representatives(Members of Parliament) make and debate policy,These MPs are elected in the General Elections and should represent the interests of the people who vote for them.3、The electoral campaign:Before a general election,the political parties would start their electoral campaigns in order to make their ideologies and policies known to the public.The campaign involves advertisements in newspapers, door-to-door campaigning,postal deliveries of leaflets and …party electoral broadcasts” on the television.The parties also try to attack and critisise the opponents‟ policies.Therefore,these campaigns sometimes can be quite aggressive and critical.4、Class system in British society:The class system does exist in British society.Most of British population would claim themselves to be either of middle-class or working-class,though some people would actually belong to the upper middle-class or lower middle-class.Class divisions are not simply economic,they are cultural as well.People of different classes may defferent may differ in the kind of newspaper they read,in the way they speak and in the kind of education they receive.One of the distinctive features about the British class system is that aristocratic titles can still be inherited.5、Relative decline of the UK economy:The UK has experienced an economic decline since 1945.But this is a relative decline rather than an absolute one.Britain is wealthier and more productive than it was in 1945,but since other countries developed more rapidly,it has slid from being the second largest economy to being the six.6、Comprehensive schools:are the most popular secondary schools in Britain today.Such schools admit children without reference to their academic abilities and provide a general education.Pupils can study everything from academic subjects like literature to more practical subjects like cooking7、Grammar school s:it‟s a type of secondary schools in Britain.Grammar schools select children at the age 11,through an examination called “the 11-plus”.Those children with the highest marks go to grammar schools.These schools lay emphasis on advanced academic subjects rather than the more general curriculum of the comprehensive schools and expect many of their pupils to go on to universities.8、Independent schools:are commonly called public schools which are actually private schools that receive their funding through the private sector and tuition rates,with some government assitance.Independent schools are not part of national education system,but the quality of instruction and standards are maintained through visits from Her Majesty‟s Inspectors of Schools.These schools are restricted to the students whose parents are comparatively rich.9、the first English settle in North America:The first English permanent settlement was organized in 1607 by the London Company with a charter from the English King.The colonists settled in Virginia and survived by imposing strict discipline on themselves and by transplanting tobacco into the colony of Virginia.In 1619,the settlers elected their delegates and set up the House of Burgesses,and the same time they bought and enslaved black servants.These two events greatly influenced the political and social development of the United States later.10、Puritanism:were those who followes the doctrine of John Calvin and wanted to purify the Church of England.They believe that human beings were predestined by God before they were born.Some were God‟s chosen people while others were damned to hell.No church nor good works could save people.The sign of being God‟s elect was the success in his work or the prosperity in his calling.They also argued that everyone must read the Bible in order to find God‟s will and establish a direct contact with God.These beliefs had great impact on American culture.11、George W ashington:was one of the founding fathers of the American Republic.He was the Commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in War of Independence against the British colonial rule and the first President of the United States.12、The executive:The chief executive is the President,who is elected to a four-year term.A president can be elected to only two terms according to an amendment passed in 1951.The president can propose legislation to Congress.He can veto any bill passed by Congress.The veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in both houses.The president can appoint federal judges as vacancies occur.He is the commander in chief of the armed forced.The president has other broad authorities in running the government departments and handling foreign relations.13、The Bill of Rights:consists of the first 10 amendments which were added to the Constitution in 1791.The Bill of Rights was passed to guarantee freedom and individual rights such as freedom of speech,the right to assemble in public places,the right to own weapons and so on.14、Industrial Revolution in America:After independence,American was principally an agricultural country.The Industrial Revolution in England brought many changes to American industry between 1776 and 1860.One key development was the introduction of the factory system.A second development was the “American system” of mass production.A third development was the application of new technologies to industrial tasks.Afourth development was the emergence of new forms of business organization---the bank and the corporation.15、Agribusiness:Because American agricuiture is big business,people coined the term “agribusiness” to reflect the large-scale nature of agricultural enterprises in the modern US economy.The term covers the entire complex of farm-related business,from the individual farmer to the multinational maker of farm chemicals.It also includes farmer cooperatives,ruralbanks,shippers of farm products,commodity dealers,firms that manufacture farmequipment,food-processing industries,grocery chains and many other business.16、Higher education:In America,higher education refers to education on the college level.American higher education includes four categories of institutions.They are the university,the four-year undergraduate institution(the college) the technical training institution and the two-year or community college.Some are supported by public funds and some by private funds.Many universities and colleges have won reputations for providing their students with a higher quality of education.The great majority are generally regarded as quite satisfatory.17、NBA:stands for National Basketball Association.Founded in 1950,it‟s the association of professional teams in the United States.It has two divisions:the Eastern Division and the Western Division.NBA is very popular not only in the US.but all over the world.The best NBA star in NBA history is Mcchiael Jordan.18、Y ellowstone Nationa Park:is the oldest and one of the largest national park in the US.It‟s named after the Y ellowstone River that flows through the area.It is known for its geysers and hot springs among other natural wonders.19、Football hooligans:reflect the violence associated with football.While all social classes used to join in the local football march,it was regarded as being not at all suitable for gentlemen.Visitors from abroad sometimes complained about stumbling into the midst of a rough and dangerous game when walking the streets of London,while local householders and merchants were troubled by having their windows broken by stray footballs.Dringking hard went along with playing hard.Today,violence is still associated with football.They are supporters of rival teams.They sometimes clash before,during and after matches and occationally run riot through the town,breaking windows and beating each other up.20、Winbledon:is the name of a London suburb.In Winbledon the world‟s best players gather to compete on grass courts.It‟s one of the major events of the British sporting calendar and probably the most famous tennis event in the world.Besides actually watching the tennis matches,other activies closely associated with the Winbledon fortnight are eating strawberries andcream,drinking champagne and hoping that it doesn‟t rain.21、The three traditions of Chrismas in Britain:one is the Christmas Pantomime,a comical musical play.The main male character is played by a young woman while the main female character,often an ugly woman called …the Dame,‟ is played by a man.Another is to hear the Queen give her Christmas message to her realm over the televition and radio.A third is Boxing Day,which falls on the day after Christmas.Traditionally,it was on Boxing Day that people gave Christmas gifts or money to their staff or servants.Now that most British people do not have servants,this custom is no longer observed.However,a new Boxing Day custom has emerged,in thecities:shopping.Shops open up to sell off all their Christmas stock decorations,food,cards and gift items at low prices.。
