2010-2011学年英语国家概况教案
Chapter 1 Introduction of UK
Teaching Aims and Requirements:
To make a short introduction to UK;
To fully understand the details of the four parts of UK;
To know something more about the important Ages of England, Scotland and Wales.
Teaching Importance:
England and Scotland
Teaching Periods: 4*50?
Teaching Procedure:
1. Introduce all the important points in this chapter.
2. Explain them as detailed as possible.
3. Rationalism
It refers to the belief that reason is the primary source of knowledge, and Human beings could understand Nature through reasoning because Nature followed rational laws.
1) Major Greek philosophers
A. Thales (624-550 BC)
a. He claimed that Nature is rational; therefore, human beings could use their reasoning abilities to understand Nature.
b. He reasoned that water is the basis of everything.
B. Anaximander (611-547 BC)
a. He disagreed that water or any single substance could explain everything, but viewed the world in terms of opposites.
b. He incorporated mathematical ideas to describe the world.
C. Pythagoras (570-500 BC)
Pythagorean theory (勾股定理); explaining the entire natural world with numbers.
D. Heraclitus (535-475 BC)
a. He introduced the concept of change as the only unchanging reality in the universe.
b. He compared life to a flowing river: a person cannot step into the same river twice.
c. Opposites are inherently connecte
d.
d. …Unity in opposition? created for perpetual chang
e.
E. Parmenides (515-440 BC)
a. Change was an illusion.
b. Human reasoning could discover the hidden universal truth(s) disguised by the facade of
change.
F. Democritus (460-390 BC)
a. Everything in the universe obeys the laws of necessity; they are the result of mechanical laws.
b. atomic theory, explaining that nothing actually changes.
2) Socrates, Aristotle, Plato
A. Socrates (470-399 BC)
a. He disagreed with the Sophists, and argued that some norms are universally valid and absolute.
b. two types of knowledge: innate or a priori knowledge and empirical or a posteriori knowledge.
c. question-and-answer technique, called the Socratic metho
d.
B. Plato (428-347 BC)
a. There were a limited number of forms (ideas), transcending the sensory world.
b. True, absolute and eternal knowledge must be a priori, or innate within human beings.
c. Idealism: Mind over Matter—Human senses provide inexact concepts of things; only human reason can give us true knowledge about the worl
d.
d. the Republic—Every person could reach the highest level of wisdom and virtue possible in his society.
C. Aristotle (385-323 BC)
a. To Plato, the highest reality was gained through reason; to Aristotle, the highest reality was gained through the physical senses.
b. Plato?s motto was …Mind over Matter?, but Aristotle?s motto was …Matter over Mind?.
c. Reason depended on the senses.
d. Four causes for why events occur in the natural world: material, efficient, formal and final.
e. He founded the science of logic: syllogism.
f. Geocentric theory: the earth was the center of the universe; women were …incomplete? men.
4. The Middle Ages/ the Medieval Period
It is a thousand-year-feudal era which occurred between Antiquity and the Modern Age, when the Christian dominated Western Europe.
a. Christianity
b. Christians accepted some earlier ideas.
c. religious interpretation/the study of theology
5. The Renaissance
It refers to the rebirth of knowledge in Europe, particularly the rediscovery of the Greco-Roman texts, based on a new humanism which focused on Man and characterized by changes in all areas of human endeavor.
1) Rene Descartes (1596-1650)
the father of modern Rationalism and the father of modern Western philosophy
a. mathematical logic
b. dualism
c. …What am I??—I am a thinking, conscious being for as long as I am thinking.
2) John Locke (1632-1704)
the modern father of Empiricism
a. Reflection
b. Nurture Vs Nature //concept of the blank mind
c. corresponding theory
d. some political views
3) David Hume (1711-1776)
a. impressions & ideas
b. concept of open mindedness
c. the law of Causation
4) George Berkeley (1685-1753)
a. Locke and Hume said that ideas come from the mind?s reflection on the physical world; Berkeley argued that ideas come from the mind of a supernatural All-perceiver.
b. The foundation of all scientific knowledge is sense experience.
6. Modern Philosophy
1) Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)
Combining elements of both Rationalism and Empiricism into one new comprehensive system to explain how humans know the world.
2) Georg Hegel (1770-1831)
a. paradoxical nature of change
b. concept of dialectal change
7. Modern philosophical trends
1) Existentialism (meaning & morality)
2) Positivism (Radical Empiricism)
Nature & Science; Russell & Wittgenstein
3) Pragmatism
8. Consider and discuss the questions of EX4 and EX5.
Chapter 2 Geography of UK
Teaching Aims and Requirements:
To make a full knowledge of UK?s physical geography, general characteristics and political divisions
Teaching Importance:
Location; geographical characteristics; political regions
Teaching Periods: 3*50?
Teaching Contents:
1. Location
1) a. Situated in the Northwestern Europe;
b. lying to the north of France, to the west of the Netherlands and Denmark, and to the east of the Republic of Ireland
2) The English Channel & the North Sea keeps Britain from Europe; the Irish and Celtic seas separate Britain from Ireland.
