英语国家概况考试复习要点

1 英语国家概况复习要点英语国家概况复习要点 Part One UK The Country 1 Different Names for Britain and its Parts Name England Britain Great Britain GB G B British Isles British Empire The Commonwealth The United Kingdom The UK The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Parts England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland 2 Official name the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Geographically the British Isles includes Great Britain the whole of Ireland and all the offshore islands Politically the British Isles is made up of U K and Republic of Ireland 3 the highest mountain in Britain Ben Nevis 本尼维斯山 the largest mountain range in Britain the Grampians 格兰扁山脉 4 the longest river The Severn River 塞文河 The most important river in Britain and the second longest river Thames 泰晤士河 5 the largest lake in Britain Lough Neagh 内伊湖 Northern Ireland 6 Backbone of England the Pennies 奔宁山脉 The people 7 The first known settlers of Britain were the Iberians 人们所知的英国最早居民是伊比利来人 8 Basis of Modern English race The earlist people known in Britain were nomads 游牧者 from mainland Europe in the Old Stone Age 旧石器时代 followed by Neolithic 新石器时代 Iberians 伊比利亚人 and the Beaker Folk 比克人 in the Bronze Age 青铜器时代 9 the contributions made by Anglo Saxons to the English state established Old English laid the foundations of the English state divided the country into shires created the Witan to advise the King the basis of the Cabinet 10 different invaders First invasion In 55 BC Julius Caesar Second Caesar s second raid in 54 BC Third and final In 43 AD Emperor Claudius final and successful Roman 2 invasion of Britain recorded Left In 410 Germanic barbarian attack Rome forcing Roman troops to leave Britain and thus ending its occupation of the island History 9 Who is known as the father of the British navy Sir Francis Drake 10 The Norman Conquest and its consequences The Norman Conquest 1066 1071 Fuse Edward ruled for 24 years and died in January 1066 Harold was chosen to be king William Duke of Normandy heard the news of Harold s coronation he got very angry and claimed that he had the sole right to be king of England because Edward had promised the crown to him and that Harold had promised to help him become king of England Duke William led army and landed on the coast The two armies met at Hastings Consequences It increased the process of feudalism William established a strong monarchy in England He introduced new ideas in laws It brought changes in the church The French language came along with the Normans 11 When was the feudal system established in England 封建制度 Under William the feudal system was completely established Medieval Britain 1066 1485 12 Who signed Great Charter King John 签署大宪章 13 Great Charter time contents nature Time Magna Carta 1215 Contents 内容 A the king was not to exact payments from the feudal vassals without their consent B the laws were not to be modified by the arbitrary action of the king C should the king attempt to free himself from law the vassals had the right to force the king to obey it by civil war or by otherwise Nature a feudal document 14 The Hundred Years War Time intermittently from 1337 to 1453 Countries France and Britain Factors partly territorial and partly economic The English kings wanted to get back the lost land in France The economic interests of England and France clashed in Flanders New national consciousness of England Fuse French throne succession Edward III claimed the French Crown The French refused to recognize the claim 3 Three outstanding stages of the war A At first the English were brilliantly successful B Henry V renewed the war in 1415 and he was recognized to the French throne in 1420 C After Henry V s death in 1422 the French encouraged by Joan of Arc their national heroine drove the English out of France Two decisive reasons for French to win effective use of guns the superior size and wealth of France would have hindered the development of separate English national identity while French national identity was hindered so long as a foreign power occupied so much French territory 15 The War of Roses 1455 1485 Rival groups the House of Lancaster tradesmen craftsmen B Cavaliers Royalists King s supporters Catholics feudal lord Consequence 1649 Charles army was defeated he was beheaded in May 1649 England was declared a Commonwealth 共和政府时期 In 1653 Cromwell was made Lord Protector 护国公 for life and started his military dictatorship openly The Commonwealth became the Protectorate 摄政时 期 and Parliament was dissolved He became a king in all but name 19 The Glorious Revolution of 1688 1688 年的光荣革命 After three years struggle the Whig and Tory leaders at last united against James II Being afraid of another revolution the leaders of the two parties planned a coup Detat In June 1688 the leaders of Parliament invited William of Holland to come and take the throne William landed with army and he was so welcomed that James II ran away to France William and Mary