英语国家概况(1)
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Introduction
Explain the following in English:
London
London is the largest city located in the south of the country. It's dominant in Britain in all sorts of ways. It's the cultural and business center and headquarters of the vast majority of Britain's big companies. It's not only the financial center of the nation, but also one of the three major international centers on the world.
The full name of UK
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Fill in the blanks:
The full name of the United Kingdom is ______ and _.
The island of Great Britain is made up of _, ; _ and _.
The United Kingdom has been a member of _ since 1973.
III . Choose the correct answer from the options given:
Which of the following is NOT considered a characteristic of London ( )
The cultural centre
The business centre
The financial centre
The sports centre
Which of the following can NOT be found in London ( )
Teahouses.
Galleries.
Museums.
Theatres.
Which of the following is NOT true about Britain ( )
It used to be an imperial country in the world.
It plays an active role as a member of European Union.
It is a relatively wealthy and developed country.
It used to be one of the superpowers in the world.
IV. Answer the following questions:
What was the British Empire
Britain used to be an imperial country. Before World War II, Britain had a lot of colonies. But after the War, many of its colonies became independent.
Chapter One
Explain the following in English:
The British Isles
The British Isles lie northwest of Europe in the Atlantic Ocean. They are made up of two main islands __ and several small islands.
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a Saxon noble man. As he could no longer put up woth the oppressions from the Normans, he became an outlaw and hid himself with his band of "merry men " in the forest. From this secret place, he went out to rob from the rich to give the poor.
the Anglo-Saxons
They 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.
Fill in the blanks:
Britain consists of nations, including England, _, and .
Britain is a country with a history of invasions. In 43 AD Britain was invaded by in the late 8th century they experienced _raids from Scandinavia and in the 11th century they suffered invasions from the __
The capital of Britain is _ _, which has great influence on the UK in all fields including .
Name two Scottish cities which have ancient and internationally respected universities: , and .
Both the Scottish and Welsh people elect their members of parliaments to the London Parliament and each holds _and _ seats respectively.
The capital of Scotland is , which is well-known for its natural .
Choose the correct answer from the options given:
The Tower of London, a historical sight, located in the centre of London, was built by_ _.
King Harold
Robin Hood
Oliver Cromwell
William the Conqueror
Who were the ancestors of the English and the founders of England ( )
The Anglo-Saxons
The Normans
The Vikings
The Romans
Which is the largest city in Scotland ( )
Cardiff
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Manchester
Where do the majority of people in Scotland live ( )
in the Highlands
in the Lowlands
in the uplands
in the west of Scotland
Which of the following statements in NOT true ( )
the Labour Party
the Liberal Party
the Scottish Nationalism Party
the Conservative Party
IV.
What is one of the busiest share-dealing cities (UK) in the world
Chapter Two
I. Explain the following in English:
1.The Provisional IRA
In 1919, a group calling itself the IRA expanded fighting for Irish freedom and independence. The Provisional IRA is the radical faction of the IRA. They prefer the use of force and believe that armed force is the only way to get the British out and to have an unified Ireland.
2. The Official IRA
The Official IRA is the political wing of the IRA. They offer their own social and economic policy. They hold that they have already made enough progress so that they can concentrate themselves on a political process and run candidates for election.
3. a "Civil Rights" movement
A Civil Rights Movement in Northern Ireland started in the 1960s by Catholics who often marched in the streets and fought for equality. As the Protestants were the majority, they controlled the local parliament and used that power to support their own economic and social dominance in Northern Ireland. Catholics found it difficult to get jobs or to benefit from social programmes such as public housing. Therefore, they began the Civil Rights Movement so as to get their right
II. Fill in the blanks:
To pursue Irish independence, the most spectacular event in the Irish history was _of 1916, in which the rebels occupied Dublin's and forced the British to take it back by _.
As Protestants were the majority of the province, they controlled the local _, and used that power to support their economic and social _ in the area. Therefore Catholics in Northern Ireland began _movement in 1960s, campaigning for .
In 1971 the Northern Irish government took the action to imprison terrorist suspects from both sides without _, a policy known as _.
R.U.C. stands for
III. Choose the correct answer from the options given:
1. In the seventeenth century, the English government encouraged people from Scotland and Northern England to emigrate to the north of Ireland, because _.
A. they wanted to increase its control over Ireland.
B. they had too many people and didn't have enough space for them to live in.
C. they intended to expand their investment.
D. they believed that Ireland was the best place for them.
2. Northern Ireland is the smallest of the four nations, but is quite will-known in the world for _.
A. its most famous landmark, the "Giant's Causeway"
B. its rich cultural life
C. its low living standards
D. its endless political problems
3. In the early 1970s, the IRA .
A. killed many Protestants and Catholics
B. burned down the houses of Catholics
C. murdered individuals at random
D. carried out a series of bombing and shooting and attacked the security forces as their main target
4. How many counties do you know there are in Northern Ireland ( )
A. 26 B. 6 C. 32 D. 20
IV. Answer the following questions:
What is Northern Ireland well-known for
Which is the largest city in Scotland
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Chapter 3
I. Explain the following in English:
1.the Great Council
In medieval times,this refered to a group of leading, wealthy barons who were summoned by the king several times a year to give the king some extra money. By the 13th century, representatives of counties, towns and cities were also included in order to raise more money. This was the beginning of what we know as Parliament today.
2.the House of Lords
The House of Llords consists of the Lords 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.
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 make and debate policy. These MPs are elected in the General Elections and should represent the interests of the people who vote for them.
II. Fill in the blanks:
The doctrine of the "divine right of kings" held that During the civil war in the 17th century, those who represented the interests of Parliament are called __, and those who supported the King were called oyalists/cavalier.
The British constitution consists of , _ and __ .
Strictly speaking, the Parliament today consists of _, _ and .
III. Choose the correct answer from the options given:
Which of the following is NOT characteristic of British government ( )
It offers the Queen high political status and supreme power.
It is both a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy.
It is the oldest representative democracy in the world.
It has no written form of Constitution
Which of the following is NOT true about the Great Council ( )
They included barons and representatives from counties and towns.
They were sometimes summoned by the kings to contribute money
They later developed into what we now know as the Cabinet.
They represented the aristocrats as well as the communities
Which of the following is NOT true about the Constitution ( )
It is a document which lists out the basic principles for government.
It is the foundation of British governance today.
Conventions and Laws passed by Parliament are part of the Constitution.
The common laws are part of the Constitution.
Which of the following about the Parliament is NOT true ( )
There are no legal restraints upon Parliament.
Strictly speaking, the Queen is part of the Parliament.
Parliament has the supreme power of passing laws.
Parliament has no power to change the terms of the Constitution.
Which of the following about the Queen is NOT true ( )
The Queen selects the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.
The Queen symbolizes the tradition and unity of the British state.
The Queen acts as confidante to the Prime Minister.
The Queen is the temporal head of the Church of England.
IV. Answer the following questions:
What are some of the characteristics of the British constitutional monarchy