3) Smaller islands: Western: Hebrides; Northern: Orkneys, Shetlands; Southern: Angelsey, Scilly, Wright, Man, Channel
2. General characteristics:
1) Land area:
about 242,534 sq km; 1000 km long; 500-150 km wide; Higher in the northwest; lower in the southeast
2) Climate:
a. Remarkably mild maritime climate; favorable
b. It is moderated by the North Atlantic Drift Current. It is much milder than that of many
places in the same latitude, Labrador in Canada, Alaska in America and Heilongjiang in China.
c. Rich amount of rainfall: 760-1000mm per year
d. Dreary weather; foggy
3) Mountains:
a. Not high
b. Ben Nevis: highest in UK (Scotland; 1343m); Gwynedd: highest in Wales (1085m); Scafell:
highest in England (978m); Silieve Donard: highest in N. Ireland (852m)
4) Rivers:
a. Most are rapid.
b. The Severn River is the longest, rising in the mountains of Wales, tumbling and dashing, fast flowing into England, and finally reaching the Irish Sea at the Bristol Channel.
c. The Thames River is the most important, dropping and flowing slowly, and passing through historic towns: Oxford & Windsor
5) Transportation:
a.Shipping: good harbors and waterways due to the heavily indented coastlines and many short rivers; Main deep-water ports: London, Liverpool, Glasgow, Southampton, Cardiff and Belfast
b. Canals: Now for pleasure boating
c. Railways: about 1,7000km; Chunnel (1994)
d. Roads: well-drained; well-engineered
e. Airports: 54 airports (1995); Heathrow: the busiest international airport
3. Water
key geographical feature; less than 3%of the land area of PRC but more than 60% of coastline of PRC; the Atlantic Drift Current
4. Political Regions
I. England: 130,836 sq km
1) The Pennines:
a. The backbone of central northern England
b. Extending from the Scottish border to Birmingham
c. Divided into three sections: Northern: moorland & Northern Yorkshire Dales; Central: karst plateaus; Southern: Tourism
2) Lake District:
a. Located in Cumbria and northern Lancashire
b. Several geological types: South: moorland; North: weathered slate and mudstone hills; Central: Lakeland Dome
3) Vale of Eden:
Productive agricultural section; Major transportation corridor
4) Lowlands: Agriculture & Industry
a. Rich, red marl
b. Major industrial sites: three sections
the Lancashire or Cheshire Plain---west of the Pennines; the Midlands---south of the Pennines, the Industrial Heart of England or the Black Country; the Vale of York---east of the Pennines
5) Southern Uplands:
a. Masses of granite
b. Minerals: clay for Staffordshire pottery; quarry granite for construction
c. Climate: one of the warmest, most pleasant regions
6) South & Southeast
Lined with hedgerows; London; The Thames River; Visualized as a broken bowl (P37); Stonehenge
II. Wales (Cymru): 20764 sq km; mountainous land
Sheep & tourism; The Severn River; unemployment
III. Scotland: about 80,000 sq km
1) Gaelic & English
2) Three sections: the Highlands and Western Isles; Lowlands; Southern uplands
3) the Highlands and Western Isles:
a. Thin soils; tough gneisses, schists, and metamorphic rocks
b. Loch Ness in the Great Glen
c. Ben Nevis in the western Highlands
d. Sphagnum & heather
4) Lowlands:
a. Densely populated
b. Steep hills and strangely winding rivers
c. Edinburgh (the capital of Scotland): the banking and legal center of Scotland; Edinburgh University; major paper and publishing industry; Edinburgh Festival
5) Southern uplands:
a. Rounded, rolling hills
b. Sheep---the main agricultural product
c. Border country---old castles
IV. Northern Ireland (Ulster): 14160 sq km
a. Saucer-shaped (31)
b. Not rich in minerals; bogs for plentiful peat
c. Linen; livestock
d. Imported oil and coal
e. Tourism
5. Current situation
1) Advantages:
strong national characters; strong technological and education; good source of fuel; highly efficient agriculture
2) Problems:
trade imbalance; water shortage; increasing competition from outside; uncertain involvement in EU
6. Consideration
Consider the questions after this chapter.
Chapter 3 History of UK（1）
Teaching Aims and Requirements:
To let the students make an almost full knowledge of the history of the United Kingdom;
To let the students pay special attention to some important historic events and some great kings in the UK.
Teaching Importance:
The Roman Conquest; Henry II, III
Teaching Periods: 4*50?
Teaching Contents:
I. Prehistory to the Norman Conquest
1. Iberians (2500 BC)—the Celtic Invasion (700 BC-300 BC)
1) From earliest known history until the Norman Conquest in 1066 AD, the British Isles were invaded by migratory tribes and pirates landing along the flat southern and eastern coastlines, including Iberians, Celts, Saxons, Danes, Phoenicians, Romans and Normans.
2) The first known inhabitants were collectively known as ‘Iberians’, and inhabited Great Britain during the Stone and Bronze Ages.
3) From the 7th to 3rd century BC, the Celtic tribes arrived from territory that is now Germany and the Netherlands, pushing the Iberians into the highlands of Wales, Northwest England and Scotland.
2. Roman Britain
1) Invasions:
a. True Roman occupation was confined almost exactly to modern England and Wales, and then England was divided into two sharply contrasting regions: the Latinized south and east, and the Celtic north and west.
b. Julius Caesar waged two invasions of Britain: one in 55 BC failed, and the other in 54 BC succeeded but did not lead to Roman occupation.
c. In 43 AD, the Roman emperor Claudius ordered the full Roman conquest of Britain.
2) Contributions:
a. The Romans built military roads and constructed forts to hold troops at strategic locations along the roads. These roads were marvels of engineering, straight, raised above ground level and wide enough for a troop of soldiers to travel.
b. The Romans built many towns and cities and bound them together, for example, London, Bath, et
c.
c. The government of Roman Britain was decentralized, so larger towns had self-government.
d. However, the Roman armies were never able to stabilize the fiercely defended and rugged northern frontier. So, finally the emperor Claudius renovated Hadrian?s Wall.
3. Nordic Invasions (300-1042)
1) The Anglo-Saxon Conquest
Language; culture; common law; conversion to Christianity
2) The Vikings: the Danes
3) Alfred the Great: Father of the British Navy
4. The Norman Conquest (1042-1066)
1) Cause:
In 1066, Edward the Confessor dies with no clear heir to the throne of England. Harold, Earl of Wessex was selected as King by the Witan, but immediately challenged by Harold Hardrada, King of Norway, and William, Duke of Normandy, whom Edward gave his claim to.