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。
英语国家概况重点术语解释
重点翻译术语：(1) New Frontier 新边疆(2) the Civil Rights Movement 民权运动(3) the Great Society 伟大社会(4) the Counterculture Movement 反主流文化运动(5) the New Left Movement 新左派运动(6) the Anti-War Movement 反战运动(7) the Strategic Defence Initiative 战略防御措施(8) the Populist Party人民党(9) Star Wars星球大战(10) Monroe Doctrine门罗主义(11) Truman Doctrine 杜鲁门主义(12) the Marshall Plan 马歇尔计划(13) the Missile Crisis 导弹危机(14) the House Un-American Activities Committee 众议院非美活动调查委员会(15) W ASP 白人盎格鲁—撒克逊新教徒(16) indentured servants 契约佣工(17) the Civil War 美国内战(18) the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 全国有色人种协进会(19) model minority 模范少数族裔(20) Indian Reservations 印第安人保留区(21) Gold Rush淘金热(22) Supreme Court最高法院(23) the Court of Appeals 上诉法院(24) the District Court地区法庭(25) judicial review 司法复审(26) the House of Representatives 众议院(27) chief justice 首席大法官(28) associate justice 大法官(29) the Articles of Confederation 《邦联条例》(30) winner-take-all 赢者通吃/ （美国总统选举中）胜者获得所有选举人选票(31) grants-in-aid programs联邦拨款项目(32) the midterm election中期选举(33) Watergate Scandal水门事件丑闻(34) Electoral College选举人团(35) laissez faire自由放任(36) post-industrial society后工业社会(37) Sherman Antitrust Act谢尔曼反托拉斯法(38) New Deal新政(39) National Labor Relations Board全国劳工关系委员会(40) Social Security system 社会保障制度(41) Food Stamp食物劵(42) Aid to Families with Dependent Children未成年人家庭援助计划(43) original jurisdiction 初审管辖权(44) grand jury 大陪审团(45) petit jury 小陪审团(46) the Department of Justice 司法部(47) the Attorney General 司法部长/ 总检察长(48) the Solicitor General 司法部副部长/副总检察长(49) Common Law 习惯法(50) civil law 民法(51) criminal law 刑法(52) the Federal Bureau of Investigation美国联邦调查局(53) due process of law 正当法律程序(54) charter school 特许公立学校(55) school voucher 教育劵(56) associate degree 准学位(57) community college 社区大学(58) the Bilingual Education Act 双语教育法(59) affirmative action program 积极行动方案(60) reverse discrimination 反向歧视(61) compulsory education 义务教育(62) city upon a hill 山巅之城(63) the Great Awakening 大觉醒运动(64) rummage sales 旧杂物义卖(65) the Grand Canyon 大峡谷(66) British Commonwealth英联邦(67) God save the King /Queen 天佑吾王(68) the Stars and Stripes星条旗(69) E pluribus unum合众为一(70) the Good Friday Agreement北爱尔兰和平协议(71) Magna Carta（英国）大宪章(72) shadow cabinet影子内阁(73) the House of Lords 贵族院/ 上议院(74) Lords Spiritual 神职贵族(75) Lords Temporal 俗职贵族(76) the House of Commons下议院(77) Constitutional Monarchy君主立宪制(78) the Prime Minister首相(79) the Department of State国务院(80) Secretary of Commerce商务部长。
英语国家概况名词解释
1. William the Conqueror 威廉征服: William was Duke of Normandy. He landed his army in Oct.1066 and defeated king Harold. Then he was crowned king of England on Christmas Day the same year. He established a strong Norman government and the feudal system in England.建立了封建制度2. Doomsday Book----It is a book compiled by a group of clerks under the sponsorship of King William the First in 1086. The book was in fact a property record. It was the result of a general survey of England. It recorded the extent, value, state of cultivation, and ownership of the land. It was one of the important measures adopted by William I to establish the full feudal system in England. Today, it is kept in the Public Records Office in London. 为了可靠地记录所有的土地、佃户和他们的财产并查明他们能交多少税，威廉派官员编了一本财产清册，称为《末日审判书》。
因为对英国人来说，这本土地清册无疑就是最后审判日那天众王之王所用的《末日书》。
英语国家概况名词解释汇总
这个不是新版本的，仅作参考英国部分1.The Thames RiverThe Thames River is the second largest and most important river in Britain. It is 336 KM long, rising in southwest England and flowingthrough England and out into the North Sea. It flows rather slowly,which is very favorable for water transportation.2.The High LandersThey are the Scots who live in the mountainous regions of the Highlandsin Northern Scotland. They are a proud, independent and hardy people who maintain their strong cultural identity. They mainly live byfarming sheep in mountain areas or fishing on the coasts and islands.3.The British Commonwealth 英联邦The British Empire was replaced by the British Commonwealth or the Commonwealth of Nations in 1931.It is a free association of independent countries that were once colonies of Britain. Member nations are joined together economically and have certain trading arrangements. The Commonwealth has no special powers. The decision to become a member of the Commonwealth is left to each member nation. At present there are 50 members counties within the commonwealth(1991).是曾为英国殖民地，但现在已经独立构成的自由联合体。
英语国家概况名词解释汇总
英语国家概况名词解释汇总英国部分1.The Thames RiverThe Thames River is the second largest and most important river in Britain. It is 336 KM long, rising in southwest England and flowingthrough England and out into the North Sea. It flows rather slowly,which is very favorable for water transportation.2.The High LandersThey are the Scots who live in the mountainous regions of the Highlandsin Northern Scotland. They are a proud, independent and hardy people who maintain their strong cultural identity. They mainly live byfarming sheep in mountain areas or fishing on the coasts and islands.3.The British Commonwealth 英联邦The British Empire was replaced by the British Commonwealth or the Commonwealth of Nations in 1931.It is a free association of independent countries that were once colonies of Britain. Member nations are joined together economically and have certain trading arrangements. The Commonwealth has no special powers. The decision to become a member of the Commonwealth is left to each member nation. At present there are 50 members counties within the commonwealth(1991).是曾为英国殖民地，但现在已经独立构成的自由联合体。
英语国家概况笔记整理
英语国家概况笔记整理英语国家概况是指使用英语作为官方语言或主要语言的国家。
这些国家分布在全球各个大洲，包括欧洲、北美洲、南美洲、非洲、亚洲、大洋洲等地区。
下面是对英语国家概况的整理和相关参考内容。
一、英语国家概况1. 英语国家数量截至目前，全球有超过70个国家和地区官方或主要使用英语。
其中包括英国、美国、加拿大、澳大利亚、新西兰等国家，以及南非、印度、新加坡等国家。
2. 英语在国际交流中的地位由于历史、文化、经济和政治原因，英语成为了世界共通的交流语言。
在国际贸易、国际关系、科学技术、旅游等领域中，英语的地位举足轻重。
很多国家把英语作为第二语言学习，以便更好地融入国际社会。
3. 英语国家文化特点英语国家拥有丰富多样的文化，包括文学、艺术、音乐、电影等。
英国文化以其悠久的历史、文学作品和皇室传统而闻名；美国文化则以其多元文化、好莱坞电影、流行音乐等领域有着巨大影响力。
4. 英语国家的教育体系英语国家拥有世界顶尖的教育体系，包括英国的牛津大学、剑桥大学等，美国的哈佛大学、斯坦福大学等。
这些学府不仅吸引着来自全球的学生，也为国际学生提供了优质的教育资源。
二、参考内容1. 英国英国是英语国家的发源地，拥有悠久的历史、文化和传统。
英国的教育体系著名于世，在全球范围内享有盛誉。
参考内容可包括英国的地理位置、历史概述、国家特色、名胜古迹、教育体系等。
2. 美国美国是使用英语的最大国家，也是世界上最强大的国家之一。
美国的文化多元，享有世界级的艺术、电影和音乐产业。
参考内容可包括美国的地理、历史、政治制度、经济实力、文化特点等。
3. 加拿大加拿大是英语国家中面积最大的国家，也是全球最宜居的国家之一。
加拿大的教育体系、医疗服务和社会福利享誉国际。
参考内容可包括加拿大的地理特点、历史发展、多元文化、经济实力等。
4. 澳大利亚澳大利亚是一个位于南半球的国家，英语是其官方语言。
澳大利亚是一个富有自然景观和野生动物资源的国家，吸引着来自世界各地的游客和留学生。
英语国家概况名词解释系列
