英语专八人文知识背诵资料汇总.docx

Ge o GeographyGreat BritainAmericaCanadaAustraliaNew ZealandmountainBen Nevis(Highest mountain)Scafell(highest peak)The Pennies(mountain chain)Rocky Mountains(backbone or continental divide)The great central plainThe Appalachian mountainsMount Logan(highest peak)Mount cook(highest peak)Mount ruapehu(highest hill in north island)riverSevern River(longest)Thames River(most important)the Mississippi river(father of waters, old man river)Ohio river(American Ruhr)St. Lawrence(most important)the Mackenzie(longest)The Murray river(longest and Biggest)Lake Taupo(largest)lakesLough Neigh(largest)Loch Lomond(largest in Scot)Windermere(largest in England)Lake Vyrnwy(largest in Wales)The great lakeslake Michigan: entirely in USothers: Superior, Huron, Erie, OntarioGreat bear lake(largest)Great slave lake(deepest)The great lakesLake Eyre(largest)The Clutha river(largest in southWaikato river and Wanganui river(largest in north)climateMaritime typeReasons: surrounding watersThe prevailing southeast windsThe North Atlantic DriftNortheastern: humid continental climateSoutheastern: humid subtropical climateThe great plains: continentalSteppe climateIntermountain: continentalDesert climatePacific northwest: maritimeclimateMainly: temperate continental climateThe north: polar climateThe west: Temperate Maritime ClimateDesert or semiaridPlants: Eucalypts, wattlesAnimals: kangaroos, emus,budgerigarsFrom cool temperate to warm temperate(Januarywarmest, Julycoldest)Christchurchthe driest cityAucklandthe wettest cityReasons: its latitude zoneOceanic environmentMountains especially the southern AlpsEthnic groupsFirst settlers: the IberiansThe English(mainly) :Anglo-SaxonThe Scottish, the welsh, theIrish, the north Irish: CeltsOriginal habitant s：IndianImmigrants from all over the world(mainly from EuropeOriginal habitant s:the Eskimos or Inuit and IndiansImmigrations(mainly descendant of Britain and France)First inhabitants: indigenousAustraliansImmigration(mainly fromBritain)First inhabitants: Maori(10%)Immigration: all around the worldcitiesLondon(capital, largest city, largest port)Birmingham(second largest)Edinburgh(capital of Scotland)Cardiff(capital of Wales)Belfast(capital of northern Ireland)Glasgow(third largest, largest city and port in Scotland)Manchester(center of textile)Washington D.C.(capital)New York(biggest city and port, the big apple, Gotham,The city that never sleeps,the capital of the world, theEmpire city)Boston(美国雅典)Los Angeles（加州最大城市，second largest）Chicago（third largest city，Called the second city, the windy city)San Francisco(西海岸门户)Quebec(largest province, French culture)Toronto(largest)Montreal(second)Vancouver(third)Ottawa(capital)Canberra（capital）Sydney（largest）Melbourne(second, culturalAnd sports center)States:New south wales（oldest,Largest population)Western Australia(biggest State)Tasmania(smallest state)Wellington（capital）Auckland（largest）HistoryGreat BritainAmericaCanadaAustraliaNew ZealandIn 700BC,The Celts came into Britain1600-1900Pre-Columbian periodThe continent was foundedBy an Italian explorer johnCabotWilliam Dampier was the first English man to reachAustralia and James cook finally put it on the mapThe first Englishman to this country was captain James Cook（55BC-410AD）In 55BC,JuliusCaesar attackedBut failedIn 43AD,Claudius conquered the country without Scotland1492,ChristopherColumbusFound the new continent1607,first colony was foundedAt Jamestown, VirginiaIn 1608,Samuel de ChamplainEstablished the habitation in Quebec cityOn January 1th,1901,the commonwealth of Australia came into being,the first minister was Edmund BartonIn 1840,the Treaty of Waitangi was signed between William Hobson and various Maori chiefs, which brought the country into the Britain Empire and gave Maori the same rights（446-871）The angles, Saxons and jutes came to BritainIn 1776,the colonies proclaimThe independence and the Declaration of independenceWas draftedAfter the seven years war,The French were forced to give the Canada to Britain1916,Anzac Day(澳新军团节) was Australias most important holidayIn 1865,the capital Wallington was settledIn 1066，The Norman conquest built the