2) Result:
Harold defeated Harold Hardrada at the Battle of Stamford Bridge but was defeated by William near Hastings. On Dec. 25, 1066, William was crowned as William I at Westminster Abbey by the Archbishop of York.
3) Methods to establish the occupation of England:
a. Devastation of the rebellious, and castles to protect garrisons;
b. Break-up of the old Saxon earldoms and establishment of centralized royal government managed by a new, French-speaking Norman aristocracy;
c. Appointment of administrative officers carrying out a variety of government functions as tax collectors, troop leaders and judges;
d. A solvent royal treasury;
e. An alliance with the Roman Catholic church.
4) Contributions:
The feudal system was completely established in England. Relations with the Continent were opened, and civilization and commence were extended. Norman-French culture, language, manners, and architecture were introduced. The church was brought into closer connection with Rome, and the church was separated from the civil courts.
II. From the Norman Conquest to the Renaissance
After William I died in 1087, he was succeeded by William II, who was murdered, and Henry I was crowned. Henry I died without a male heir, and was followed as King by Stephen, his nephew, and then by his grandson Henry, Henry II.
1. William I
1) Giving his barons large estates in England in return for a promise of military service and a proportion of the land’s produce
2) Replacing the Witan with the Grand Council of his new tenants-in-chief
3) Developing his policy towards the church, keeping it completely under his control and upholding its power
4) Compiling a property record book known as Domesday Book
2. Henry I
1) The first king of the House of Plantagenet
2) The influence in three areas
a. the area of law
b. the area of foreign territorial claims
c. the reform of certain abuses in Church government
3) his ordering the murder of the Archbishop Of Canterbury, Thomas Becket, in Canterbury Cathedral - stabbed at the high alter in 1170
3. King John and Magna Carta
1) Disasters caused by King John
2) Philip Augustus
3) Response of the barons
4) Magna Carta: the Great Charter
a. main points: no tax without the approval of the Grand Council; no freeman arrested, imprisoned or deprived of his property except by the law of the land
b. Significance: foundation of English liberties; guarantee of the freedom of the church; limitation of the powers of the king
4. Henry III and Parliament
1) Troubles
2) Montfort’s rebellion
3) The forming of Parliament
5. Edward I
1) Prince of Wales
2) King of Scotland
3) Expansion of royal power
6. Edward III
1) Hundred Years? War (1337-1453)
2) Black Death (1348-1349)
3) The Statute of Laborers (1351)
4) Nationalism: the war against France and hostility against the Pope
7. Richard II
1) Peasant uprising
2) The Wars of the Roses: 1455-1485
a. involved with two families
Lancaster----red rose;
York----white rose
b. significance
ordinary people little affected; feudalism receiving death blow; king’s power being supreme
History of UK（2）
Teaching Aims and Requirements:
To let the students make an almost full knowledge of the history of the United Kingdom;
To let the students pay special attention to some important historic events and some great kings in the UK.
Teaching Importance:
Henry VII & VIII; Elizabeth I
Teaching Periods: 3*50?
Teaching Contents:
III. The Tudors: Sea Power and Renaissance (1485-1603)
Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I
1. Henry VII
1) The first king of the Tudors
2) A secure country
3) Lady Margaret Tudor
2. Henry VIII
1) He created the Royal Navy, the basis of future British sea power
2) He made England stable and prosperous
3) He was above all responsible for the religious reform of the Church.
3. Mary I
1) Restoration of Catholicism
2) Killing of more than 300 protestants
3) Bloody Mary
4. Elizabeth I
1) Characters
2) War with Spain
3) Elizabethan age (part of Renaissance)
a. It was characterized by wars, rebellions, personal and party strife, and intense competition.
b. It was largely literary flowering, especially the Elizabethan drama.
c. William Shakespeare: 37 plays; comedies—Merchant of Venice, As you like it,
Mid-Summer Night’s Dream, Much Ado about Nothing; Tragedies—Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Hamlet, King Lear, Othello; Historical plays—Richard II, Henry V, Richard III
d. Christopher Marlowe: Dr. Faustus
e. King James Bible
IV. Founding of the British Empire (1600-1800)
1. The Americas: founding of the colonies
2. India
3. Australia & New Zealand: colonization
V. England in Revolution: Representative and Constitutional government (1603-1714)
In the 17th century, England was characterized by violence and change. Its centralized monarchy was checked and modified by the growth of representative institutions. Its government was representative or parliamentary, not absolute because it was put under control of Constitution. Constitution cannot be altered by the ordinary process of government.
1. James I (1603-1625) & the Parliament
1) No bishop, no king—the bishops’absolute power in religion was essential to his own monarchical power
2) Guy Fawkes Day
3) King James Bible
4) Puritans powerful in the parliament; dissension met the king’s repression---(1620)Mayflower to New Plymouth in America
5) Divine Right of Kings ---no parliament
2. Charles I (1625-1649) Vs the Parliament: the civil war
1) The first and only beheaded king in England
2) Call—dissolve—reconvene—dissolve—reconvene the parliament (long)
3) The Parliament: the Petition of Right in 1628
4) The civil war (1642-1649): cavaliers Vs roundheads—1649,1,30 Charles beheaded
5) Significance: overthrew feudal system in England; shook the foundation of the feudal rule in Europe---the beginning of modern history
3. The Commonwealth (1649-1660)
Cromwell: the republic
4. Charles II: the Restoration (1660-1688)
1) Nonconformists
2) Disasters
3) James II
5. The Glorious Revolution (1688-1689)
Whigs Vs Tories; William & Mary
6. Anne: the Act of Union
Great Britain
History of UK（3）
Teaching Aims and Requirements:
To let the students make an almost full knowledge of the history of the United Kingdom;
To let the students pay special attention to some important historic events and some great kings in the UK.