英语国家概况名词解释系列（1）The Puritans 清教徒----The Puritans were wealthy, well-educated gentlemen. They wanted to purify the church of England and threatened with religious persecution, the Puritans leaders saw the New world as the a refuge provided by God for those He meant to save.（2）The Bill of Rights（America）权利法案----In 1789, James Madison introduced in the House of Representatives a series of amendments which later were drafted into twelve proposed amendments and sent to the states for ratification. Ten of them were ratified in 1791 and the first ten amendments to the constitution were called the Bills of Rights because they were to insure individual liberties.the Bill of Rights (Britain)In 1689, William and Mary accepted the Bill of Rights to be crowned jointly. The bill excluded any Roman Catholic from the succession, confirmed the principle of parliamentary supremacy and guaranteed free speech within both the two Houses. Thus the age of constitutional monarchy began.The Emancipation Proclamation 解放黑奴宣言----After the Civil war began, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation to win more support at home and abroad. It granted freedom to all slaves in areas still controlled by the Confederacy.（3）Pilgrims Thanksgiving Day 感恩节----The Pilgrims in 1620, 201 of them sailed to the New World in a ship called Mayflower. The first winter after their arrival was very cold and when spring came, half of them were dead. Then the Indians came to their help and taught them how to grow corn. They had a good harvest that year. So they invited the Indians and held the first Thanksgiving celebration in America to give thanks to God.The Chunnel 英吉利海峡隧道----In 1985 the British government and French government decided to build a channel tunnel, which is called “Chunnel”, under the Straits of Dover so that England and France could be joined together by road. The Chunnel was open to traffic in May 1994.（4）Eisteddfod (一年一度的) 威尔士诗人、音乐家大会 ---Eisteddfod is the Welsh word for “sitting” National Eidteddfod is the most famous festival of music and verse in Wales. It takes place each August and lasts for about a week. The highlight of the festival is competition for the best epic poem about Wales written and read in Welsh. The winner is crowned Board, considered the supreme honour in Wales. In this way the Welsh people keep the Welsh language and culture alive.Cockney 伦敦佬----A cockney is a Londoner who is born within the sound of Bow Bells-the Bells of the church of St. Mary-LeBow in east London.（5）Stonehenge巨石阵----It is a group of huge monuments of grant rock Slabs on salisbury plain in southwest England built as long ago as the New Stone Age. It is generally believed that stonehenge served some sort of religious purposes.The Celts 凯尔特人----The Celts came to Britain in three main waves. The first wave were the Gales, the second wave were the Brythons and the Belgae came about 150BC. The Celts were practised farmers. The Celtic tribes are ancestors of the Highland Scots, the Irish and the Welsh, And their languages are the basis of both Welsh and Gaelic. They religion was Druidism.（6）Norman Conquest 诺曼征服---The Norman Conquest of 1066 is perhaps the best-known event in English history. William the conqueror confiscated almost all the land and gave it to hisNorman followers.He replaced the weak Saxon rule with a strong Norman government. So the feudal system was completely established in England.William the ConquerorWilliam was Duke of Normandy. He landed his army in Oct, 1066 and defeated king Harold. Then he was crowned king of England on Christams Day the same year. He established a strong Norman government and the feudal system in England.Alfred the Great 阿尔弗雷德大帝----He was king of Wessex, one of the seven Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms. It was he who led the Anglo-Saxon to flight against the invading Danes and maintained peace for a long time. Alfred was not only a brave king at wartime, but also a wise king at peacetime. He encouragededucation and introduced a legal system. He is known as “the father of the British navy”.（7）St. Augustine 奥古斯丁----In 597,Pope Gregory I sent St. Augustine, the Prior of St. Andrew’s Monastery in Rome, to England to convert the heathe n English to Christianity. That year, St. Augustine became the first Archbishop of Canterbury. Augustine was remarkably successful in converting the king and the nobility, but the conversion of the common people was largely due to the missionary activities of the monks in the north.Domesday Book 末日审判书----It is a book compiled by a group of clerks under the sponsorship of King William the First in 1086. The book was in fact a property record. It was the result of a general survey of England. It recorded the extent, value, state of cultivation, and ownership of the land. It was one of the important measures adopted by William I to establish the full feudal system in England. Today, it is kept in the Public Records Office in London.（8）Geoffrey Chaucer 乔叟----He was an important English poet in the fourteenth century. His best known is The Canterbury Tales, which describes a group of pilgrims travelling to Canterbury to visit Thomas Becket's tomb. Because he was the first important English poet to write in English. He has been known as the “Father of English Poetry”.The Black Death 黑死病----It is a modern name given to the dearly bubonic plague, an epidemic disease spread through Europe in the fourteenth century particularly in 1348-1349. It came without warning, and without any cue. In England, it killed almost half of the total population, causing farreaching economic consequences.（9）the battle of Hastings哈斯汀战役In 1066, King Edward died with no heir, the Witan chose Harold as king. William, Duke of Normandy, invaded England. On October 14, the two armies met near Hasting. After a day’s battle, Harold was killed and his army completely defeated. So this battle was very important on the way of the Roman conquest.the Great Charter大宪章King John’s reign caused much discontent among the barons. In 1215, he was forced to sign a document, known as Mangna Cara, or the Great Charter. It has 63 clauses. Though it has long been regarded as the foundation of English liberities, its spirit was the limitation of the king's powers, keeping them within the bounds of the feudal law of the land.The Wars of Roses 玫瑰战争----the name Wars of the Roses was refer to the battles between the House of Lancaster, symbolized by the read rose, and that of York, symbolized by the white, from 1455 to 1485. Henry Tudor, descendant of Duke of Lancaster won victory at Bosworth Fireld in 1485 and put ht country under the rule of the Tudors. From these Wars, English feudalism received its death blow. The great medieval nobility was much weakened.The Glorious Revolution of 1688 光荣革命---- In 1685 Charles II died and was succeeded by his brother James II. James was brought up in exile in Europe, was a Catholic. He hoped to rule without giving up his personal religious vies. But England was no more tolerant of a Catholic king in 1688 than 40 years ago. So the English politicians rejected James II, and appealed to a Protestant king, William of Orange, to invade and take the English throne. William landed in England in 1688. The takeover was relatively smooth, with no bloodshed, nor any execution of the king. This was known as the Glorious Revolution.（10）The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 火药阴谋案----The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 was the most famous of the Catholic conspiracies. On Nov. 5,1605, a few fanatical Catholics attempted to blow King James and his ministers up in the House of Parliament where Guy Fawkes had planted barrels of gunpowder in the cellars. The immediate result was the execution of Fawkes and his ellowconspirators and imposition of severe anti-Catholic laws. The long-term result has been an annual celebration on Nov. 5, when a bonfire is lit to turn a guy and a firework display is arranged. Blood Mary 血腥玛丽----It is the nickname given to Mary I, the English Queen who succeeded to the throne after Henry VIII. She was a devout Catholic and had so many Protestants burnt to death that she is remembered less by her official title Mary I by her nickname Blood Mary. （11）Thatcherism 撒切尔主义----The election of 1979 returned the Conservative Party to power and Margaret Thatcher became the first woman prime minister in Britain. Her policies are popularly referred to as state-owned industries, the use of monetarist policies to control inflation, the weaking of trade forces unions, the strengthening of the role of market forces in the economy, and an emphasis on law and order. the British ConstitutionThere is no written constitution in the United Kingdom. The British Constitution is not set out in any single document, but made up of statute law, common law and conventions. The Judiciary determines common law and interpret statuesThe Trade Union Act of 1871 工会法----It legalized the trade unions and give financial security. It meant that in law there was no difference between money for benefic purposes and collecting it to support strike action.