Why does the author say that parliament is supreme in the British state
Chapter 4
I. Explain the following in English:
1.the formation of the government
651 members to a parliament are elected in the general , election representing 651 constituncies in the UK. The party which holds a majority of those " seats " in parliament forms the govern ment, with its party leader as the Prime Minister.
2.the Labour Party
The Labour party is one of the two biggest parties in the UK. It is also the newest party, created by the trade union movement at the end of the 19th century. It is a socialist party, believing that a society should be relatively equal in economic terms, and that the government should redistribute the wealth between the rich and the poor. It also thinks that the government should provide a range of public services for all the people.
3. the Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are the third biggest party and often seen as a party of the " middle ", occupying the ideological ground between the two major parties. They are comparatively flexible and pragmatic in their balance of the individual and the social. They emphasise the need to change the Britain's constitutional arrangements to make the government more democratic and accountable.
II. Fill in the blanks:
The UK is divided into _constituencies with ach of them represented by a member in
The party which wins the majority seats in parliament forms and its party leader becomes
Normally, a government can be in power for _years, and then it has to resign and hold a general election.
The electoral register refers to the list of citizens eligible to vote.
III. Choose the correct answer from the options given:
Which group of people can NOT vote in the general election ( )
members in the house of commons
Lords in the House of Lords
The UK citizens above the age of 18
The UK resident citizens of the Irish Republic
By whom is a "vote of no confidence" decided ( )
the House of Commons
the House of Lords
the two major parties
the prime Minister
Which of the following is NOT true about the electoral campaigns ( )
big parties can buy time to broadcast their policies on the television.
There is a limit on the amount of money candidates can spend in their constituency campaign.
Candidates and their supporters go door-to-door persuading voters to vote for them.
How many seats in the House of Commons should a party hold at least in order to win the election ( )
A. 651 B. 326 C. 626 D. 351
5. Which of the following party adopts a "fatherly" sense of obligation to the poorer people in the society ( )
A. the Conservative party
B. the Liberal Democrats
C. the Party of Wales
D. the Labour party
6. Which of following description about the Conservative is NOT true ( )
A. it has been in power for an unusually long period of time.
B. It prefers policies that protect individual's rights.
C. It receives a lot of the funding from big companies.
d. It is known as a party of high taxation levels.
IV. Answer the following questions:

Who can stand for election as an MP in the UK
Which group of people cannot vote in the general election in UK

Which part of the government in the UK has the power to change the terms of the Constitution
Who decide on the general direction of Britain's foreign policy
The Cabinet.
Chapter 5
I. Explain the following in English:
1. "The City"
" The City " refers to the historic area at the center of London. It is one of the biggest financial centers with the greatest concentration of banks, insurance companies and businesses dealing in commodities. At the heart of the City is the London Stock Exchange.
II. Fill in the blanks:
The UK economy can be divided into three main sectors: _ industries, secondary industries and _ industries
since the discovery of oil and gas under the , Britain has gained a strong position in the offshore oil industry.
III. Choose the correct answer from the options given:
Which of the following was NOT the reason for the relative economic decline since 1945 ( D )
Britain did not invest in modern equipment and new products.
Britain spent a high proportion of its national wealth on the military.
Britain had been heavily in debt to finance the war.
Britain had carried out the nationalization of the businesses.

Chapter 6
I. Explain the following in English:
1. William Shakespeare
2. Charles Dickens
3. The Canterbury tales
4. Modernism
II. Fill in the blanks:
is generally regarded as Geoffrey Chaucer's masterpiece.
Shakespeare's plays fall into three categories. They are , _and _ _.
Charlotte Bronte and Emily Bronte are noted for their novels and which are largely the love stories of a woman for a man.
Twentieth-century literature can be broadly divided into two stylistic periods: _ and .
III. Choose the correct answer from the options given:
What flourished in Elizabethan age more than any other form of literature ( )
A. Novel B. Essay C. drama D. Poetry
2. Which of the following did NOT belong to Romanticism ( )
A. Keats B. Shelley C. Wordsworth D. E.M. Foster
IV.
What are the two broad stylistic periods for the British literature in the 20th century

Chapter 7
I. Explain the following in English:
the FA Cup
The Football Association Cup is the trophy title tor a series of games played by major teams of the Football Association. Over 20 million tickets are sold to FA games each season. And sometimes, supporters of rival teams clash violently before, during and after the matches.
II. Fill in the blanks:
Each year. The best tennis players in the world gather at _ to compete for the championship.
III. Choose the correct answer from the options given:
Which of the following sports was not invented in Britain ( )
A. football B. tennis C. archery D. cricket
2. Where is the international tennis championships held ( )
A. Wembley B. Winbledon C. St Andrews D. Clapham

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Chapter 8
I. Explain the following in English:
1. Christmas
2. Easter

3. Halloween
II. Fill in the blanks:
Traditionally, people gave Christmas gifts or money to their staff or servants on _, which is the day after Christmas.
Many Muslims in Britain observe a traditional Islamic festival called _, during which nothing can be eaten or drunk between dawn and nightfall.
On the second Saturday in June, the Queen's birthday is officially celebrated by around _in London.
The Bonfire Night, which is celebrated in November, sometimes is also called
On _each year, Protestant "Orangemen" mach through the streets, celebrating their victory over the Catholics.
III.
Which of the following has nothing to do with Waster ( )
A. rabbits B. haggis C. chicks d. eggs
2. Which community observes the traditional Ramadan ( )
A. Hindu B. Sikh C. Jewish D.Muslim
3. Which of the following is true about the Guy Fawkes Night ( )
A. It is celebrated by Scottish people in November.
B. It is celebrated by English people in November.
C. It is celebrated by Scottish people in August.
D. It is celebrated by English people in August.
4. Which of the following commemorates the Battle of Boyne ( )
A. the bonfire Night celebration in Lewes
B. Trooping the Colour in London
C. the Eisteddfod in Wales
D. the Orange March in Northern Ireland
5. Of which people is Robert Burns a national poet ( )
A. Welsh people B. Irish people
C. Scottish people D. English people
IV. Answer the following questions:
How and why do the English celebrate this holiday-Bonfire Night


Which holiday is the biggest and best loved British holiday
When do people in Northern Ireland celebrate St. Patrick Day
Chapter 9
I. Explain the following in English:
1. comprehensive schools
2. grammar schools
3.independent schools