were then crowned as joint rulers This was known in history as The Glorious Revolution 20 Whigs and Tories 辉格党和保守党 The Roundheads The Whigs The Liberal Party The Cavaliers The Tories The Conservative Party 21 The Industrial Revolution 1780 1830 工业革命 Definition 定义 During the latter half of the eighteenth century a rapid series of extensive changes began especially in the field of manufacturing There were so many new inventions that the whole series of changes is often described as the Industrial Revolution Inventions 发明 A In 1750s iron smelting was revolutionized B In 1769 the steam engine was created by James Watt C In 1785 the power loom the application of power to machinery 6 D The use of iron and coal E In 1764 the Spinning Jenny was invented G In 1814 the first successful steam locomotive Consequences of the Industrial Revolution 工业革命的后果 A The Industrial Revolution was not only a technological revolution but also a great social upheaval It exerted a great influence on both British society and the world B The Industrial Revolution promoted the development of production It began to produce large quantity of low priced goods in a more efficient manner C New cities came into being population increased the home market was enlarged D British goods almost achieved a monopoly situation in the world market It laid a foundation for the factory of the world E A factory system was established Workers were employed and managers became capitalists F Two conflicting classes were born G A series of important inventions in the textile industry marked the beginning of Industrial Revolution 工业革命 Spinning Jenny 珍妮纺纱机 Spinning mule 走锭细纱机 Power loom 动力纺纱机 Steam engine 蒸汽机 H Means of transportation 交通方式 canals were dug to ship goods the locomotive invented in 1814 the first railway completed in 1825 large merchant fleet I By the middle of 19th century the Industrial Revolution was accomplished in Britain J Its influence Britain changed in many ways 1 dramatically increased industrial productivity 2 the process of urbanization 3 changes in class structure 4 The conflict between the capitalists and the proletarians the most important political issue 22 James Watt s steam engine in 1765 Government and Politics 23 constitutional monarchy the head of state is a king or a queen 君主立宪制国家 国家的首脑是国王或女王 24 the monarch is supposed to reigns but not rule To reign but not to rule perform ceremonial duties symbolic 25 three elements of parliament 议会组成 The Crown The House of Lords The House of Commons 26 The main functions of Parliament 议会的主要作用 To legislate To vote the taxation and expenditures of the government 7 To examine government policies and administration To debate major current political issues 27 Where does the real power lie Cabinet 内阁 Cabinet The major decision making body in the government 28 two parties in the UK 政党 The Labour Party believe in the supervision of industry by the government distribution of wealth and equal opportunity for everyone The Conservative Party support private enterprise and minimal state regulation accept the mixed economy believe in a governing class with a natural right and special privileges Judiciary 司法 司法 29 There is no ministry of justice in the United Kingdom Central responsibility lies with the Lord Chancellor the Home Secretary and the Attorney General 30 The jury composed of 12 members 陪审团有 12 个成员 31 Scotland Yard 伦敦警察厅 headquarter of the Metropolitan Police Education 32 the compulsory education 义务教育 Primary and secondary education in the UK is compulsory Children between 5 16 years old are obliged to attend school 33 two education system private schools 私立学校 public schools 公学 34 the oldest university Oxford Others 35 The largest religious festival Christmas 36 The oldest newspaper The Times 37 most famous broadcasting company the British Broadcasting Corporation the BBC The most desirable home a detached house 最理想的家 独立式住宅 Part Two USA The country 1 50 states the largest the smallest the purchased ones 50 个州 Alaska the largest 阿拉斯加州 Rhode Island the smallest 罗德岛州 Texas the largest on the mainland 德克萨斯州 Alaska the purchased ones 购买 2 13 colonies 13 个殖民地 Between 1607 and 1733 the British established 13 colonies along the east coast of North America 8 Delaware 特拉华 Pennsylvania 宾夕法尼亚 New Jersey 新泽西 Georgia 乔治亚 Connecticut 康涅狄格 Massachusetts 麻萨诸塞 Maryland 马里兰 South Carolina 南卡罗来纳 New Hampshire 新罕布什尔 Virginia 弗吉尼亚 New York 纽约 North Carolina 北卡罗来纳 Rhode Island 罗德岛 3 5 great lakes the longest river Lake Michigan Lake Superior Lake Huron Lake Erie Lake Ontario the longest river the Mississippi River 密西西比河 4 who discovered the new continent In 1492 Christopher Columbus found America a new continent instead of India History 4 Independence war 1775 13 colonies began rebellion 1776 proclamation of independence 1777 victory at Saratoga the turning point of American revolution 1781 surrender of Britain 1783 Treaty of Paris represented the formal acknowledgement of the US as an independent nation Causes