Teaching Importance:
The Roman Conquest; Henry II, III, VII & VIII; Elizabeth I; the Industry Revolution; Parliament
Teaching Periods: 4*50?
Teaching Contents:
VI. England in the Eighteenth Century
The Age of Reason
1. George I, II, III
2. Industrial revolution
3. Intellectual life in 18th century England
VII. Nineteenth Century Imperialism
1. Slow reforms: Britain as a democracy
2. Imperialism: arguments
See P87-93
VIII. Twentieth Century Britain
Crisis of Identity
1. Britain in World War I (1914-1918)
1) Ten million men died, and Britain lost over a million people, most of them under the age of 25. Apart from that, there had been considerable disruption of the economy and society. Out of the war settlement came the establishment of the League of Nations.
2) Two Parties: the Central Powers ( Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey) & the Allies (Britain, France, Russia, etc.)
3) The 1919 Versailles Peace Treaty & Fourteen Points
2. Britain between the wars (1919-1939)
1) The postwar depression
2) The Conservative & labour Programs (See 96-97)
3) The Politics
4) Eire
3. Britain in World War II (1939-1945)
1) The move
2) The Blitz
3) Winston Churchill
4) Britain?s support
4. Britain after WW II
(See P100)
1) Reduced military power
2) More autonomy for Scotland, Wales and Ireland
3) The independence of most Commonwealth countries
4) closer relationship with Europe
5) tense relationships with Ireland
Chapter 4 Economics
Teaching Aims and Requirements:
To let the students make an almost full knowledge of the current economics of the United Kingdom;
To let the students pay special attention to economic theories and something about the economics nowadays in the UK.
Teaching Importance:
Economic system; economic theories; foreign trade; economic development of UK
Teaching Periods: 3*50?
Teaching Contents:
1. Economic development
Three significant periods
a. the period of Empire (1701-1944):
the Act of Union & industrial revolution→sustained development (See P114)
b. that of Decline and Retrenchment (1945-1989):
steady development in the 50s and 60s; recession in the 70s (first oil shock in 1973); recovery in the 80s (Thatcher in 1979-privatization) (See P116)
c. that of Europeanism (1990-now):
2. Economic system
1) Britain?s unique mixed economy contains: relatively open markets, active government intervention, organized collective bargaining and lobbying, well-defined business structures and adherence to global trading rules
2) Markets (advantages & disadvantages)
See Page 121-122
3) Economic institutions:
a. Limited Liability Companies
b. Parliament
c. Political parties and the press
d. legislative lobbying and collective bargaining
e. international agencies
4) State enterprises
3. Economic policy
1) Keynesian
John M. Keynes suggested that the government should use fiscal and monetary policy to
fine-tune aggregate demand to achieve full employment, while using prices and incomes policies to suppress inflation at source. (price control; state intervention; high consumption; low investment----low competitiveness)
2) Thatcherism (P130)
Privatization; deregulation; market liberalization
4. Foreign trade
1) Traditionally, Britain has been an exporter of manufactured goods and an importer of food and basic materials. Now, the pattern has been changed: the share of manufactures in total exports falling and that of fuels rising, the manufactures have accounted for a rising proportion of imports.
2) Three factors influencing the change (See P126)
5. Exercises
The students are required to consider and discuss the exercises after the chapter.
Chapter 5 British Culture
Teaching Aims and Requirements:
To let the students make a full knowledge of British culture;
To let the students pay special attention to the general traits of the British, their customs and habits and ways of their entertainments.
Teaching Importance:
General traits; customs and habits; entertainments
Teaching Periods: 4*50?
Teaching Contents:
1. General characters & manners
It is very difficult to generalize about the British. The characteristics of the people living in different regions and of different social classes vary enormously. However, the following are regards as general qualities of the British, especially the upper and upper-middle classes in the south of England.
1) Exclusiveness
a. This is the best-known quality of the British people, particularly of the English people.
b. “I am English, you stay away from me. I am exclusive. I am quite happy to be myself. I do not need you. Leave me alone.”
c. That is because of the special geographical location and the distinct development of its history. (King James Bible/Shakespeare?s plays/the British parliament as early as 1215/ the Industrial Revolution)
2) Conservativeness
a. Generally, the British tend to be reserved.
b. They have to wait a long time before they are prepared to try something new; they do not accept change although they are told to, for example, the use of fireplaces in the large cities such as London, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham
3) Politeness
a. Language: “excuse me”, “sorry”, “please”, “thank you”; “I know the trouble I am causing you, but would you mind….”, etc.
b. Good manners: When you are invited to dinner, ten minutes late is excellent. When at table, it is polite to sit straight, to keep your elbows off the table and never to talk with your mouth full of food; you have to copy everyone else, ask what to do if you are not sure and keep the conversation going.
4) Love of privacy
“My home is my castle. The wind can come in, but the Kings and Queens and human beings can never come in without my permission.”
5) Stiff upper lip
The British do not show their feelings very much. They do not show their emotion if they are very happy and nor if they are sad. They always keep a ‘stiff upper lip’.
6) Sense of humor
The humor is self-deprecating, that is, laughing at oneself. The British enjoys making fun of their own customs, class system and even their government.
2. Customs & habits
1) Talking about the weather
a. “It?s a nice day, isn?t it?”
“It looks like rain.”
“I hope the rain lets up soon”….
b. Having conversations on the weather is partly because of the uncertainty of the weather, and partly because it seems a way of being friendly, without getting heated, unlike discussing politics.
2) Three …don?ts?
a. Don?t jump the queue.
b. Don?t ask a woman her age.
c. Don?t bargain when shopping.
3) Three …ings?
a. Betting
The British are great lovers of betting. They bet mainly on horse racing and Bongo.
b. Drinking
The British loves drinking so much that this habit is severely regulated. The drinking period is usually from 11:30 a.m to 3:00 p.m and again from 5:00 p.m to 10:30 p.m.
c. Tipping
The tipping system consists of small extra payment of a tenth or an eighth of the price or bill, given to certain employees, chiefly to waiters, taxi-drivers, hotel staff, hairdressers and railway porters.
