美国部分复习题2014.doc

1. “The backbone of the continent” refers to the Rocky Mountains_2. During Ratification, those who supported the Constitution and preferred a strong national government were called Federalists , their opponents were called Anti-federalists 3. The war of 1812 was also known as Second War of Independence for America got economically independent after it. 4. Washington D. C. is situated on the Potomac River which is the traditional dividing line between the South and the North. 5. The United States is the third most populous country.6. In his Gettysburg Address Abraham Lincoln expressed his ideas of a democratic government “of the people, by the people and for the people.” 7. In the year 1972 , President Nixon visited China, and later during Jimmy Carter s presidency, formal diplomatic relations between China and the United States were established. 8. By law any natural-born American citizen of and over 35 years of age and of being a resident within the United States for 14 years can run for the President. The duly elected and duly qualified president-elect takes office on the 20th of January following his election. 9. When a Bill is vetoed by the President, it can still become a law if the Congress override . the veto by a two-thirds vote of both houses. 10. The United States is bordered on the north by Canada , on the south by Mexico and The Gulf of Mexico , on the east by The Atlantic , and on the west by the Pacific .11. The Great Depression started with the sudden collapse of the stock market in New York in October, 1929 . This economic distress extended to Europe, Asia, Australia and South America.12. The candidate with the most voters in a state wins all of that states electoral votes. This is known as the “ winner-get-all ” principle. The candidates who wins the 270 of the 538 Electoral College votes will be US President in the next four years. 13. American universities offer three main categories of graduate degrees: 1) bachelors , 2) masters , 3) Ph. D .14. Each of the fifty states in the US provides a free schooling of 12 years to its residents. 15. Among the five Great Lakes, only Lake Michigan belongs entirely to the US. 16. The emblem of the Democratic Party is donkey , and that of the Republican Party is elephant . Thomas Jefferson is considered the first Democratic President, and first Republican President is Abraham Lincoln .17. The first successful English colony in North American was founded at _ James Town_ in Virginia, in 1607, while Pilgrim Fathers were a group of _puritans_ who sailed for Virginia on a ship called the _Mayflower_ in 1620.18. The United States has _50_ states, the largest in area of all states is _ Alaska_, the longest river in the U.S. is _Mississippi River_.19. The federal government in U.S. is divided into three equal and separate branches, they are_The Executive branch_, _The Legislative branch_, _The Judicial branch_.20 “All men are created equal” is from the document _Declaration of Independence_.21. All American children are offered at least 12 years of free public education, which consists of _elementary_ and secondary education. 22.The U.S. Congress consists of two houses: _the Senate_ and _the House of Representatives_.23. President Franklin D. Roosevelt applied _New Deal_ to deal with the problems of the Great Depression. 24. President Abraham Lincoln issued _Emancipation Proclamation_ to grant freedom to all slaves during the Civil War. 25. At the beginning of the Second World War America kept a _neutral_ foreign policy, while the policy underwent changes, in 1941 the _Lend-Lease Bill_ was passed to confer the President great personal power to lend or lease American war equipments to foreign nations resisting the aggression.26. The Constitution of the United States was drawn up in _1787_ and came into effect in1789. 27. The American national anthem was written during the battle between _Britain/England_ and the USA toward the end of the war in 1812.28._Hollywood_ is the center of the US film industry29. Mississippi is called the “_father_ of the waters”.30.The number of Congressmen from each state varies depending on _the size of population_Explain the following phrases: 1. The Harlem Renaissance: The Harlem Renaissance was a black cultural movement that spanned the 1920s and 1930s. African-American social thought that was expressed through the visual arts, as well as through music , literature, theater and dance. Centered in the Harlem district of New York City, it was also called the New Negro Movement and had a profound influence across the United States and even around the world.2. The Second Continental Congress: In May 1775, the second continental congress was held in Philadelphia. It showed that the Americans had their own armed forces and that they had made up their mind to fight for their freedom and independence. After a series of debates, congress appointed a committee, dominated by Thomas.3. Progressive Movement: Muckrakers, a reform-minded journalist exposed various dark side of the seemingly prosperous society a national-wide Progressive Movement. It was unorganized effort in economy, politics and society. To reform society and improve the situation of individual, to reform government, to eliminate corruption. It was primarily a movement of social engineers who believed that scientific and cost-efficient solution could be found to all problems.4. The New Deal: In order to deal with the Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt put forward the New Deal program. It passed a lot of New Deal laws and set up many efficient social security systems. The New Deal helped to save American democracy and the development of American economy.5. Fireside Chats: A fireside chats is a presidential address to the nation characterized by a warm, intimate and informal tone. It is designed to build confidence in the presidents policies. The tradition of the fireside chat was begun by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on March 12, 1933, speaking to the nation by radio shortly after his inauguration, in the midst of the Great Depression. 6. Lend-Lease Bill: In 1941, the US Congress, urged by president Roosevelt great personal power to lend or lease American war equipment to foreign nations resisting the aggression. If the equipment were damaged or lost, compensation should be made.7. Civil Rights Movement: The Civil Rights Movement refers to the black peoples protest against racial discrimination and their demand for truly right with the white. In 1960s the movement reached its Climax, also known as “the black power movement”.8. The Ivy League: The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group. The eight institutions are Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University.