整理英语国家概况期末考试题型及复习要点.doc

英语国家概况期末考试题型及复习要点I. Fill in the blanks. (20 points, 1 point for each)II. Multiple choice questions. (20 points, 1 point for each)III. True or False. (10 points, 1 point for each)IV. Explain the following terms: (25 points, 5 points for each)V. Answer the questions. (25 points, 5 points for each)填空、选择和判断正误部分：关注所学英美国家内容中的重点史实和重要知识要点。名词解释部分：1. British Commonwealth Also known as the Commonwealth of Nations.a) It is a free association of independent countries that were once colonies of Britain.b) It was established in 1931, replacing the former British Empire. c) Member nations are joined together economically and have certain trading arrangements. d) Today there are about 50 member countries within the Commonwealth2. Lake Poets The Lake Poets are a group of English poets who all lived in the Lake District of England and were inspired by it to create romantic works at the turn of the 19th century. The three poets of the Lakes School were William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Robert Southey.3. Black DeathIt was a disease or plague spread by rat fleas in 14th century .It spread through Europe in the middle of 14th century and reached England in the summer of 1348.Many people died and the population of England shrank .It caused labor shortage and other social problems .4. Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (100 BC 44 BC) was a Roman general, historian and statesman. He invaded Britain (55BC), crushed the army of his political enemy Pompey (48BC), pursued other enemies to Egypt, where he installed Cleopatra as queen (47BC), returned to Rome, and was given a mandate by the people to rule as dictator until he was murdered (44BC). 5. King ArthurA Romano-Briton warrior, between AD 400 and AD 600, King Arthur was a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Romano-Celtic Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthurs story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and his historical existence is debated and disputed by modern historians.6. Margaret ThatcherShe was the first woman Prime Minister in British history. She had her administration for two terms (1979-1990). She gained her reputation as the iron lady for her tight control of Britains monetary policy. Mrs. Thatcher really gained prosperity of Britain in 1980s. Under ten years of her ministry, Britain was beginning to come to terms with the loss of much of its heavy industry and the increasing reliance of finance, communications, oil, insurance, tourism, accounting and other service industries.7. Elizabeth IElizabeth I (1533 1603) was Queen regnant of England and Ireland from 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty.Despite her own Protestant background ,she succeeded in putting to rest the religious issue .Furthermore, her government was effective in reducing the power of the old nobility ,expanding the power of her government ,and effecting common law and administration throughout England .Outside of England ,the English reached farther than before through trade and adventure .The Elizabethan Era also witnessed the English Renaissance ,the cultural and artistic movement that was associated with the pan-European Renaissance originating in northern Italy in the 14th century. 8. Grammar SchoolA grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries. Originally meant to educate the young in Latin grammar and that of another European language .These schools in modern UK are intended to teach a highly academic curriculum and teach students to deal with abstract concepts.9. The American RevolutionAlso known as the War of Independence or Revolutionary Way, it began in 1775 and concluded in 1783.It ended two centuries of British rule for most of the North American colonies and created the United States of America.10. The Great LakesThese are the most important lakes in America, extending about 1600 kilometers and forming a section of the boundary between the United States and Canada. The Great Lakes include Lake Michigan, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. 11. Cold Wara) In the post war period the difference between Russia and the US increased and led to a new kind of war, a war, without fighting, which was called the Cold War.b) The Cold War was marked by international tension and hostility arousing from various military, diplomatic, social, propagandistic, and economic pressures employed by one side against the other to gain advantage economically in terms of security, or in terms of world opinion.c) The Cold War was ended with the dissolution of the USSR in 1991.12. Electoral CollegeThe Electoral College consists of the popularly elected representatives (electors) who formally elect the President and Vice President of the United States. The electors are directed by the Constitution to vote in their respective states, and Congress is authorized to count their votes. To win, a presidential candidate must have a majority in the Electoral College.13. Watergate ScandalThe Watergate scandal was a political scandal during the 1970s in the United States resulting from the break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. Effects of the scandal eventually led to the resignation of the President of the United States, Richard Nixon, on August 9, 1974, the only resignation of any U.S. President. It also resulted in the indictment, trial, conviction and incarceration of several Nixon administration officials.14. New DealThe New Deal is a term for the domestic reform programme of the administration of Franklin D.Roosevelt .The New Deal is generally considered to have consisted of two phases. The first phase (1933-1934) attempted to provide recovery and relief from the Great Depression through programmes of agricultural and business regulation, inflation and price stabilization. The second phase of the New Deal (1935-1941), while continuing with relief and recovery measures, provided for social and economic legislation to benefit the mass of working people.15. Great SocietyThe Great Society was a set of domestic programs proposed or enacted in the United States on the initiative of President Lyndon B. Johnson. Two main goals of the Great Society social reforms were the elimination of poverty and racial injustice. New major spending programs that addressed education, medical care, urban problems, and transportation were launched during this period. The Great Society in scope and sweep resembled the New Deal domestic agenda of Franklin D. Roosevelt, but differed sharply in types of programs enacted.