4) Three Royal Traditions
a. Playing the flute
Every morning after breakfast, the Queen listens to the playing of a flute by the royal flutist who does so outside the dining hall for a quarter of an hour.
b. The changing of the Queen’s guard
in front of Buckingham Palace; at Whitehall; at eleven a.m weekdays and at ten on sunday
c. The British Queen’s parliamentary speech
5) Lavatory
W.C (washing closet); the Ladies? room/the ladies; the Gentlemen?s room/the Gents;
3. Class social system
1) Rigid
2) Aristocracy;
upper class; middle class; working class (see P136)
4. Health care system
almost free
5. Family
Family; Housing; Food
6. Entertainment
Hobbies; Mass Media; Sports (Crickets; baseball); The arts; Pets; Holidays
Chapter 6 British Education
Teaching Aims and Requirements:
To let the students make a full knowledge of British education;
To let the students pay special attention to the features of the British education system, especially, the compulsory system and higher education;
Teaching Importance:
Education system; compulsory; higher education
Teaching Periods: 3*50?
Teaching Contents:
1. Overview
1) Education is free and compulsory for all children between the ages of 5 (4 in Northern Ireland) and 16.
2) The Secretary of State for Education has overall responsibility for school and post-school education.
3) The government education departments formulate education policies and are also responsible for the supply and training of teachers.
4) The bulk of expenditure on education comes from public funds.
2. Education system
1) Primary education
a. At five in Great Britain or four in Northern Ireland, children go to infant schools; at seven many go on to junior schools. The usual age for transfer from primary to secondary schools is 11 in England, Wales, N Ireland, and 12 in Scotland.
b. Some children attend fee-paying independent schools, which charge fees varying from around ￡300 a term for day pupils at nursery age to over ￡4000 a term for senior boarding pupils
2) Secondary education
a. About 90% of the state secondary school population attend comprehensive schools.
b. Most others attend grammar school or secondary modern schools after selection procedures at the age of 11.
c. Pupils from the rich family are often sent into independent schools, which are often referred to as …public schools?, many of which are long-established and well-known, e.g. Eton, Harrow, Westminster and Winchester for the boys; and Roedean and Cheltenham for the girls.
3) Higher education
a. The British universities are governed by royal charters or by Act of Parliament and enjoy academic freedom. They appoint their own staff, decide which students to admit, [provide their own courses and award their own degrees.
b. Higher education is largely financed by public funds, tuition fees for students paid through the awards system and income charged by institutions for research and other purposes.
英语国家概况期末考整理
Unit 1 UK 著名景点 Big Ben 大本钟2、Tower Bridge(crosses the River Thames; close to the Tower of London; symbol of London ) 3、Westminster Abbey ( Gothic church in the City of Westminster,London; Coronation and burial site for British monarchs.) 4、Red Double Decker Bus (mass transit) 英国基本知识 1、constituent parts ? England/ Scotland/ Northern Ireland/ Wales(国旗) 2、the national anthem(国歌)? God save the queen 3、The national Emblem? 4、National flower? Rose (Wars of the Roses - civil wars (1455-1485) between the royal house of Lancaster ( red rose) and the royal house of York (white rose).) 5、地理位置 6、Full name?The "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland".（The British Isles不列颠岛; Great Britain; UK ; Commonwealth） 7、Three political divisions（行政区域）: England, Scotland, and Wales. 8、Commonwealth? A free association of sovereign states comprising Great Britain and a number of its former dependencies ; united as ?free and equal members‘. 9、Capital England(London); Scotland(Edinburgh); Wales(Cardiff); Northern Ireland(Belfast) 10、Backbone of England? Pennine 11、Ben Nevis? the highest mountain in UK. 1343m 12、North Ireland? National flower: Irish clover (三叶草)；Lough Neagh (the largest lake in UK) ; industrious; agricultural 13、Rivers and lakes?1. The Severn River(longest river; from the mountain of Wales to the Bristol Channel) 2. The Thames River (Main source of London‘s water supply;Second longest river in Britain; Costwold Hills--North Sea)3. The Clyde River (The most important river in Scotland)4. Lake District 5. Lough Neagh（The largest lake in Britain (396 square kilometers), Northern Ireland.） 14、The climate in Britain?pea souper 超级浓雾 Unit2 UK 1、the first settler? The Iberian(伊比利亚人) 2、Stonehenge(巨石阵)?was a place of healing center；The most important monument left by Iberian；There are about 80 stones, and each is five meters tall. 3、The Celtic language? the basis of both Welsh and Gaelic(盖尔语) (Irish,Scotish). 4、Hadrian ‘s Wall 5、7th century Heptarchy（七国联盟）?(Wessex; Sussex; Kent; Essex; East Anglia; Mercia; Northumbria) 6、Viking pirates(维京海盗) ? Vikings from Denmark；established some small kingdoms；Northern and eastern England 7、The Norman Conquest(1066)? The Normans that invaded England in 1066 came from Normandy in Northern France.