4. Open University

II. Fill in the blanks:
two famous public schools in England are _ and _.
Children in Britain must receive a full-time education legally from the age of to _.
Students attend schools from the age of 11 up to around the age of _.
Parent from the wealthier middle class prefer to sent their children to schools so as to have better _.
Comprehensive schools provide a education, teaching students everything from _ subjects like literature and science to more _subjects like cooking and carpentry.
III. Choose the correct answer from the options given:
In Britain, the great majority of parents send their children to_( ) .
private schools
independent schools
state schools
public schools
Which of the following is NOT true ( )
Parents send their children to public schools because they are rich.
Parents send their children to public schools because their children can get better jobs when they leave school.
Parents send their children to public schools because their children can have a better chance of getting into a good university.
Parents send their children to public schools because their children prefer to go to public schools.
In Britain, children from the age of 5 to 16 . ( )
can legally receive partly free education
can legally receive completely free education
can not receive free education at all
an not receive free education of their parents are rich
Which of the following schools would admit children without reference to their academic abilities ( )
Comprehensive schools
Secondary schools
Independent schools
Grammar schools
IV. Answer the following questions:
What are the purposes of the British education system
In Britain, What university can people go to without having formal educational qualifications
What does the nickname Oxbridge stand for
Chapter 10
I. Explain the following in English:
Terraced houses

semi-detached houses

3,detached houses

II. Fill in the blanks:
Like the housing system in the US and the wealthy English-speaking commonwealth, the UK has a very high proportion of , which means that the people own the house they live in.
Banks finance people to buy their own home through loans or _ paid back over a period of 25 years
Manual ( or ) workers would usually call themselves working-class; while office (or ) workers would call themselves middle-class.
People who do unskilled office-work and skilled well-paid manual work are likely to be described as class.
One distinctive feature about the class system in Britain is that it still retains a III. Choose the correct answer from the options given:
Which of the following is NOT true about the "flats" ( )
They are not considered as the most desirable home.
They are often in modern multi-storey buildings.
They are often publicly owned.
All of them are of low status and are very cheap.
Which of the following about class system in the UK is NOT true ( )
People of different classes tend to read different kinds of newspaper.
Class-division is only decided by people's income.
Though social advancement is possible, class affects a person's life-chances.
The way people speak identifies themselves to particular class.
Which of the following is not characteristic of the hereditary aristocracy in the UK ( )
The noble titles can be inherited by the children/
They usually own historic houses in the country.
They are the richest group of people in the UK.
The senior members can be lords in the House of Lords.
Which of the following is NOT true about life peers ( )
They are not from the aristocratic families.
They cannot sit in the House of Lords.
They earned their titles through their outstanding achievement.
The titles cannot be inherited by their children.
Which of the following is NNT an effect of the immigration on the British society ( )
There are now a varied cuisine for people to choose.
Class tension has been increased
New forms of popular music have emerged.
Different religious beliefs have been practised actively.
IV. Answer the following questions:
How are people in the UK divided into different classes

Chapter 11
I. Explain the following in English:
The commonwealth

NATO

Britain's special relationship with is another major factor which the British foreign policy.
The main government department such as also involves in making Britain's foreign policy.
According to the author, Britain is a democracy, so the government's foreign policy in theory represents the desires of its .
As an outpost of an American-controlled military , Britain hosts a large American military as well as the NATO .
III. Choose the correct answer from the options given:
The author holds that Britain had a big influence on the postwar international order because. ( )
it used to be a great imperial power.
It had a strong military power and prestige
It defeated Hitler' army
It got support from its former colonies
Which countries are the permanent members of the UN Security Council ( )
France, China, Germany, Russia and Britain.
The United States, France, Germany, , Russia and Britain.
France, the United States, China, Russia and Britain.
France, China, Japan, Russia and Britain.
In its imperial prime, Britain ruled . ( )
a fourth of the globe
a fifth of the world
a third of the world
two-thirds of the earth
Nowadays the British foreign policy is largely shaped by its participation in . ( )
the Commonwealth
the European Economic Community
the United Nations, the European Union, NATO,etc
a European federal government
Which of the following statements is NOT true ( )
Britain hosts a large American military force.
There are 63 American military bases in Britain.
63 American military bases are under the command of Britain.
Britain is an outpost of an American-dominated military bloc.
Which of the following countries does NOT have nuclear weapons capabilities ( )
Britain.
Italy.
the United States.
Russia
IV. Answer the following questions:
What are the foundations of Britain's foreign policy