布朗大学、哥伦比亚大学、康奈尔大学、达特茅斯学院、哈佛大学、宾夕法尼亚大学、普林斯顿大学、及耶鲁大学9. winner-get-all policy: If the candidates of a party for “electors” in a given state receive a majority of the total vote, then the party is entitled to have all the electoral votes for that state, the defeated gets none.10. the Bill of Rights: To prevent a powerful central government trampling on the liberties of the people freedom of religion, free press, free speech, right of citizens to bear arms,10 amendments were put into Constitution, the 10 amendments altogether were known as the Bill of Rights.11. the Emancipation Proclamation: After the Civil war began, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation to win more support at home and abroad. It granted freedom to all slaves in areas still controlled by the Confederacy. 12. the Declaration of Independence: The Declaration of Independence was mainly drafted by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by the Congress on July 4, 1776, when the people of 13 English colonies in North America were fighting for their freedom and independence from the British colonial rule. The document declared that all men were equal and that they were entitled to have some unalienable rights such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It also explained the philosophy of government: the powers of governments came from the consent of the governed and the purpose of governments were to secure the rights mentioned above. The theory of politics and the guiding principles of the American Revolution mainly came from John Locke.13. the Lost Generation: After World War I, many novelists produced a literature of disillusionment. In the 1920s, a generation of young writers joined in war, and were tired of the war, Some of them lost the hope for the society, They were filled with pessimistic emotion, they were known as lost generation .Answer the following questions:1. Please explain the contract of diversity and uniformity in American culture. American culture is full of diversity: 1) Geographical diversity: a) Vast area b) The diversity of land features c) The whole land spread 4 time zonesd) The diversity of weather2) The diversity of peopleThe uniformity is the most distinctive characteristic of American culture.a) There is a lack of culture difference among the regions. b) There is no real regional or class variety in speech or use of language. c) The habits and ways of living is almost the samed) There is not much really distinctive regional architecture or cookery music or literature.2. Why did many Europeans want to leave home and go to settle down in the New World after Columbus discovered American?1) People persecuted by English government for religious reasons. They were known as the White Anglo-Saxon Protestant.2) The people who wanted to become rich in the New Land to find money.3) Countless poor people come to America as servants to make a new life.4) Prisoners: the English Government transport convicts to America.3. What were the major causes of the American Revolution?1) By the end of 1760s the 13 colonies had developed a similar American pattern in politic, economy, cultural life After the Seven-year war between Britain and France, France was defeated. For America, there was no need for the protection from Britain.2) After the Seven-year war between Britain and France, British government put a heavier tax on the colonies. This caused several rebellions. Such as Boston Tea Party. 3) British government accordingly sent more soldiers to the colony. Then the first Continental Congress was hold, urging Americans to fight against high taxes and to organized militias.4) In 1775 April, there was the first shot: The shot of Lexington.4. What is the characteristics of the US Constitution:1) It established a stronger federal government: empowered to collect taxes, conduct diplomacy, and maintain armed forces (The power not listed in the Constitution was passed to state government.)2) It established the principle of a “balance of power”: Legislative, The Judicial, and Executive.3) The Bill of Rights were added in 1791 to prevent a powerful central government trampling on the liberties of the people freedom of religion, free press, free speech, right of citizens to bear arms4) The constitution and the Bill of Rights from a balance between two aspects: a. the need for strong, efficient central authority b. the need to ensure individual liberties.5. What were the major causes of American Civil War? What were the consequences of the Civil War 1) Industrial Revolution causes the textile industry developing, more cotton is needed, planting cotton became profitable, and slavery revive in the South.2) Industrial Revolution arrived in the North, Capitalism, free workers, abolish slavery, Free states.3) Westward Expansion, new states, the new states would be free or slavery? It became the conflict between the north and the south.4) A novel written by Mrs.Stowe “Uncle Tomes Cabin” Caused a great stir in the North, mobilizing public opinion against slavery.5) Abraham Lincoln was elected as president in 1860. Lincoln was against slavery. After his election the south broke away from the union. To keep the whole country united, as a president, Lincoln decided to fight against the south.Consequence: The ware resolved two fundamental questions: Put an end to slavery Assured the integrity of the United States as an indivisible nation.6. Analyze the US foreign policy in the Second World WarAmerican showed little interest in stopping the world-wide aggression since the World War had begun. Instead, they had a great interest in playing the profitable game that they had done during World War. Many laws were passed in Congress to keep a so-called neutral stand between the belligerents, and to stay out of the conflict. Meanwhile the business men were carrying on warfare trading, making huge profit. The Neutral Act passed by Congress permitted the belligerent to purchase munitions of war in the U.S. on a “cash-and-carry” basis, which, in fact, offered help to the aggressions, though it benefited the Allies more. It was not until December 7th, 1941when the base of the American Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, was suddenly attacked by the Japanese air force and navy that U.S. finally participated in the war. 7. What is the character of religion in America?1) Americans with different religions live together under the same law.2) The religious belief of Americans continue to be strong with social progress. The want to identify themselves, going freely to the church freely is strengthened and people want to gain acceptance from themselves.3) Every church is a completely independent organization.4) There has been little concentration on doctrine or religious argument such as in European history.8. How does an American university choose its applicants?American universities choose applicants on the basis of: a) their high school records; b) recommendations from their high school teachers; c) the impression they make during interviews at the university; d) their scores on the SAT.9. Tell briefly the history of