英美文化大题答案.doc

1. What is the greatest argument about public schools in Britain? Why are the public schools today no longer as superior and exclusive as they used to be?The greatest argument for public schools, some people feel, is the strikingly high proportion of ex-public-schoolboys occupying senior posts in the government, the armed forces, the church, the universities, the professions, and even in business. This, they say, proves the superiority of a public school education. Others say that this is the greatest argument against public schools, since it simply proves the social exclusiveness and fovouritism. There is no doubt that the public schools are undemocratic, often snobbish, and they constitute the biggest barrier to social equality in modern England.But the public schools are no longer as superior and as exclusive as they once were. Their prefect system, their house system and their tradition of sport have been widely adopted in state secondary schools, and many grammar schools have academic records which many a public school might envy. Moreover, many so-called public schools are dependent on an annual grant from the central government, in return for which they award between a quarter and a half of their places to pupils paying reduced fees or none at all. These schools admit pupils at eleven, just like grammar schools. All public schools too, except a few of recognised standard, are liable to be inspected by the state. There is thus a gradual progress away from exclusiveness in British education. (p180-181)3. Explain the characteristics of the uniformity in American culture and give your own evaluation.Although the country is so big and its people have so many different ethnic backgrounds, it is in some way less varied than Europe. The national origins of the people are by now fairly well mixed all over the country, though there are exceptions on small and large scales. The English language is virtually universal in its American form. The American way of speaking has developed independently of England and is on the whole closer to what can be heard in Ireland than to the speech of any other part of the British Isles. Regional variations of accent are slight, and to a German or an Italian the difference between the accent of the deep south and that of the “Yankee” is less evident that the difference between two Englishmen from places two hours journey apart. Some Americans speak rather indistinctly, not pronouncing consonants properly, others show by their speech that English is not their mother tongue, and Irish or Negro accents can often be recognised; but the lack of real regional or class variety in speech or usage is one of the characteristics that tend to make the whole country very obviously one.Another instance of uniformity is in habits and ways of living. From Boston to Los Angeles is as far as from France to Central Asia, and from east to west there are four time zones, but everywhere people get up and go to bed at about the same time, eat the same kind of food, bought in the same kind of shops, work and rest at the same times of the day and have the same pattern of holidays. In general they share the same ideas, ideals and objectives. In most of the things that matter there is less difference between rich people and ordinary people, or between town and country, than in any single European nation. It is fairly easy to imagine a typical American; most individuals deviate from this “type” in some ways, but are fairly near to it in others. It is not that this personal uniformity is boring. It is after all superimposed on origial diversity, and where the single pattern involves much friendly informality in personal relations there is little cause to feel oppressed.Although the United States covers so much land and the land produces far more food than the present population needs, its people are by now almost entirely an urban society. The fact that the United States has always been a single economic unit, with no tariffs to restrict trade, has contributed to uniformity.4 What are the elements and functions of British Parliament? Discuss the role of each element and explain briefly. The British parliament is divided into the house of lords and the house of Commons.It is the topest legislature.The government is produced from it,and is responsible to The British parliament.The House of Lords consists of Hereditary peerage and the senator who get the commission.The senator in the house of lords cant be constituted by election.The House of Lords is the supreme judicial organs. It has the authority to examine the bill in the house of Commons,and pass the necessary amendment.It can also delay the legislation which it doesnt approve under one year.The senator in the house of commons is constituted by election for a term of five years.The authority of the house of commons is legislation and supervising financial and government.5. What was the origin of Thanksgiving Day? And what do you think of celebrating Thanksgiving Day in China? In 1620,102 Puritans who cant stand at the religious persecution in English arrived America in the Mayflower.But they met with all kinds of difficulties.The immigration survived with only fifty people after winter.But the new immigrants from the continent got used to the local way of life with the help of Indians.In the days of harvest celebration,European immigrants invited the indians thank god for together.I think we can celebrate Thanksgiving Day in China,Let children learn the perspective-taking, they can understand parents; Let adults considerate each other, the relationship can be more harmonious.6 What is characteristic of religion in America? Why is there not a decline in religious observance along with scientific and economic advance? the religion in American has many features. and the most basic feature is the dominated by Protestant Christianity.with the changing composition of the American population, the pluralism levels of American religious is increasing. this is another very significant characteristic religion in AmericanEinstein had a famous saying: Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind. Science and religion, the interdependenceReligion deeply rooted in American society .and it has a very broad impact in all aspects of American social life. Religion and American history have always been closely intertwined . the religion in American play a tremendous impact in the American political, legal, cultural, diplomatic, ethical and other aspects .7 What is the most important established church in Britain? How is it related to the Crown and linked with the state?ThemostimportantestablishedChurchinBritainistheChurchofEngland.ItisuniquelyrelatedtotheCrowninthattheSovereignmustbeamemberofthatchurchand,as“DefenderoftheFaith”,mustpromiseonhisorheraccessiontoup9 Why was there the New Deal program? What was it? And how did it aid the recovery of the economy?1929-1933 , with the Great Depression of the capitalist world , the U.S. economy is in a very dangerous situation. There were many unemployed workers, goods .and people living in extreme hardship. In this context, Roosevelt carred out the New DealFiscal and finances consolidation, regulating agricultural production and industrial production ,expending consumption and the implementation of social relief are the core measures to ease social conflicts.Through the government administrative power, adjusting the production relation of the capitalist , putting togather the social wealth, people be dispe