（12）Agribusiness 农业产业----It refers to the new farming in Britain, because it is equipped and managed like an industrial business with a set of inputs into the processes which occur on the farm and outputs or products which leave the farm. The emphasis is upon intensive farming, designes to give the maximum output of crops and animals.British disease 英国病----The term “British disease” is now often used to characterize Britain’s economic decline.（13）Constitutional monarchy 君主立宪制----It is a political system that has been practised in Britain since the Glorious revolution of 1688. According to this system, the Constitution is superior to the Monarch. In law, the Monarch has many supreme powers, but in practice, the real power of monarchy has been greatly reduced and today the Queen acts solely on the advice of her ministers. She reigns but does not rule. The real power lies in the Parliament, or to be exact, in the House of Commons.Privy Council 枢密院----A consultative body of the British monarch. Its origin can be traced back to the times of the Norman Kings. After the Glorious Revolution of 1688, its importance was gradually diminished and replaced by the Cabinet. Today, it is still a consultation body of the British monarch, Its membership is about 400, and includes al Cabinet ministers, the speaker of the House of Commons, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, and senior British andCommonwealth statesmen.Whigs and Tories辉格党和托利党It referred to the two party names which originated with the Glorious Revolution of 1688. The Whigs were those who opposed absolute monarchy and supported the right to religious freedom for Noncomformists. The Tories were those who supported hereditary monarchy and were reluctant to remove kings. The Whigs formed a coalition with dissident Tories and became the Liberal Party. The Tories were the forerunners of the Conservative Party（14）The National Health Service 国民保健署. ----It is a very important part of the welfare system in Britain. It is a nationwide organization based on Acts of Parliament. It provides all kinds of free or nearly free medical treatment both in hospital and outside. It is financed mainly by payments by the state out of general taxation. People are not obliged to use this service. The service is achieving its main objectives with outstanding success.Comprehensive schools 综合学校----Comprehensives schools take pupils without reference to ability or aptitude and provide a wide-ranging secondary education for all or most of the children in a district.（15）Reuters 路透社----It was founded in 1851 by the German, Julius Reuter. It is now a publicly owned company, employing over 11000 staff in 80 countries. It has more than 1300 staff journalists and photographers.The Crown Court 巡回刑事法庭----A criminal court that deals with the more serious cases and holds sessions in towns throughout England and Wales. It is presided over either by a judge from the High Court of Justice or a local full-time judge.（16）The Great lakes 北美五大湖----The Great Lakes are the five lakes in the northeast. They are Lake Superior which is the largest fresh water lake in the world, Lake Michigan (the only one entirely in the U.S.), Lake Huron, Lake Eire and Lake Ontario. They are all located between Canada and the United States expect Lake Michigan.The Mississippi 密西西比河----The Mississippi has been called “father of waters “or” old man river”. It and its tributaries drain one of the richest farm areas in the world. It is the fourth longest river in the world and the most important river in the United States.（17）Uncle Tom’s Cabin 汤姆叔叔的小屋----It was a sentimental but powerful antislavery novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It converted many readers to the abolitionist cause. Gettysburg 葛底斯堡演说----It refer to the short speech President Lincoln made when he dedicated the national cemetery at Gettyburg. He ended the speech with “the government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth”.（18）The Red Scare红色恐惧----When the WWI was over, there existed a highly aggressive and intolerant nationalism. Between 1919 and 1920, the Red Scare happened. On Nov.7,1919 and Jan.2,1920, the Justice Department launched two waves of mass arrests. Over 4000 suspected Communists and radical were arrested.The New Deal新政---In order to deal with the Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt put forward the New Deal program. It passed a lot of New Deal laws and set up many efficient social security systems. The New Deal helped to save American democracy and the development of American economy.（19）Truman Doctrine 杜鲁门主义----On Mar.12, 1949, President Truman put forward the Truman Doctrine in his speech to the joint session of Congress. The Doctrine meant to support any country which said it was fighting communism.Marshall Plan 马歇尔计划----It was announced by George Marshall on June.5, 1947, and was the economic aid plan for Western Europe. It was also used to prevent the loss of Western Europe into the Soviet sphere.（20）London smog 伦敦烟雾----In 195, the sulphur dioxide in the four-day London smog, an unhealthy atmosphere formed by mixing smoke and dirt with fog. It left 4000 people dead or dying. Since then most cities in Britain have introduced “clean air zones” whereby factories and households are only allowed to burn smokeless fuel.Family Docto 家庭医生----In order to obtain the benefits of the NHS a person must normally be registered on the list of a general practitioner, sometimes known as a “family doctor”. The family doctor give s treatment or prescribes medicine, or, if necessary, arranges for the patient to go to hospital or to be seen at home by a specialist.（21）Marvellous Melbourne了不起的墨尔本----After the gold rush in 1850s and 1860s, there was an important revolution in transport, especially with the network of tram and railway systems. This changed the pace of urban life and the appearance of the city and soon people were calling the city “Marvellous Melbourne”. But by the 1890s outsiders were calling the city “Marvellous Melbourne” because of t he bad smell of the city.Waitangi Day怀唐伊日----In 1840 the first official governor, William Hobson, was sent to negotiate with Maori leaders. In 1840 Hobson, representing Queen Victoria, and some Maori chiefs, signed the Treaty of Waitangi. Modern New Zealand was founded. The anniversary of the signing, February 6, is celebrated as New Zealand National Day, Waitangi Day, and is a national holiday.（22）Multiculturalism 多元文化主义----The term multiculturalism was coined in Canada in the late 1960s. It was in official use in Australia by 1973. In other words, under multiculturalism migrant groups are able to speak their own language and maintain their own customs. Multiculturalism as a policy recognizes that social cohesion is attained by tolerating differences within an agreed legal and constitutional framework.Quiet Revolution 平静革命----Ever since 1763, when France lost its empire in North America to England, French Canadians have struggled to preserve their language and culture. In the early 1960s French Canadians became more vocal in their protests. In particular, they complained that were kept out of jobs in government and in some large businesses because they spoke only French. They have been struggling more rights common which was called “Quiet revolution”.Winston Churchill 丘吉尔Prime Minister of Britain during the Second World War. He took over Chamberlain in 1940 and received massive popular support. He led his country to final victory in 1945. He was defeated in the general election of 1945, but returned to power in 1951.Joan of Arc圣女贞德She was a national heroine of France during the Hundred Years’ War. She successfully led the French to drive the English out of France.。
(完整word版)英语国家概况名词解释
