英美文化背景期末考试

1.What is the advantage of America’s geographic position?

Mainland America, lying within the northern temperate zone, grows rich agricultural products. The long coastline not only provides favorable conditions for foreign trade and the fishing industry, but it also brings much of the country within the influence of the oceanic air mass. Canada, Mexico and America have signed a trade agreement known as the North America Free Trade Agreement. The door is open for free trade among the three countries based on mutual benefit.

2.What is the content of the Reed-Johnson Immigration Act passed in 1924?

As nationalism grew in America after the First World War, the US congress passed the Reed-Johnson Immigration Act in 1924. The act, also known as the immigration quota law, set limits on how many people would be permitted to immigrate into the United States each year. The number of people allowed from each country was based on the number of people from that country already living in the United States. The law was criticized because it favored northern and western European countries that had sent more people to America than other countries.

3.What is the function of the US Supreme Court?

The Supreme Court is the highest guardian of the US Constitution and other federal laws. It interprets the Constitution, and all the lower courts have to obey its decisions. Under the principle of judicial review, the Supreme Court can determine whether acts passed by Congress or actions taken by the executive branch conform to the spirit of the Constitution. It has the authority to stop any actions of the legislative and executive branches by declaring them unconstitutional.

4.What is the function of the primary election in the United States?

The primary election is the first step of the general election. It is to elect delegates to the nominating national party conventions of the two major parties, the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. Several months before the primary election, every aspirant for the presidential candidacy starts his personal campaign,

a campaign without the support of the party. The purpose is to get his supporters

elected to the nominating national party convention.

5.What are the major factors that have contributed to the fast development of

American industry?

①The New World provided an ideal place for the early European immigrants to

carry out their experiment with a new system based on liberty and equality. ②The ample natural resources provided another major advantage for economic development. ③The continuous influx of immigrant not only provided human resources but also helped to reduce the cost of labor, for many new immigrants were underpaid. ④The two world wars that devastated many nations did not spread into mainland America. Protectionism and isolationism enabled America to sit on the fence when other nations were fighting bloody wars. ⑤The US imperialist policy actually turned some other countries into suppliers of raw materials and markets for American products.

6.What do you know about the Mayflower compact?