英语国家概况
英语国家概况-Land and people I. Different Names for Britain and its Parts 英国的不同名称及其各组成部分 1.Geographical names: the British Isles, Great Britain and England. 地理名称：不列颠群岛，大不列颠和英格兰。 2. Official name: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 官方正式名称：大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国。 3. The British Isles are made up of two large islands-Great Britain (the larger one) and Ireland, and hundreds of small ones. 不列颠群岛由两个大岛—大不列颠岛（较大的一个）和爱尔兰岛，及成千上万个小岛组成。 4.Three political divisions on the island：England, Scotland and Wales. 大不列颠岛上有三个政治区：英格兰、苏格兰和威尔士。 (1) England is in the southern part of Great Britain. It is the largest, most populous section. 英格兰位于大不列颠岛南部，是最大，人口最稠密的地区。 (2) Scotland is in the north of Great Britain. It has three natural zones (the Highlands in the north; the Central lowlands; the south Uplands) Capital: Edinburgh 苏格兰位于大不列颠的北部。它有三大自然区：北部高地，中部低地及南部山陵。首府：爱丁堡。 (3) Wales is in the west of Great Britain. Capital: Cardiff 威尔士位于大不列颠的西部。首府：加的夫 (4) Northern Ireland is the fourth region of the UK. Capital: Belfast. 北爱尔兰是英国第四个区域。首府：贝尔法斯特。 5.The Commonwealth (of nations)is a free association of independent countries that were once colonies of Britain. It was founded in 1931, and has 50 member countries until 1991. 英联邦是独立的前英国殖民地组成的自由联合体。它成立于1931年，至1990年止已有50个成员国。 II. Geographical Features 英国的地理特征 1.Geographical position of Britain: 英国的地理位置： Britain is an island country surrounded by the sea. It lies in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north coast of Europe. It is separated from the rest of Europe by the English Channel in the south and the North Sea in the east. 英国是一个岛国。它位于大西洋北部，与欧洲大陆的北海岸隔海相望。南面的英吉利海峡和东面的北海将它与欧洲其它部分隔开。 2.The north and west of Britain are mainly highlands; and the east and southeast are mostly lowlands. 英国的西部和北部主要是高地，东部和东南部主要是低地。 III. Rivers and Lakes 河流与湖泊 Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in Britain (1,343m).
英语国家概况_习题集(含答案)
《英语国家概况》课程习题集西南科技大学成人、网络教育学院版权所有 习题 【说明】：本课程《英语国家概况》（编号为12010）共有单选题,名词解释题,简答题,填空题2等多种试题类型，其中，本习题集中有[简答题]等试题类型未进入。 一、单选题 1. Celts were different groups of ancient people who came originally from________ A. France B. Denmark C. Ireland D. Germany 2. Who invaded and conquered Britain for the first time in 55 BC? A. Emperor Claudius B. Julius Caesar C. King Alfred D. King Ethelred 3. Who is the author of Murder in the Cathedral? A. Christopher Marlowe B. T. S. Eliot C. Ben Johnson D. Thomas Becket 4.When Oliver Cromwell died in 1658, and was succeeded by his son, ______, the regime began immediately to collapse. A. Henry B. Hamilton C. Richard D. Charles 5. The 18th century saw selective breeding of cattle, sheep and houses by _________. A. Jethro Tull B. Thomas Coke C. George III D. Robert Bakewell 6. Which of the following is not one of the members of the Lords Temporal? A. all hereditary peers and peeresses of the England, Scotland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom (but not peers of Ireland) B. lire peers created to assist the House in its judicial duties C. senior bishops of the Church of England D. all other life peers 7. Two years after the ending of the Hundred Years’ War with France, England was thrown into another series of civil wars, ________. A. the War of the Celts
英语国家概况教学大纲
英语国家概况教学大纲 Company Document number：WTUT-WT88Y-W8BBGB-BWYTT-19998
《英语国家概况》课程教学大纲 课程名称：英语国家概况计划学分：2学分 计划学时：32学时课程性质：选修课 课程类型：专业课面向专业：商务英语、应用英语专业 编制单位：外语系编制时间：2012年8月 一、课程的性质、地位和作用 随着我国对外交往的日益频繁和涉外工作的需要，大学生不仅要学好英语，提高语言应用能力，还应加深对英语国家社会与文化生活基本情况的了解，从而在工作和生活中更好地进行跨文化交流。本课程就是根据此需要，根据《大学英语课程教学要求》而开设的选修课，体现了英语教学必须实行语言教学与文化知识课程紧密相结合的原则，有利于基础阶段语言教学与文化知识教学的相互促进。 二、教学目的及要求 本课程涉及了英语国家的地理、历史、语言发展、文化、社会等方面，目的在于扩大学生视野、对于英语国家的理解不仅从经济、政治的角度，而且要从社会、文化的角度来看问题。 1.提供了一个对于英语国家的中立的、恰当的、多角度的、贴近实际 的调查。 2.提高学生思维能力、分析和解决问题的能力。 3.培养学生对于人类和社会的客观的、健康的、科学的人生观、价值 观。
4.培养能把英语的语言基础知识和广阔的文化背景知识结合在一起的 优秀英语人才，即复合型人才。 5.帮助学生对于英语文学、报纸、杂志、脱口秀、英语笑话等的理 解。 三、课程的章节、具有的深度、广度、难点、重点 Chapter 1 Geography, People and Language 通过对本章的学习，了解英语国家的地理、气候、主要城市、人民、英语语言的发展。 重点：地理、人口特点 难点：英语语言发展的三个阶段 Chapter 2 History 从国家的建立、进入封建社会、到现代社会的转化，全面地了解英语国家的历史。 重点：历史转折性事件、关键人物、工业革命、现代社会 难点：两次世界大战以及其对英语国家的影响 Chapter 3 Government 了解英语国家的宪法、政府、政党、选举等。 重点：英语国家的立法机关、行政机关、司法机关 难点：不同政治体制下这三者的关系、作用 Chapter 4 Economy 了解英语国家的近代经济、现代经济。 重点：英语国家的近现代经济 难点：在国家经济中起重要作用的产业
英语国家概况教案Lesson 4
南京交通职业技术学院 教案
授课主要内容 说明：教师备课笔记由学校自订式样并附后
Unit 2 History Lesson 4 A Brief History of the USA I．Revision: Oral homework：What’s your impression of the USA ? (可以适当的用中文) 参考资料 Mount Rashmore Mount Rushmore National Memorial, near Keystone, South Dakota, is a monumental granite sculpture by Gutzon Borglum, with 60-foot (18 m) sculptures of the heads of former United States presidents (left to right): George Washington (1732–1799), Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919), and Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865). Abraham Lincoln The 16th President of the United States, who guided his country through the most devastating experience in its national history---the Civil War. US Coat of Arms The Great Seal of the United States is used to authenticate certain documents issued by the United States federal government. The Great Seal was first used publicly in 1782. The design on the obverse of the great seal is the national coat of arms of the United States. It is officially used on documents such as United States passports, military insignia, embassy placards, and various flags. Franklin Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882 –April 12, 1945), often referred to by his initials FDR, was the thirty-second President of the United States. Elected to four terms in office, he served from 1933 to 1945 and is the only U.S. president to have served more than two terms. He was a central figure of the 20th century during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war, and has been ranked as one of the three greatest US presidents in scholarly surveys. II. New Lesson: Part I. Word Box Part II. Text Pre-reading: Give a brief introduction of the historic periods of the USA by referring to