1. William the Conqueror 威廉征服: William was Duke of Normandy. He landed his army in Oct.1066 and defeated king Harold. Then he was crowned king of England on Christmas Day the same year. He established a strong Norman government and the feudal system in England.建立了封建制度2. Doomsday Book----It is a book compiled by a group of clerks under the sponsorship of King William the First in 1086. The book was in fact a property record. It was the result of a general survey of England. It recorded the extent, value, state of cultivation, and ownership of the land. It was one of the important measures adopted by William I to establish the full feudal system in England. Today, it is kept in the Public Records Office in London. 为了可靠地记录所有的土地、佃户和他们的财产并查明他们能交多少税，威廉派官员编了一本财产清册，称为《末日审判书》。
因为对英国人来说，这本土地清册无疑就是最后审判日那天众王之王所用的《末日书》。
真正英语国家概况名词解释（全部版）
真正英语国家概况名词解释（全部版）美国部分1.Amerigo Vespucci---Amerigo Vespucci, a navigator, proved that the land was not India,but a new continent. Therefore, the land was named America after.2.the Mississippi---the mississippi has been called "father of waters" or "old man river",the mississippi and its tributaries drain one of the richest farm areas in the world.it is the most important river in the world.它与它的⽀流流经世界上最富饶的农业区之⼀。
3.Hispanics---it stands for the spanish-speaking population of the united states.these people mainly center in new mexico,california and texas.there are three major hispanic groups historically having the great influence on the us.they are chicanos,the puerto ricans and the cuban-americans.4.WASPS---WASPS are the mainstream americans,refering to the white Anglo-saxon protestants.5.baby boom--baby boom refers to the higher birth rate between 1946 and 1964.6.the great lakes---the great lakes are the most important lakes in the united states.they are lake superior,lake michigan,lake huron,lake Eire and lake ontario.7.Ellis island---Ellis island was an important immigration reception spot in the 1890 and at the turn of the century.8."the great compromise"---"the great compromise" of july 16,giving each state an equal vote in the Senate but making representation in the House reflect the size of each state's population. " ⼤妥协 ", 即参议院中各州有相同的选举权 , ⽽众议院代表应按各洲⼈⼝⽐例产⽣ .9.the Emancipation Proclamation---during the civil war,lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation to get more support for the union at home and abroad.It granted freedom to all slaves. 解放宣⾔ , 由林肯颁布 , 为了得到国内外对联邦的⽀持 . 解放宣⾔给了所有奴⾪以⾃由 .10.no taxtation without representation---that is ,without their representatives taking part in decisionmaking,they had no obligation to pay taxes.没有代表权不交税,就是说他们如果对殖民地的事务决策没有代表权,他们将没有义务缴纳税⾦.11.the Chinese Exclution Act---it was passed by the u.s congress in may1882,it stopped chinese immigration for ten years.排华法案在 1882 年5⽉由美国国会通过,它10 年内禁⽌中国移民⼊境.12.Indentured servants---indenture servants refer to some immigrants who has to work for a fixed term for their masters to repay the cross-atlantic fare and debts. 契约佣⼯,指⼀些移民必须要在⼀个限定的时期⾥为他们的雇主⼯作来偿还他们横渡⼤西洋的费⽤和债务.13.boston tea party( 考过 )---in 1773,when ships of tea reached boston and the governor was determind to see that tea was legally protected in its distribution,several dozen boston residents dressed as indians boarded the ships at night and threw $75,000 worth of tea into the harbor.this came to be known as the "boston tea party".波⼠顿倾茶事件, 1773 年,当满载茶叶的船只到达波⼠顿时,总督⼤⼈决定看看,以确保茶叶卸载时得到合法保护,晚上,⼏个波⼠顿居民化装成印度⼈来到船上仍掉了价值 75 , 000 的茶叶.这就是著名的波⼠顿倾茶事件.14.continental divide---it is an imaginary line that separates streams that flow into the pacific ocean from those that flow into the atlantic.那是⼀条难以想象的线,将流⼊太平洋和流⼊⼤西洋的河流划分开来.15.federalists---they were those who demanded a strong national system and who later struggle hard for the ratification of the consititution. 联邦制拥护者就是指那些要求建⽴坚固的国家体系,之后⼜为宪法的通过全⼒奋⽃的⼈.16.the gettysburg address---it refers to the short speech president lincoln made when he dedicated the national cemetery at gettysburg. He ended the speech with “the government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish死亡 from the earth”.葛底斯堡（地址），指林肯在阵亡将⼠墓落成仪式上发表的⼀个简短的演说17.the ku klux klanthe kkk was the first organized in 1866 and then reformed in 1867.the kkk terrorized and attaked not only blacks,but also progressives,labor union organizers communist or socialist party members.三K党，最早成⽴在1866年，后在1867年重组，他们进⾏恐怖活动，不仅攻击⿊⼈、⽽且还迫害进步⼈⼠、⼯会组织者、社会主义和共产主义党派成员。
英语国家概况名词解释
英语国家概况名词解释（Cindy Cheung）1．A nglo-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.2．S inn Fein(Unit 2) Sinn Fein is a legal political party in Northern Ireland which supports the IRA to fight for the union of Ireland. The leaders of Sinn Fein prefer union with Ireland by a twin campaign, both military and political which they call the policy of “the Bullet and the Ballot Box”. It believes that without the participation of Sinn Fein the political problem of Northern Ireland cannot be thoroughly solved.(Unit 11) Author Griffith developed a political party in the period of 1905-08 known as Sinn Fein- meaning “we ourselves” in the Irish language. The Sinn Fein policy was that Irish MPs should withdraw from Westminster and establish an independent parliament. Traditionally, Sinn Fein had close links with the Irish Republican Brotherhood, a secret society struggling for national independence.3．H ome RuleIreland had long been dominated by Britain, but Irish desire for an independent Irish state was never lost. “Home Rule” refers to a campaign for Irish control of Irish affairs. The Home Rule Bill was finally passed in 1914, but the process was overtaken by the First World War and was suspended for the duration of the war.4．T he Bill of Rights of 1689 (英国1689 《权利法案》)In 1689, King JamesⅡ’s daughter Mary and her husband William were invited by the politicians and church authorities to take the throne, on condition that they would respect the rights of Parliament. The Bill of Rights was passed in 1689 to ensure that the King would never be able to ignore Parliament.5．T he functions of ParliamentThe functions of Parliament are: to pass laws, to vote for taxation, to scrutinize government policy, administration and expenditure and to debate the major issues of the day.6．T he House of CommonsThe House of Commons 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．T he importance of general electionsGeneral elections are very important in western democracy. According to the author, the provide opportunities for people to influence future government polities and to replace those incompetent political leaders.8．P rivatization in the 1980sThe British economy went through a particularly bad period in the 1970s, with high rates of inflation and devaluation of the Pound. Therefore, in the 1980s, when the Conservative party under Margaret Thatcher was in power, an extensive programme of privatization was carried out. Many state-owned businesses (such as steel, telecom, gas, aerospace) were turned into private companies. Privatization was successful in controlling inflation but at the same time unemployment rate increased rapidly.9．C omprehensive schoolsComprehensive schools are the most popular secondary schools in Britain today. Such schools admit children without reference to their academic abilities and provide a general education. Pupils can study everything from academic subjects like literature to more practical subjects like cooking.10．The Open UniversityThe Open University was founded in Britain in the 1960’s for people who might not get the opportunity for the higher education for economic and social reasons. It’s open to everybody and does not demand the same formal educational qualifications as the other universities. University courses are followed through TV, radio, correspondence, videos and a net work of study centers. At the end of their studies at the Open University, successful students are awarded a university degree.11．