英美国家概况名词解释重点

1.The functions of Parliament

The 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.

2.The House of Lords上议院

The House of Lords consists of the Lord Spiritual, who are the Archbishops and most prominent bishops of the Church of England; and the Lords Temporal, which refers to those lords who either have inherited the seat from their forefathers or they have been appointed. The lords mainly represent themselves instead of the interests of the public.

3.The House of Commons

The 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.

1.Romanticism

Roughly the first third of the 19th century makes up English Literature’s romantic period. Writers of romantic literature are more concerned with imagination and feeling than with

the power of reason. A volume of poems called Lyrical Ballads written by William Words worth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge is regarded as the romantic poetry’s “Declaration of Independence.”Keats, Byron and Shelly, the three great poets, brought the Romantic Movement to its height. The spirit of Romanticism also occurred in the novel.

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 cooking.

1.Quality paper

They belong to one of the categories of the national dailies. The quality papers carry more serious and in-depth articles of particular political and social importance. They also carry reviews, such as book reviews, and feature articles about high culture. These papers are also referred to as “the broadsheets” because they are printed on large size paper. The readers of such newspaper are generally a well-educated middle class audience.

2.Tabloids

A tabloid is a small format newspaper with color photos and catchy headlines. Tabloids are interested in scandals and gossip usually about famous people. They also carry lots of crime, sports and sensational human interest stories so as to attract readers. Stories are short, easy to read and often rely more on opinions than fact. They belong to a category of national papers different form qualities paper.

1.The three traditions of Christmas in Britain

There are three Christmas traditions which are particularly British: 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 ugly woman called “the Dame,” is played by a man. Another British Christmas tradition is to hear the Queen give her Christmas message to her realm over the television and radio. A third British tradition 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