英语国家概况(阅读)期末复习资料
英语国家概况（阅读） 1、Which of the following statements is NOT true? C.The Social Democratic and Labour Party is a very important political party in Britain 2、Which of the following statements is NOT correct? D.Parliament has no power to change the terms of the Constitution. 3、To get a bachelor’s degree, an American undergraduate student is required to do the following except ____. C.taking certain subjects such as history, language and philosophy 4、Which of the following is the only branch that can make federal laws, and levy federal taxes? B.The legislative. 5、Which one of the following is NOT particularly British Christmas tradition? C.Eating chocolate eggs on Easter Day. 6、Which of the following statements is NOT true about blacks after the 1960s? A.Blacks felt that they could be fully integrated into the mainstream of American life. 7、The New Deal was started by ___. A.Franklin Roosevelt. 8、Which of the following is NOT based on the fact? A.Members of Parliament elect the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. 9、Three of the following are characteristics of London, Which of the four is the EXCEPTION? C.London is not only the largest city in Britain, but also the largest in the world 10、In order to go to university, secondary school students in the US must meet the following requirements except that ___. D.They pass the college entrance examinations 11、Which of the following statements is NOT correct? When the War of Independence was over, ___. D.the relationships between the states and the national government were clearly defined. 12、Which of the following about the tabloids is not true? A.They are big format newspapers. 13、In the 17th 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 14、The largest religion in the US is ___. B.Christianity 15、Which of the following is NOT a feature of the House of Lords? C.The lords are expected to represent the interests of the public.
英语国家概况课程标准
英语国家概况课程标准 课程代码： 适用专业：商务英语 一、课程概述 1．课程性质 语言是文化的载体，文化是语言的基础。英语语言学习和英国国家文化相互依存、密不可分。一个优秀的英语语言学习者，若不了解该语言背后所承载的民族文化，其交际能力也会受到限制。该课程能使学生了解和掌握英美两国政治，历史，经济，社会，文化和教育等基本知识，了解英美国家社会发展、现状和影响这两个国家社会发展的因素，拓展学生的知识面，培养学生文化意识，启发学生了解西方社会，了解交际规则，增强学生的英语语言学习能力，为后续专业课程的学习打下一定的基础，进而为培养高技能应用型复合人才打下基础。 2．课程设计思路 本课程在设计上围绕合作学习法—任务型教学法、比较教学法、线索梳理法、启发式等教学法。 合作学习法—任务型教学法 合作学习法又称协作学习，是以合作学习小组为基本形式，系统利用教学中动态因素之间的互动，促进学生的学习，以团体成绩作为评价标准，共同完成教学活动。任务型教学法是一种以任务或活动为核心单位计划组织语言教学的途径,一种强调“在做中学”的语言教学方法。合作学习法与任务型教学法结合是指教师设计学习任务，指导并帮助学生以小组为单位通过合作、协商完成学习任务的教学过程。主要采用组织演示、演讲、讨论等形式。 2）比较教学法 比较教学法是在教学过程中，利用教学内容的相互联系和区别，促进学生掌握和巩固教学内容、达到教学目标的一种逻辑思维方法。例如，在学习美国的政体时，我们可以和英国政体、甚至是我国的政体进行比较，异中求同，同中求异。从而对“Parliament”、“Congress”和我国的NPC （The National People’s Congress）形成更深刻的理解。运用这种教学法不仅有利于学生掌握基本知识与技能，而且有利于提高学生的创造性思维能力。3）线索梳理法 线索梳理法，尤其是历史年代轴线表示法是表达历史线索最清晰的一种方式，这种方式的特点是易于梳理，可操作性强，非常直接，便于记忆。比如说，英国历史很长，如果不进行梳理，很难记忆，如果整理成一条线索，效果却不能同日而语： Early settlers——Roman invasions——Anglo-Saxons——the Viking and Danish Invasions——the Norman Conquest——William’s Rule——the Great Charter——the Hundred Year’s War——the English Reformation——the English Renaissance——the Civil War——the Glorious Revolution——the Industrial Revolution——the two World Wars 同样，美国历史部分可整理成这样一条线索： The war of Independence——the War of 1812——territorial expansion and Westward Movement——the Civil War——the two World Wars——the Cold War——the Berlin Blockade——the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s——the Vietnam War 二、课程培养目标 1．知识目标 了解主要英语国家的地理，历史，经济和政治等方面的概况；了解主要英语国家的文化传统，风俗习惯和社会生活的其他有关情况。 2．技能目标 扩大知识面，有效弥补英语专业学生知识面窄的不足；提高英语阅读的能力和语言应用能力。 3．素质目标
《英语国家概况》模拟试卷(二)及答案
《英语国家概况》模拟试卷（二） (考试时间150分钟) (英语专业) I. Direction: Read the following unfinished statements of questions carefully. For each unfinished statement of question four suggested answers A; B, C and D are given. Choose the one you think best completes the statement or answers the question. Write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space on your answer sheet (25%) 1. There are ______ political divisions on the island of Great Britain. A. one B. two C. three D. four 2. Magna Carta had altogether 63 clauses of which the most important matters could be seen in three of the following except _______. A. no tax should be made without the approval of the Grand Council; B. no serf should be arrested, imprisoned or deprived of his property except by the law of the land C. London and other towns should retain their ancient rights and privileges D. There should be the same weights and measures through - out the country. 3. The first steam engine was devised by Thomas Newcomer at the end of the 17th century, and the Scottish inventor ________ modified and improved the design in 1765. A. Abraham Darby B. James Watt C. John Kay D. Richard Arkwright 4. In some areas factory farming methods are used, particularly for ________. A. growing crop B. producing milk C. catching fish D. rearing poultry 5. By tradition, the leader of the majority party is appointed ______ by the Sovereign in the United Kingdom. A. Prime Minister B. Member of Parliament C. Lord of Appeal D. Speaker of the House 6. Under the Anglo - Irish Treaty, Britain established _______ with dominion status in Ireland in 1921. A. the Anglican Church of Ireland B. the Irish Free State C. the Irish Republican Army