EisteddfodWales has a long poetic tradition. Poems written in the traditional Welsh language and style are governed by ancient codes and conventions. This poetic tradition has been celebrated for centuries in eisteddfod, a Welsh word meaning a gathering where people recite verses and sing songs. Wales had been controlled by the English for hundreds of years and so English became the national language. Speaking Welsh was seen as a bad thing. The Welsh language began to die, but Welsh speakers fought hard to preserve it. One way they accomplished this was to celebrate their culture and their language each August with a really large Eisteddfod which would remind people throughout the UK of Wales’ special cultural heritage. The Eisteddfod is now the largest popular festival of music making and poetry writing in Europe.12．The Great FamineThe Great Famine took place from 1845-48 when successive potato crops failed and many people of Ireland starved to death, or died of the diseases which preyed on malnutrition. Many left the country for the New World. The Great Famine became a watershed in Irish history, not merely because there was mass starvation and emigration, but also because the British government appeared to be indifferent to the fate of the poorest people in its nearest colony. Naturally this period is characterized by campaigns for national independence and land reform.13．The Easter Rising of 1916It was a rebellion by Irish nationalists against British rule on 24 April 1916 (Easter Monday). The Irish V olunteers, led by Patrick Pearse and the Irish Citizen Army, led by James Connolly, staged the uprising. The British crushed the rising within a week and executed its leaders. A wave of nationalist sentiment produced an electoral victory for Sinn Fein in 1918.14．Checks and balancesThe Irish system of government is based on the American principle of “checks and balances”: that is, the power of the executive branch of government can be checked by the legislature (the two houses of parliament) and by the judiciary, through courts which interpret the law. Enforcement is also part of the role of the courts of law, and is actually carried out by the police force. Both the legal system and the police force are conceived of as independent of political influence.15．The Civil ServiceThe civil service in Ireland is divided into sixteen Government Departments, each headed by a Minister appointed by the Prime Minister. Ministers have final responsibility for these areas. The civil service is politically independent in the performance of its duties and has no involvement in party politics. In fact, party political activity is strictly forbidden for all middle and high-ranking civil servants. Recruitment to the civil service is by public competitive exams administered by the independent Civil Service Commission and is open to every citizen of the Republic. At present, there are some 30,000 people employed in the civil service. 16．The DreamingThe Dreaming is the belief system from ancient times that has bound indigenous groups together. The central principle of the Dreaming is that the people who live on the continent have special responsibilities to the land. The people don’t own the land; instead the land owns the people. The stories of the Dreaming provide principles of how people should live and interact with the with each other. They also provide knowledge of the land so that the indigenous people can survive in the life-threatening environment.17．Terra NulliusTerra Nullius is from Latin. It means a land that is owned by no one. The British declared the Australian continent Terra Nullius to justify their invasion of the indigenous people’s land. It served to legitimize their taking possession of the land and devalue the indigenous people as uncivilized and not fully human. 18．PastoralistsThe pastoralists are major landowners. They are usually the magistrates of their local area. They used the legal power as magistrates to force convict labourers to work hard. They built their wealth on the unpaid labour of the convicts. This is why they supported the transportation of convicts to Australia.19．EmancipistsThe emancipists are ex-convicts who were fully or conditionally pardoned for conduct or service. They became successful farmers, lawyers, architects and government administrators. They contributed a lot to the development of Australian society. By the 1820s, a third of the richest men in the colony were emancipists, among them were Mary Reiby and James Ruse.20．The “Washminster” form polityThe “Washminster” form of polity is adopted by the Australian government. It is a mixture of the US Washington system of the government and the British Westminster system. This means that the political structure of the government is based 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.21．The Governor-GeneralThe Governor-General is the formal head of the executive branch of the government. He is the representative of the Queen in Australia. However, as the British monarch as no real power in Australia, the Governor-General acts only on the advice of the Executive Council, which is made up of himself and the Cabinet. 22．MulticulturalismMulticulturalism was adopted in 1973. It was comprised of 3 areas of policy: Cultural Identity, which means the right to express and share one’s cultural heritage; Social Justice, the right to equal treatment and opportunity; and Economic Efficiency, the need to maintain and develop the skills of all Australians regardless of their backgrounds.23．The White Australia PolicyThe White Australia Policy was officially adopted by the Commonwealth of Australian in 1901, in the Immigration Restriction Act. It was made to stop Chinese and other non-British migrants from entering and settling down in Australia. This was mainly achieved through a dictation test in a European language. The White Australia Policy was officially abolished in 1973.。
英语国家概况名词解释
T he E ngl ish r efor ma tion: religious reform in England in 16 century .as a result, the church of English was established as a state church.T he gl ori ou s r ev ol utio n:William landed at Torbay on NOV 15, 1688 marched upon London. In England this takeover was relatively smooth with no bloodshed nor any execution of the king.T he b i ll o f rig h ts: is the term used to for the first ten amendments to the US constitution. It guarantees freedom of religious, freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of assembly and petition, freedom from unreasonable searches and legal rights.U tili tar ia ni sm: was the ideal of Jeremy Bentham suggested the government's function should be to achieve “the greatest happiness of the greatest number”should be done in two ways: government should be efficient; should interfere as little as possible.Blac k D ea th:modern name given to the deadly bubonic plague. Spread though Europe in the 14 century 1347``1650 killed one half and one third the population in England.Con sti tu ti on al M onarc hy: is a system, under this system the King or Queen is head of the state, but their power is limited by Parliament or the law.Bosto n T ea Par ty: in 1773, British ships of tea reached Boston; several dozen residents dressed as Indians boarded the ships at night threw the tea into the harbor.Red Sc ar e: took place in America in 1919`1920.during it many Communists and Progressive people were arrested in America.T he Bri ti sh Co mmo nw ea lth: a voluntary association of some 40 countries that were once British colonies.Whi g s (i n Br itai n): originated with the Glorious Revolution .known by the nickname, derogatory name for cattle drives. Loosely speaking, the Whigs were those who opposed absolutely monarchy and supported the right to religious freedom for Nonconformists.N ew D eal: a program put forward by President Roosevelt to overcome the Great Depression.Cou ntercu ltur e: was a movement of revolt against the values, the aesthetic standards, the personal behavior and the social relations of conventional society.Blood y M ary: during Queen Mary's reign, at least 300 Protestants were burnt as heretics.Ch ec ks a nd b a lan c es: it is a system by the US constitution. According to it powers are divided among government branches and those branches check each other.T he thr ee w av es o f i mmigra tion to A mer ica n:1) 1810``1854:2)1860``1890 :3)1890```1914Blac k T hur sd ay o f 1929: referred to Oct 24, 1929, the day when