Feudal system in England Introduced ChristianityIn 1783,the treaty of PariesRecognized the USA 1789,the government was set The Quebec act of 1774 granted the people of QuebecRights as French Canadians1950-1966，there was a boom in economic growth under menziess ruleIn 1893,New Zealand became the first country to give woman the Right to voteIn 1215,The great chartera limitation Of the power of the king1861-1865,the civil war and Lincoln declared EmancipationProclamation, in 1865,the Thirteenth Amendment banned slaveryIn 1867,three colonies-QuebecNew Brunswick and nova scotia joined in a confederation by theBritish North America ActIn 1972,gough Whitlam established relationshipWith ChinaIn 1216,The summon of the great Council later developed into The house of lords and theHouse of commonsUS joint the world war in April1917In 1931,Canadabecame a member of the commonwealthOf nations(1337-1453)The hundred years war with France(reduced labor largely)In 1920s,America enjoyed a period of unbalanced prosperity-material success but spiritual frustration or confusionIn 1949,newfoundland becameCanadas tenth province(1455-1485)The war of rosesLancaster-red roseYork-white roseHenry Tudor won the battleIn 1920s,America experiencedThe great depression and franklin Roosevelts New Deal(1642-1651)The civil warsCharles（support from northAnd west)The parliament(southeast)Charles was executed in 1649In 1660,The restorationKing Charles 2nd return from France)In 1941,japan attack the pearlHarbor and the next day USA joint the second world wara date which will live in infamyIn 1688,The glorious revolutionWilliam of orange and Mary passed Bill of Rights1707 The Act of Union united England and ScotlandIn 1949,the north Atlantic treaty was signed-military alliance(1780-1830)The industrial revolution1950-1975,the Vietnam war,The policy of containment badly influence the country(1830-1848)The chartist movement The parliament passed The Peoples Charter1945-1989,the cold war between America and the soviet union-the Korean war and the Cuban missile crisisPoliticsGreat BritainAmericaCanadaAustraliaNew ZealandThe state systemConstitutional monarchyEstablished on the basis of three main principles:Federalism, the separation of Powers(checks and balance) and respect for the constitution(oldest in the world) and the rule of law名义上是constitutional Monarchy实际上是Parliamentary democracyThe head of state: Elizabeth 2thThe viceroy(总督)Prime ministerFederationThe head: the queen of UKIt consists of the federal parliament, six stateParliaments and governments, about 900 local governments and six state governorsA sovereign independentState, with a parliamentaryGovernment and a Constitutional monarchyHead: queen Elizabeth 2thExecutive powerUK government, prime minister is the head of government and 20 ministers make up the cabinetPresident is elected to a 4 year Term with only two termsThe governor general is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister usually for 5-year termThe cabinetThe government is formed byThe party that holds a majority of seatsThe governor general is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister usually for 5-year term The cabinetLegislative powerThe government and the two chambers of parliamentThe house of representatives(2-year term with 435 members) And the senate(6- year term with 100 members)Judiciary Independent of the above two, Britain had no written constitutions and the constitution consists of state law, the common laws and conventionsThe supreme court(created by the constitution,1chief justiceAnd 8 associate justices)Federal courts of appeal(11)Federal district(91)Supreme court(1 chief justice and 8 puisne justice until the age of 75)Province courtNative courtIt is independent of the governmentparliamentThe supreme legislative body, it consists of the sovereign, the house of lords(temporal and spiritual) and the house of commons(651 members and election held every 5 years)The monarch, the senate(105 members until the age of 75) and The house of commons(308 members, less than 5 years)The house of representatives(150 members for 3-year term) and the senate(76 members for 