2011英语国家概况期末考
2011英语国家概况期末考 1 of 100 Whose speech is closest to BBC English? A Cockney Southerners in England northerners in England A Welsh 2 of 100 The two newest states which joined the United States are _____. Alaska and Hawaii California and New Mexico Alaska and Florida Hawaii and Oregon 3 of 100
Which of the following is NOT one of the general standards for admission into an institution of higher learning in the U. S. A.? ACTP GPA MBA SAT 4 of 100 Britain's longest rivers are _____. the Severn and the Thames the Thames and the Clyde the Clyde and the Humber the Severn and the Clyde 5 of 100 New Englanders were originally known as _______. Yankees German farmers
Fishermen from Scandinavia English Puritans 6 of 100 The Constitution of the United States provides that _____ shall be President of the Senate. the Chief Justice the Secretary of State the Vice President the President 7 of 100 Which of the following is NOT one of the clauses in Magna Carta? There should be the same weights and measures throughout the country. The principle of parliamentary supremacy should be confirmed and free speech in Parliament should be guaranteed.
英语国家概况总结资料全
Unit1 A Brief Introduction to the United Kingdom 1.The flag of Britain : Union Jack （英国国旗中没有显示出Welsh旗） 2. The basic information of each country: Count ry Capital Area Memo Englan d London 最大 1.最不会把自己的 “英格兰文化区 别于其他文化” 2.一个高度城市化
3.The time joining the British parliament: However, in 1707 by agreement of the English and Scottish parliaments, Scotland joined the Union. 4.Difference between the British Isles ,UK, Great Britain , and England: British Isles: the island of Great Britain the island of Ireland
surrounding isles ●UK=Great Britain + Northern Ireland ●Great Britain =England +Scotland + Wales 5.The four major invasions in the history of Great Britain : At first, England was occupied by Celtic people. Then in 43AD Britain was invaded by the Roman Empire. Result: England and Wales became a part of the Roman Empire for nearly 400 years. the Angle-Saxon invaded. Result: The land they lived became" Angle-land", later changed into England, the language they spoken became English. PS：One of the best-known English legends derives from this time. In 5 century AD, King Author(亚瑟王) united the British, and with his magical sword, Excalibur（被称为“王者之剑”的圣剑）,
英语国家概况复习题(1)
广东外语外贸大学成人高等教育 《英语国家概况》第一套复习题 I. Decide whether the following statements are true or false. Write T for True and F for False . ( 1.5 points each , 30 points in total ) 1.The island of Great Britain is geographically divided into three parts: England, Scotland and Wales. 2.People from different parts of Britain like to use the name England to refer to their country. 3.In terms of population and area, Northern Ireland is the second largest part of the United Kingdom. 4.Because of political troubles, Northern Ireland has been quite significant among the four constituent parts of the United Kingdom. 5.The majority of the people in Britain are descendants of the Anglo-Saxons. 6.The Celtic people are the earliest known inhabitants of Britain. 7.English changed into what is described as Modern English from the late 16th century. 8.The British history before 55 BC is basically undocumented. 9.The Celts became the dominant group in Britain between the 8th and 5th centuries BC. 10.The name of Britain came from a Celtic tribe – the Britons. 11.The Anglo –Saxons came to Britain in the mid-5th century. 12.The Vikings began to attack the English coasts in the 8th century. 13.Henry II built up a large empire which included England and most of France. 14.The Magna Carta was designed to protect the rights of both the privileged class and the townspeople. 15.The Hundred Years’War was a series of wars fought between England and Normans for trade and territory. 16.In an effort to make a compromise between different religious factions, Queen Elizabeth I actually defended the fruit of the Religious Reformation. 17.In reality, the British King or Queen is the source of all government powers. 18.British Parliament is the law-making body of the Commonwealth of Nations. 19.The members in the House of Commons in Britain are appointed rather than elected. 20.Britain was the first industrialized nation in the world. Answer keys: 1. T 2. F 3. F 4. T 5. T 6. T 7. F 8. T 9. T 10. T 11.T 12. T 13. T 14. F 15. F 16. T 17. F 18. F 19. F 20. T II. Choose the one that best completes each of the following statements. (2 points each, 40 points in total) 1. ___B_____ is the capitall city of Scotland. A. Belfast B. Edinburgh C. Aberdeen D. Cardiff 2. Among the four parts of the United Kingdom, ____D_____ is the smallest. A. England B. Scotland C. Wales D. Northern Ireland 3. Almost a quarter of the British population lives in ____B_______ England. A. northeastern B.southeastern C. northwestern D. southwestern