the stock market in the United States collapsed. Tens of millions of shares were dumped on the Market and millions of dollars of paper profit were wiped out within a few hours.T he Ch urc h o f E ng la nd: a state church supported by the British government .the king is head of the Church of England.T erti ary c oll eg es: offer a range of full-time and part-time vocational cause for student over 16, as well as academic courses.T he U S fed era l sy stem: the US Constitution sets up a federal system of government which has two layers of rule .there is a central or federal government for the nation which alone has the power to answer question that affect the nation as a whole .there are also state and local governments .Each layer of government has separate and distinct powers laid down in the Constitution.Buil t envir on ment: refers to those features of the environment built by people or changed by people.Ben efi t o f cl ergy: referred to the privilege given to clerks in English history. At that time, clerks charged with criminals offences were tried in the Bishop's courts instead of in the king's court, and the Bishop's court did not inflict corporal punishment.T he ar ticl es of Co nfed er atio n: It was the first constitution of the US of America adopted at the Second Continental Congress and used during the war of Independence against Britain.Ban k h ol id ay s: are also called official public holidays. The term goes back to the Bank holidays Act of 1871.owes its name to the fact that banks are closed on the days specified.Rou nd h ead s: supporters of parliament in the English Civil Wars called Roundheads because of their short haircutsT he gr ea t C har ter: also know as Magna Carta which the English barons limited the King's powers. Regarded as the foundation of English liberties.T he Ind u str ia l R evo lu ti on: refers to the mechanization of industry and Consequent changes in social and economic organization in Britain in the 18 and 19 centuries. Britain was the first country to industrialize in Europe.T he Ca nad ia n S hi eld: covers almost half of Canada and it is a semicircular band of rocky highlands and plateaus around Houdon Bay from the northern shores of Quebec to the Arctic shores of the northeastterritories.Comp r eh en siv e sc ho ol s take pupils without references to ability or aptitude and provide a wide a wide-ranging secondary education for all or most of the children in a district.T he Pur i tan s were wealthy, well-educated gentlemen .They wanted to purify the Church of England .Dissatisfied with the political corruption in England and threatened with religious persecution, the Puritan leaders saw the New World as the refuge provide by God for those he meant to save.War Pow er A ct: it was an act that limited the president's power in sending troops aboard and required the President to consult Congress before any such decision.T he C ommo nw eal th: it is a free association of independent countries that were once colonies of Britain. Nations are joined together economically and have certain trading arrangements. The decision to become to become a member of the Commonwealth is left to each nation.E lectora l Col l eg e: the electors of all 50 states and the District of Columbia –a total of 538 persons—persons –comprise what is known as the Electoral College .To be successful, a candidate for the Presidency must receive 270 votes.N o ta xa tio n w ith ou t r ep r esen ta ti on: the people in the British colonies opposed the unfair treatment by the British government. They declared,”No taxation without representation”, that is, without their representatives taking part in decision making, they had no obligation to pay taxes to Britain. Britai n's tw o-p ar ty sy stem: the Conservation party and the Labor Party since 1945 either of the two parties has held power.Rena i ssanc e: was the traditional period between the Middle Ages and modern in Europe ,covering the years C1350-1650.The Renaissance was a period of significant achievement and change.M ultic ul tural i sm: means to recognize that Australians are from different backgrounds and social cohesion is attained by tolerating differences within an agreed legal and constitutional framework. M anifest D estin y: refers to the theory that said it was right for the US to expand territory.T he h und r ed y ear s' w ar: refers to the intermittent war between France and England that lasted from 1337to 1453.E stab li sh ed ch urc h es: two established churches in Britain, that is, churches legally recognized as official churches of state; in England the churches of England and in Scotland the Church of Scotland.Ab oli tio ni sts: were those Americans who demanded immediate abolition of slavery before the Civil War.T op ograp hical r egi on s refer to the regions that divide according to the shape of the surface land.Free churches are some of the Protestant Churches in Britain which are free from government.T he gr ea t d ep r essi on: refers to the great economic crisis that hit the whole capitalist world in the 1930sBlac k p ow er a mov emen t of th e b la c k Muslims led by Malcolm during the civil Rights Movement Contrary to Martian Luther King's idea, Black Power movement advocated violence and attempted to separate themselves from white society.Shad ow cab i n et: the party which wins the second largest number of seats in Parliament becomes the official Opposition and it forms its own “”cabinet” known as Shadow cabinetWha t w as th e si gn ifica nc e o f th e E ngl i sh C ivi l War?Not only overthrew feudal system in England but also shook the foundation of the feudal rule in Europe .It is generally regarded as the beginning of modern world history.Wha t w as th e op en fi eld sy stem l i ke in E ngl and i n hi stor y?Under the system, villages were surrounded by 3gteat hedge less fields .These fields were divided into strips and shared out among the villagers, one great field was left “fallow” each years so that its soil recovered richness.。
英语国家概况名词解释
英语国家概况名词解释英语国家概况名词解释1. William the Conqueror 威廉征服: William was Duke of Normandy. He landed his army in Oct.1066 and defeated king Harold. Then he was crowned king of England on Christmas Day the same year. He established a strong Norman government and the feudal system in England.建立了封建制度2. Doomsday Book----It is a book compiled by a group of clerks under the sponsorship of King William the First in 1086. The book was in fact a property record. It was the result of a general survey of England. It recorded the extent, value, state of cultivation, and ownership of the land. It was one of the important measures adopted by William I to establish the full feudal system in England. Today, it is kept in the Public Records Office in London. 为了可靠地记录所有的土地、佃户和他们的财产并查明他们能交多少税，威廉派官员编了一本财产清册，称为《末日审判书》。
因为对英国人来说，这本土地清册无疑就是最后审判日那天众王之王所用的《末日书》。
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英语国家概况名词解释1、The Constitution:Britain has no written Constitution.The foundations of the British state arelaid out in statute law,which are laws passed by Parliament; the common laws, which are laws established through commom practice in courts;and conventions.2、The house of Common: It’s the real center of British political life because it is the placewhere about 650 elected representatives(Members of Parliament) make and debate policy,These MPs are elected in the General Elections and should represent the interests of the people who vote for them.3、The electoral campaign:Before a general election,the political parties would start their electoralcampaigns in order to make their ideologies and policies known to the public.The campaign involves advertisements in newspapers, door-to-door campaigning,postal deliveries of leaflets and ‘party electoral broadcasts” on the television.The parties also try to attack and critisise the opponents’policies.Therefore,these campaigns sometimes can be quite aggressive and critical.4、Class system in British society:The class system does exist in British society.Most of Britishpopulation would claim themselves to be either