growing intense conflicts between the British government and the American people The British government to bring the development of the colonies under control to collect more taxes practiced unfair price policies put into effect many taxes The Stamp Act 印花税法令 an act passed by the British parliament in 1756 that raised revenue from the American colonies by a duty in the form of a stamp required on all newspapers and legal or commercial documents opposition by the colonies resulted in the repeal of the act in 1766 the Townshend Acts 唐森德条令 All goods imported into the colonies must be taxed They were appealed in 1770 The 13 colonies wanted more power to determine their own business opposed the unfair treatment and all these policies The Boston Massacre 波士顿大屠杀 1770 Some British solders fired at the people killed four and wounded many The event made the people indignant The Boston Tea Party 波士顿倾茶事件 demonstration 1773 by citizens of Boston who disguised as Indians raided three British ships in Boston harbor and dumped hundreds of chests of tea into the harbor organized as a protest against taxes on tea an example of the conflicts between the British government and the American people 5 Continental congress 9 The First Continental Congress1774 第一次大陆会议 held in Philadelphia in September 1774 before the war encouraged Americans to refuse to buy British goods Colonial militia units were organized and weapons and ammunition were collected and stored since then Beginning of the War The shots at Lexington started the Independence War on April 19 1775 The Second Continental Congress 第二次大陆会议 held in Philadelphia in May 1775 three weeks after the battles of Lexington and Concord The Congress founded a Continental Army and Navy under the command of George Washington a Virginia militia commander The Declaration of Independence July4 1776 独立宣言 drafted by Thomas Jefferson adopted by the Congress on July4 1776 declared the independence of the 13 colonies 6 Civil war 内战 1861 1865 The Situation Before the War Two economic systems in the North and the South North Capitalist Economy South Plantation The Growth of the working class Uncle Tom s Cabin free and slave states 1860 Abraham Lincoln was elected president and opposed the expansion of slavery Some southern states formed the Confederate States of America in 1861 a war to abolish slavery Union army Vs Confederate army Surpasses all other wars for the tragedy and destructiveness Effect put an end to the salve system in America Aftermath of the war In south KKK Ku Klux Klan In north building an enterprising way of life In west cowboy 7 Great depression 1930 s 经济危机 The stock market crash in 1929 Massive unemployment factory and mill closings and mortgage foreclosures A breakdown of the nation s entire economy 8 New Deal Franklin D Roosevelt New Deal 罗斯福新政 The aim was to save American democracy and the capitalist system 10 The programs and policies to promote economic recovery and social reform American Identity 9 melting pot a nation of immigrants 熔炉 移民国家 Reasons Country was settled built and developed by generations of immigrants America continues to take in more immigrants than any other country The most heterogeneous 多种多样的 societies Influence America exercising far greater influence on Europe than Europe on America 10 Indian Reservations 印第安保留地 Indians struggle and sufferings first driven out of their familiar land either wholly or partially destroyed lose their land to white invaders lose their peaceful family community life Indian Reservations Today s Indians the poorest lower incomes the highest unemployment school dropout and suicide rates malnutrition mental illness short life expectancy call of pan Indianism Political Institutions 11 Checks and balances 分权制衡 12 Congress 国会 The legislative branch of the federal government Congress Senate 参议院 2 年选 1 3 6 年 House of Representatives 众议院 2 年全选 2 年 表格对比 表格对比 11 CongressMembers Be elected Terms of office represent Senators 100 1 3 every 2 years 6 years All of the people in a state their interests Representatives 435 every 2 years 2 years Population of congressional districts Congress makes all laws Each state has two Senators regardless of population and since there are 50 states then there are 100 senators 13 General election 大选 Is elected every 4 years 4 year term of office No more than 2 full terms allowed He must convince Congressmen the Representatives the Senators 14 two parties 两党 the American political system is dominated by two political parties the Democratic Party 民主党 donkey the Republican Party 共和党 elephant The Democratic Party is sometimes represented as a donkey while the Republican Party is sometimes featured as an elephant 15 The Supreme Court is the highest court of the U S and is the only organ which has the power to interpret the Constitution 最高法院唯一有权解释宪法 Education 16 compulsory education 义务教育 Elementary 初等 and secondary 中等 education the basis of public education free and compulsory 12 grades One academic