What was the purpose of establishing the NATO in the author's opinion
When did Britain join the European economic community
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Chapter 12
I. Explain the following in English:
1,the BBC


2.tabloid

II. Fill in the blanks:
Britain's three most popular activities are , and .
III. Choose the correct answer from the options given:
Which of the following is the world's oldest national newspaper ( )
The Times.
The Observer.
The Guardian.
The Financial Times.
Which of the following is the British oldest daily newspaper ( )
The Telegraph.
The Guardian.
The News of the World.
The Times.
The British media have many important functions. Which of the following is an exception ( )
They supply people with news, keeping them informed about what is happening in the world.
They make huge profit by publishing advertisements.
They promote culture and education.
They provide entertainment.
A free press is considered very important to the functioning of parliamentary democracy because ________. ( )
it plays a watchdog function, keeping an eye on the government
it informs people about current affairs in the world
it provides people with subjective reports
it publishes short pamphlets for Parliament
In Britain most advertising is carried__________. ( )
In newspapers
In magazines
on television
on radio
Which of the following newspapers is printed internationally ( )
The tabloids
The News of the World
The Financial Times
The Observer
Which of the following is a quality paper ( )
The News of the World.
The Guardian.
The Tabloids.
All of the above.
IV. Answer the following questions:
Is the British press free from the government control and censorship


Chapter 13-16
I. Explain the following in English:
II. Fill in the blanks:
The flag of Australia is consisted of three parts: is the symbol of Australia's historical link with ; the seven-pointed star under the Union Jack represents the and the : and the formed by the five stars on the right is the dominant feature of the nights sky in the southern hemisphere.
is the official language by , though it differs in terms of colloquialisms and slang and accent from other forms of English.
Australia has a population of about , most of which concentrates in cities along the southeastern corner of the country, as the vast areas in the center of the continent are arid or unsuitable for . In fact, Australia has the among the continents and as result it is the driest inhabited continent in the world.
Australia is one of the most highly countries in the world with only 15 per cent of Australians live in rural areas.
Australia is country of immigrants. The first immigrants were transported from England in . Since then, especially after the W.W.II, immigrants from all parts of the world have come to settle down in Australia, bringing with them their own cultures and helping to transform Australia into a society.
Australia has states, internal territories and external territories. The internal territories are and Jervis Bay Territory.
Australia is a key supplier of a lot of agricultural products in the world market, including and .
III. Choose the correct answer from the options given:
Which of the following phrases cannot be used to describe the continent of Australia ( )
The smallest continent.
The largest island .
The highest continent
The driest continent.
The sharp increase in Australian population after W.W.II was partly because _______. ( )
a large postwar immigration program was carried out
the Aboriginal people and the Torres Strait Islanders were not included in the census before W.W.II.
more British convicts were transported to Australia
Australian soldiers came back from the War
Australia is divided into three geological parts, They are _________. ( )
the great Dividing Range, NSW, and Tasmania.
the Australian Alps, the Great Dividing Range and Western Australia.
Northern Territory, South Australia and Tasmania
the Great Western Plateau, the Central Eastern Lowlands and the Eastern Highlands
The European settlement ______ Aboriginal culture and society. ( )
devastated
promoted the development of
had no effect on
brought prosperity to
In 1787, Britain decided to colonize Australia because _______. ( )
Captain Cook's account of his discovery was not interesting.
Britain wanted to control the gold mines in Australia
Australia was an attractive place to English people
Britain needed new places to transport its criminals
The federal government and the state governments are formed by ___. ( )
the party chosen by the Governor-General
the party that has the most votes
the party that has the majority of the House of Representatives
the party that has the majority of the Senate
Chapter 17-18
I. Explain the following in English:
II. Fill in the blanks:
New Zealand is in the Ocean. is its nearest neighbour. The and the are its Two main land masses. They are separated by
Seasons in New Zealand are opposite to the with the highest temperature in and and the lowest temperature in
Major ethnic groups in New Zealand, in the order of population size, are , , ,Chinese and Indian people.
The official languages in New Zealand are and .
The first settlers of New Zealand were from , the ancestors of today's Maori.
III. Choose the correct answer from the options given: ( )
The two main land masses in New Zealand are __________.
the White Island and the thermal region
the north Island and the South Island
the Southern Alps and the North Island
Auckland and the South Island
The Head of State of New Zealand is ________. ( )
the Prime Minister
the Governor-General
the British monarch
the Ombudsman