of middle-class or working-class,though some people would actually belong to the upper middle-class or lower middle-class.Class divisions are not simply economic,they are cultural as well.People of different classes may defferent may differ in the kind of newspaper they read,in the way they speak and in the kind of education they receive.One of the distinctive features about the British class system is that aristocratic titles can still be inherited.5、Relative decline of the UK economy:The UK has experienced an economic decline since1945.But this is a relative decline rather than an absolute one.Britain is wealthier and more productive than it was in 1945,but since other countries developed more rapidly,it has slid from being the second largest economy to being the six.6、Comprehensive schools:are the most popular secondary schools in Britain today.Such schoolsadmit children without reference to their academic abilities and provide a general education.Pupils can study everything from academic subjects like literature to more practical subjects like cooking7、Grammar school s:it’s a type of secondary schools in Britain.Grammar schools select childrenat the age 11,through an examination called “the 11-plus”.Those children with the highest marks go to grammar schools.These schools lay emphasis on advanced academic subjects rather than the more general curriculum of the comprehensive schools and expect many of their pupils to go on to universities.8、Independent schools:are commonly called public schools which are actually private schools thatreceive their funding through the private sector and tuition rates,with some government assitance.Independent schools are not part of national education system,but the quality of instruction and standards are maintained through visits from Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools.Theseschools are restricted to the students whose parents are comparatively rich.9、the first English settle in North America:The first English permanent settlement wasorganized in 1607 by the London Company with a charter from the English King.The colonists settled in Virginia and survived by imposing strict discipline on themselves and by transplanting tobacco into the colony of Virginia.In 1619,the settlers elected their delegates and set up the House of Burgesses,and the same time they bought and enslaved black servants.These two events greatly influenced the political and social development of the United States later.10、Puritanism:were those who followes the doctrine of John Calvin and wanted to purify theChurch of England.They believe that human beings were predestined by God before they were born.Some were God’s chosen people while others were damned to hell.No church nor good works could save people.The sign of being God’s elect was the success in his work or the prosperity in his calling.They also argued that everyone must read the Bible in order to find God’s will and establisha direct contact with God.These beliefs had great impact on American culture.11、George Washington:was one of the founding fathers of the American Republic.He was theCommander-in-chief of the Continental Army in War of Independence against the British colonial rule and the first President of the United States.12、The executive:The chief executive is the President,who is elected to a four-year term.Apresident can be elected to only two terms according to an amendment passed in 1951.The president can propose legislation to Congress.He can veto any bill passed by Congress.The veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in both houses.The president can appoint federal judges as vacancies occur.He is the commander in chief of the armed forced.The president has other broad authorities in running the government departments and handling foreign relations.13、The Bill of Rights:consists of the first 10 amendments which were added to the Constitution in1791.The Bill of Rights was passed to guarantee freedom and individual rights such as freedom of speech,the right to assemble in public places,the right to own weapons and so on.14、Industrial Revolution in America:After independence,American was principally anagricultural country.The Industrial Revolution in England brought many changes to American industry between 1776 and 1860.One key development was the introduction of the factory system.A second development was the “American system” of mass production.A third development was the application of new technologies to industrial tasks.Afourth development was the emergence of new forms of business organization---the bank and the corporation.15、Agribusiness:Because American agricuiture is big business,people coined the term“agribusiness” to reflect the large-scale nature of agricultural enterprises in the modern US economy.The term covers the entire complex of farm-related business,from the individual farmer to the multinational maker of farm chemicals.It also includes farmer cooperatives,rural banks,shippers of farm products,commodity dealers,firms that manufacture farm equipment,food-processing industries,grocery chains and many other business.16、Higher education:In America,higher education refers to education on the collegelevel.American higher education includes four categories of institutions.They are the university,the four-year undergraduate institution(the college) the technical training institution and the two-year or community college.Some are supported by public funds and some by private funds.Many universities and colleges have won reputations for providing their students with a higher quality of education.The great majority are generally regarded as quite satisfatory.17、NBA:stands for National Basketball Association.Founded in 1950,it’s the association ofprofessional teams in the United States.It has two divisions:the Eastern Division and the Western Division.NBA is very popular not only in the US.but all over the world.The best NBA star in NBA history is Mcchiael Jordan.18、Yellowstone Nationa Park:is the oldest and one of the largest national park in the US.It’snamed after the Yellowstone River that flows through the area.It is known for its geysers and hot springs among other natural wonders.19、Football hooligans:reflect the violence associated with football.While all social classes used tojoin in the local football march,it was regarded as being not at all suitable for gentlemen.Visitors from abroad sometimes complained about stumbling into the midst of a rough and dangerous game when walking the streets of London,while local householders and merchants were troubled by having their windows broken by stray footballs.Dringking hard went along with playing hard.Today,violence is still associated with football.They are supporters of rival teams.They sometimes clash before,during and after matches and occationally run riot through the town,breaking windows and beating each other up.20、Winbledon:is the name of a London suburb.In Winbledon the world’s best players gather tocompete on grass courts.It’s one of the major events of the British sporting calendar and probably the most famous tennis event in the world.Besides actually watching the tennis matches,other activies closely associated with the Winbledon fortnight are eating strawberries and cream,drinking champagne and hoping that it doesn’t rain.21、The three traditions of Chrismas in Britain:one is the Christmas Pantomime,a comicalmusical play.The main male character is played by a young woman while the main female character,often an ugly woman called ‘the Dame,’ is played by a man.Another is to hear the Queen give her Christmas message to her realm over the televition and radio.A third is Boxing Day,which falls on the day after Christmas.Traditionally,it was on Boxing Day that people gave Christmas gifts or money to their staff or servants.Now that most British people do not have servants,this custom is no longer observed.However,a new Boxing Day custom has emerged,in the cities:shopping.Shops open up to sell off all their Christmas stock decorations,food,cards and gift items at low prices.。