6-year term)Election take place every 3 yearsHas only one chamber-The house of representatives(120 members and elected for 3yearspartiesMain partiesConservative partyLabor partyThe liberal democrats(Third largest party)The democratic partyThe republican partyThe liberal partyThe progressive conservative partyAustralian labor partyLiberal party of AustraliaNational party of AustraliaThe national party(center-Right conservative)The labor party(center-leftProgressive)EconomyGreat BritainAmericaCanadaAustraliaNew ZealandPrimary industriesAgriculture:2% populationManage 70% landThe best land is in theSoutheastMain crops: wheat, barleyFishingMining: coalProduce 1/4 of world grain and sell 1/2 of the grainProduce 50% of the corn in the world(Midwest, Iowa)Biggest producer and user of Tobacco in the worldOne of the worlds largestSupplier of agricultural productsMainly produce Wheat Natural resources mainly export to Japan, China, the US,South Korea and New ZealandWorld largest export of wool,Second largest of meat andThird largest of wheatImport raw materials andmineralsSecondary industriesManufacturingShipbuilding(river Tyne ,Newcastle)Engineering:8 car brandsElectronics: fourth in worldCenter of heavy industry: MidwestMainly produce motor vehicleAnd transportation equipmentBiggest producers of minerals and metals and worlds Largest exporter of coalMajor export of uranium(铀)Crude oil and natural gasThe worlds biggest farmWorld largest exporter ofLamb, mutton, dairy products and woolLeader in CNG(压缩天然气Tertiary(service) industriesProduce 65% wealth andEmploy 70% workforceLondon: financial center,Media, culture centerManufacturing is the most Important economic activityCultureGreat BritainAmericaCanadaAustraliaNew ZealandsportsCricket(most English)Football(most popular in England)Tennis(origin in England)Golf(origin in Scotland)Football(24 teams, AFC, NFC)Baseball: oldest sport in USBasketball(NBA)Cricket: national sportRugby: most popular wintersportmediaBBC(founded in 1926,43Languages)TV:bbc1,bbc2,ITV,channel4Newspapers:The times(1785,Britains oldest daily newspaper)The observer(worlds oldest national newspaper)Periodicals: the economistSpectatorNews agencies: ReutersPress associationExcel financial Ltd.Newspapers:The wall street journalUSA todayThe New York times MagazinesReaders digestTV guideNational geographicTimeNewsweekElectronic media:CBS NBS ABC PBSFestivals: skyscraper by LouisSullivan, jazz, rock and rollBroadcasting:CBC NFBNewspapers:The Toronto starThe globe and mailLe journal de MontrealMagazines:MacleansNews weeklyNewspapersThe AustraliaThe Sydney morning heraldThe ageThe Australia financial reviewMagazines:The Australian womansWeeklySydney gazetteNews agencyAustraliafestivalsChristmas day(biggest)Easter(spring time, womenWear new clothes, childrenGet Easter eggNew years day(ScottishHogmanay, important)Bonfire night(guy Fawkes)Halloween(wear strange Cloth and girls see their future husband)Eisteddfod in wales(poeticTradition, in august)Christmas day(biggest)New years day(mummersParade, the rose tournament)Valentines day(for lovers)Easter day(second important)Independent day(July 4th)Halloween(night-time childrens holiday)Thanksgiving(fourth Thursday In November)religionChristianity-Islam-Hinduism-Sikism-judaismChurch of England(ChristianChurch)Church province: CanterburyAnd YorkThe free churches: theMethodist church（largest free church）Religious fervencyProtestants(60% population，Largest group is the Baptists, second is Methodists)Roman catholic:(more than1/4 mainly in New York and Massachusetts)Judaism: small minorityEducationGreat BritainAmericaCanadaAustraliaNew ZealandEducation systemGovernment responsible for EducationThe local education Authorities are responsible for the state schoolsCompulsory education(5-16)Two categories:The state schools(localGovernment support, 93%)The private schools(privateSectors and tuition rates)Government responsible for Education and system decentralized by stateThree levels:FederalStateLocalEducation is provincial ResponsibilityThe same as BritainThe same as BritainPrimary educationBegin at 5 in England and WalesBegin at 3 in