简答题部分：1. What is the United Kingdom geographically and politically composed of?It is a union made up of four constituent countries: England, Scotland .Wales, and Northern Ireland, plus several overseas territories.2. How did the English Civil War breakout? What were the consequences of the war?1） Charles began to take violent action .He went to the House of Commons with several soldiers to arrest Pym and other leaders; but they had escaped to London. All London was arming to defend parliament against the King. Charles escaped to the North, hoping to find supporters in the more backward districts. Thus the Civil War began.2） Consequences: With the Civil War over and the king a prisoner in Parliaments hands, the Presbyterians, who stood for the interests of Anglican noblemen and High Churchmen were willing to come to terms with Charles. They controlled both the House of Lords and the House of Commons.3. How did the English Industrial Revolution proceed from the mid-18th century to the mid-19th century and beyond? How has it impacted British society?1) The Industrial Revolution in Britain first started in its age-old wool textile industry .In the mid-1750s,Britain enjoyed all conditions that would favour adoption of new devices and efficient methods of production in the industry. Within half a century, a number of key inventions came into being, greatly accelerating the speed of production .James Watt marking a high point in this development. This, in turn, propelled the cotton industry to boom during roughly the last third of the 18th century .During the same period, there were equally transformative innovations in coal, iron and steel industries.2) Industrialization resulted in the growth of large urban areas in north and central England, where huge numbers of migrant workers stood out as a single and unitary working class, which contrasted with an emerging middle (commercial) class and the age-old aristocracy class.4. What were the distinct features of the Victorian era that made it different from other times?a) From 1837 to 1901, Queen Victoria had the longest reign in British history, presiding over, first, a kingdom and then an empire. The cultural, political, economic, industrial and scientific changes that occurred during her reign were so remarkable that the world of 1901 bore little resemblance to that 0f 1837.b) In the political arena, the agenda was increasingly liberal with a number of shifts in the direction of the widening of the franchise and gradual political reform.c) In social life, movements for justice, freedom and other strong moral values occupied an increasing portion of public attention.d) The impetus of the Industrial Revolution had already occurred, but it was during the Victorian period that the full effects of industrialization were most felt, leading to the mass society of the 20th century.e) The Victorian era also marked the apex of the British Empire attained through constant wars and colonial consolidation worldwide. 5. What are the characteristics of the British Constitution?1） Constitutional monarchy.2） Parliamentary sovereignty. 3） Representative democracy.4） The rule of law.6. What are the functions of Parliament?1) To legislate;2) To vote the taxation and expenditures of the government; 3) To examine government policies and administration, and to debate major political issues of the day.7. In terms of cultural geography, what is the image of the Midwest in the American mind?In the American consciousness, the Midwest exists as one coherent region: the American heartland of family farms and small towns; perhaps naively provincial and optimistic, but largely the moral and social centre of the nation, mediating between the extreme forces of other parts of the country. 8. What were the chief causes of the Great Depression?The causes of the Great Depression can be found in the unbalanced economy both domestic and international of the twenties : the tendency to use profits for speculation rather than for productivity; an unregulated banking system and a lack of supervision of the stock market ; declining income for the farmer ,loss of jobs through automation and inadequate wages for the industrial worker , a lack of balance in international trade patterns ; and a political philosophy that limited the role of government in reacting to the economic and social needs of most of the American people.9. What are the six related but distinct principles well located and clearly stated in the U.S. Constitution?1) Federalism;2) A vigorous executive;3) A supreme national court;4) Checks and balances;5) A limited government;6) A mixed government.10. What is Agribusiness?Agribusiness is a term coined to reflect the large-scale nature of agricultural enterprise in the modern U.S. economy .As such, agribusiness refers to the entire complex of farm-related businesses, from an individual farmer to a multinational farm products, commodity dealers, firms that manufacture farm equipment, food processors, grocery chains and many other business .In many ways, agribusiness correctly describes changes in American farms in the late 20th century.11. What are the goals and purposes of U.S. education? Purposes:1) The chief aim of education in early colonial times was literacy in order that people might be able to read and write the Bible and laws.2) The new purpose is to fulfill the obligations of citizenship.3) To facilitate the development of each individual to the maximum extent of his or her capability for his or her own benefit and that of society.4) Education in America has traditionally served the purpose of bringing students together, that is, of “Americanization.” Goals:1) Education should help lessen differences in social backgrounds as well as those of ethnic or racial origin.2) Education is viewed as a tool that should be made available to all individuals.3) Education, particularly college education, is certainly expected to provide equal opportunity for all individuals to “better themselves” and “rise in the world.”12. How many categories can American higher education system be basically divided into? What are they?Public colleges/universities, private colleges/universities, religiously affiliated colleges, and proprietary colleges, community colleges.13. the American Civil WarThe American Civil War (1861-1865), also known as the War Between the States, was a civil war i