ScotlandPre-school:Pre-kindergarten:4-5Kindergarten:5-6Elementary education:Public schools (85%)elementary Secondary educationFrom 11 to 16Comprehensive schools:90%Pupils without academic referenceGrammar schools: the 11-plusMust learn English, math and ScienceAfter 16A-level exams(at 18)GNVQsJunior high schoolSenior high schoolPublic school supported byLocal, state, federal fundingPrivate school are mainly run byChurchesUniversity educationGet funds from the centralGovernmentGet a 3-year courseThe university of OxfordThe university of CambridgeThe university of Buckingham(only private funded university)Get 4-year courseFunction: teaching, research,EndowmentsHigher education began withThe founding with the founding Of Harvard collageYale universityMIT, Stanford, BerkeleyPost secondaryOldest university: LavalUniversity in Quebec city founded in 1663Largest university: university of TorontoAuckland universityLincoln universityMassey universityUniversity of AucklandUniversity of CanterburyLiteratureBritish literature中古时期-before 15th1. Beowulf represents the highest achievement of the old English2. Caedmon is the earliest English poet3. Sir Gawain and the green knight is one of the best Middle English romance4. William Langland-piers the plowman-the great work along with the Canterbury tales5. Geoffrey Chaucer-“the father of English poetry” and “the father of English fiction”6. The Robin Hood Ballads-English folk literature文艺复兴时期-14th17thDrama is the most distinctive achievementPoetry1. Thomas Wyatt is the first to introduce sonnet into English2. Edmund Spenser is “the poets poet” and poet laureateMasterpiece: the faerie queen (Spenserian stanza-eight iambic pentameter lines and a line of six iambic feet)Other works: the shepherds calendar epithalamionProse1. Thomas More Masterpiece-utopia2. Francis Bacon is Englands first essayist3.John Lyly-euphues(the use of euphuism夸饰文体)Drama1. Christopher Marlowe-the greatest playwright before Shakespeare and most gifted university writerHe first use blank verse in drama and paved the way for ShakespeareWorks: Tamburlaine the tragic history of doctor Faustus (best play) the Jew of Malta2. William Shakespeare(37 plays,154 sonnets)Four great Comedies: a midsummer nights dream, as you like it, the merchant of Venice, twelfth nightFour great tragedies: Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth3. Ben Johnson-vulpine-satirical comedy资产阶级革命和王朝复辟时期-17thLiterature of the revolution period (age of Milton) of restoration period (age of Dryden)Poets1. John Milton (a master of blank verse)Masterpiece: paradise lost others: Samson agonists paradise regainedJohn Donne-the founder of the metaphysical schoolMasterpiece: a valediction: forbidding mourningProses1. John Bunyan-the pilgrims progressWritersJeremy Collier-a short view of the immorality and profaneness of the English stage2. John Dryden-the father of English criticismForerunner of the English classical school of literature in the 18thand poet laureate for 20 years, he also created the heroic coupletan essay of dramatic poesy(best work) all for love Absalom and acidophil the hind and the panther启蒙运动时期-18th The age of enlightenment/reasonEnlightenment movement (reason, equality, science)Neoclassicism (a revival of classical standards of order, balance and harmony, john Dryden and alexander pope)SentimentalismThe graveyard school (sentimental lamentation or meditation, Thomas gray is the leading figure)Writers of Neoclassicism1. Alexander Pope-the greatest English poet of the 18th centuryBest known for his satirical verse, one of the first to introduce rationalismWorks: an essay on criticism the rape of the lock essay on man2. Samuel Johnson-“grand champion in literature of that age”Works: the dictionary of the English language the lives of English poetsWriters of realistic tradition1. Daniel Defoe-the discoverer of the modern novel “father of English and European novels”Robinson Crusoe-the first English novelOther works: captain singleton colonel Jacque moll Flanders2. Jonathan Swift(an Irish master of satires)Works: a tale of a tub (established his name as a satirist) a modest proposalMasterpiece: Gullivers