英美概况 主要是美国概况

SurveyofBritainandAmerica1.ThepurposeofthecourseabasiccourseforEnglishmajorstoacquiretheknowledgeaboutthehistory,geographypolitics,education,culture,diplomacy,economy,religionandcustomsofEnglishspeakingcountriesthroughthestudyofthecoursetohaveanunderstandingofthewholecontentsofthecoursetoprovideforyoutheessentialbackgroundknowledgeofEnglishspeakingcountriestobroadenyourknowledgeandconstitutetheknowledgeframeofthiscourse.,TocarrycoalstoNewcastleNewcastle:aportcityinnortheasternEnglandontheRiverTyneacenterforcoalexports(givingrisetotheexpressioncarrycoalstoNewcastlemeaningtodosomethingunnecessary)DontcarrycoalstoNewcastle.别往纽卡斯尔（英国煤都）运煤。/多此一举，徒劳无益。“Dontmeettroublehalf-way.”不要杞人忧天。WaterlooThesiteofthebattleofWaterlooisinBelgium.滑铁卢战役的遗址在比利时。,Beingcareless,thenationalfootballteammettheirWaterloointhismatch.由于疏忽大意，国家足球队在这次比赛中惨败.meetonesWaterloo遭受惨败,遭到毁灭性的打击Waterloo:atownincentralBelgiumwherein1815Napoleonmethisfinaldefeat2.afinalcrushingdefeat例句:hemethiswaterloo3.thebattleon18June1815inwhichPrussianandBritishforcesunderBlucherandtheDukeofWellingtonroutedtheFrenchforcesunderNapoleonsettheThamesonfire（doamazingthings)做出惊人的事来(成为杰出的人物)Heisalazydevilandkeepshistalentinanapkin,withhisabilityandalittleenergyhecouldsettheThamesonfire.,他是一个懒鬼，把天资埋没了。只要发挥出他的才干，再加上一点干劲，他可以干出一番惊天动地的大事来。tohelpyouprepareforTEM-8andtheentranceexaminationsforpostgraduatestudentsIII.人文知识(PartIII:GeneralKnowledge)测试要求：A)基本了解主要英语国家的地理、历史、现状、文化传统B)初步具备英语文学知识C)初步具备英语语言知识D)考试时间10分钟题型部分采用多选形式，选出一道最佳答案。共10题。测试范围：A)英语国家社会和文化知识B)英语文学知识C)英语语言知识,2.Requirementsofteachingfamiliarizeyourselveswithgeography,history,socialconditions,religion,culturecustom,economyandpoliticalsystemofEnglishspeakingcountriesbroadenyourknowledgeincreasebackgroundknowledge.beabletoexpoundatopicbothinwritingandspeech.beabletoskimthebooksaboutAmericaandBritain.remembertherelevantnamesofpersonsandplaces,thehistoricaleventsbeabletoexpressyourviewaboutcertainhistoricaleventsandpoliticalsystems.,PartOneGeographyChapterIAGeneralIntroductiontoPhysicalGeographyKeyPoints:1.GeographicalfeaturesoftheUnitedStates2.Riversandlakes3.Americasclimateandfactorsthatinfluenceitsclimate4.Naturalresources5.Territory6.Geographicalregionsandtheircharacteristics,WhatistheUnitedStatesofAmerica?Itisagrandland.Itisagreatpeople.Anditisagroupofwonderfulbeliefs.Itisauniquecountry.TherecanneverbeanotherUnitedStatesbecausethiscombinationofland,peoples,andidealswillneverbeduplicated.Youareblessedtobelivinginthelandofthefree.Itisindeedacountryofdreamscometrue.ThroughouttheworldotherpeopleslooktotheexampleandleadershipoftheUnitedStates.Itisviewedasafabulousnationofopportunity.Heretheunionofenergeticindividuals,richenvironment,andgreatidealshavebroughtforthagrandsociety.,Asanationourcountryisyoung.Ourgovernmentislessthantwohundredyearsold.Othercountrieshavehistoriesandtraditionsgoingbackthousandsofyears.WhyhastheUnitedStatescometosucheminenceinsuchashortperiod?Oursisthefourthlargestcountryintheworld.Ithasthesecondlargestamountofarableland（可耕土地）.Itisarichcountryoftremendousresources.Theexcellentsoilshavemadepossiblerecordcropsinmanydifferentstates.Itsforestsofferawealthofwoodproducts.Itsriversandlakesprovideabundantwaterandwaterpower.Beforethedevelopmentofrailroadhighways,ourstreamswerethemostimportantmeans,oftransportation.Americaalsocontainsagreatstorehouseofundergroundmineralsimportanttoindustrialdevelopment.Itsdepositsofcoal,iron,copper,uranium(铀）,zinc（锌）,sulfur（硫）,andphosphates（磷酸盐）,amongmanyotheroreandchemicals,helpmaketheUnitedStatesaworldleaderinmanufacturing.AlongthecoastsoftheUnitedStates,therearemanyfineharbors.Passengerships,fleetsoffreighters,andfishingboastsallusetheharbors.Weareafortunatepeople.Mostoftheresourcesweneedarefoundwithinourownboundaries.Americaisalandofvariedclimatesfromthesub-tropicalclimateoftheFloridaKeys佛罗里达群岛tothecoolPacificNorthwest,wehavemanykindsof,weather.Inthiscountryalmostanycropwillgrowsomewhere.Thecombinationofclimate,landfeatures,resources,andhumanneedshavehelpedbuildthenation.Alsothankstopeopleandgeography,theUnitedStatesistheworldsleaderinagriculture.TheAmericanpeople,theirideas,andtheirfree-enterprisessystem,combinedwiththeresourcesoftheland,havebroughtaboutanationaleconomylikenoneotheronearth.,1.Name:UnitedStatesofAmericaUSATheUnitedStatestheStatesAmerica旧称花旗国2.TypeofGovernment：federalrepublic联邦共和制自由民主制strongdemocratictradition3.ChiefofState:president,4.HeadofGovernment:president5.Commander-inchief:president6.GeographicalLocation：ThecontinentalUnitedStatesliesincentralNorthAmericawithCanadatoitsnorth,MexicoandtheGulfofMexicotoitssouth,theAtlanticOceantoitseast,andthePacificOceantoitswest.ThetwoneweststatesAlaskaandHawaiiareseparatedfromthecontinentalUnitedStates:AlaskabordersonnorthwesternCanada,andHawaiiliesinthecentralPacific,SizeTotal:9,372,614km（rank4th）water:4.87%aboutone-halfthesizeofRussia;aboutthree-tenthsthesizeofAfrica;aboutone-halfthesizeofSouthAmerica(orslightlylargerthanBrazil);slightlysmallerthanChina;abouttwoandone-halftimesthesizeofWesternEurope2,575kilometersfromnorthtosouth4,500kilometersfromeasttowest.thefourthlargestcountryintheworldinsize,Alaska:thelargestinareaRhodeIsland：thesmallestonthemainlandTexasisthelargeststate8.Landboundaries:total:12,248kmbordercountries:Canada8,893km(including2,477kmwithAlaska),Cuba29km(USNavalBaseatGuantanamoBay),Mexico3,326kmnote:GuantanamoNavalBaseisleasedbytheUSandthusremainspartofCuba9.Coastline:19,924km10.Population:300million,11.Density:32/km（rank140th）12.Terrain（地形）:vastcentralplain,mountainsinwest,hillsandlowmountainsineast;ruggedmountainsandbroadrivervalleysinAlaska;rugged,volcanictopographyinHawaii13.Elevation（海拔）extremes:thelowestpoint:DeathValley-86mTheDeathValleydesertinCaliforniaisoneofthehottestdesertintheworld.thehighestpoint:MountMcKinley6,194minthemiddleofAlaska14.Landuse:arableland:19%permanentpastures:25%,forestsandwoodland:30%other:26%(1993)15.Population:300million-Agestructure:0-14years:22%(male29,952,220;female28,560,357)15-64years:66%(male88,113,895;female89,399,501)65yearsandover:12%(male14,088,571;female20,197,212)(July1998)-Populationgrowthrate:0.87%(1998)-Birthrate:14.4births/1,000population(1998)-Deathrate:8.8deaths/1,000population(1998)-Netmigrationrate:3migrant(s)/1,000population(1998),-Sexratio（性别比）:atbirth:1.05male(s)/femaleunder15years:1.05male(s)/female15-64years:0.99male(s)/female65yearsandover:0.7male(s)/female(1998est.)-Infantmortalityrate（婴儿死亡率）:6.44deaths/1,000livebirths(1998)-Lifeexpectancy（预期寿命）atbirth:totalpopulation:76.13yearsmale:72.85yearsfemale:79.58years(1998)-Totalfertilityrate(人口出生率）:2.07childrenborn/woman(1998),-Nationality:noun:American(s)adjective:American-Ethnicgroups:white83.4%,black12.4%,Asian3.3%,Amerindian（美洲印第安人）0.8%(1992)-Religions:Protestant(新教徒）56%,RomanCatholic（天主教徒）28%,Jewish2%,other4%,none10%(1989)-Languages:English,Spanish(spokenbyasizableminority)-Literacy（读写能力）:definition:age15andovercanreadandwritetotalpopulation:97%male:97%female:97%(1979est.),16.NationalFlag:starsandstripes/theStarsandtheStripes,13equalhorizontalstripesofredalternatingwithwhite,withabluerectangleinthecantonbearing50small,white,five-pointedstarsarrangedinnineoffsethorizontalrowsofsixstarsalternatingwithrowsoffivestars.ratiooflengthandwidth:1910redsymbolizespowerandcourage强大和勇气，whitesymbolizespurityandinnocence纯洁和清白，bluevigilance,persistence,dauntlessnessandjustice蓝色象征警惕、坚韧不拔和正义。13stripesrepresenttheoriginalThirteenColoniesthatrebelledagainsttheBritishCrownandbecamethefirststatesintheUnion.50starsrepresentthe50states,17.NationalEmblem(国徽）Baldeagle:AmericannationalbirdSymbolism:strength,courage,freedomandimmortalityBluerectangle:Nationalflag:Topcrown:13whitestars:theearliest13coloniesOliverbranch:peaceArrow:militarypowerYellowribbon:EPluribusUnum（拉丁文：合众为一，1776年）InGodWeTrust（英文：我们信仰上帝，1956年现在）,盾形图案的白头海雕（baldeagle）。白头海雕是美国的国鸟，它是力量、勇气、自由和不朽的象征。盾面上半部为蓝色横长方形，下半部为红、白相间的竖条，其寓意同国旗。鹰之上的顶冠象征在世界的主权国家中又诞生一个新的独立国家美利坚合众国；顶冠内有颗白色五角星，代表美国最初的13个州。鹰的两爪分别抓着橄榄枝和箭，象征和平和武力。鹰嘴叼着的黄色绶带上用拉丁文写着“合众为一”，意为美利坚合众国由很多州组成，是一个完整的国家。,18.NationalAnthem：星条旗永不落（“thestar-spangledbanner”曾译星条旗歌），歌词是一位名叫弗朗西斯斯科特基的美国律师在英美战争时，透过战场上的硝烟看到星条旗经过英军炮轰后仍在要塞上空高高飘扬时感慨万分而即景写下的。曲谱是“进行曲之王”苏萨的著名代表作。星条旗永不落于1931年被美国国会正式定为国歌。,Oh,saycanyouseebythedawnsearlylightWhatsoproudlywehailedatthetwilightslastgleaming?Whosebroadstripesandbrightstars,throughtheperilousfightOertherampartswewatchedweresogallantlystreaming?Andtherocketsredglare,thebombsburstinginair,Gaveproofthroughthenightthatourflagwasstillthere.Oh,saydoesthatstar-spangledbanneryetwaveOerthelandofthefreeandthehomeofthebrave?,19.NationalFlower：rose，象征着美丽、芬芳(fragrant)、热忱(ardour)和爱情。20.NationalStone：Sapphire(蓝宝石)21.NationalBird：白头海雕（秃鹰)白头雕外观美丽、性情凶猛，头上有丰满的羽毛，它的最大特点是两头白，即白头白尾，代表着勇猛、力量和胜利。22.NationalMotto:EPluribusUnum(合众为一，1776年）InGodWeTrust（英文：我们信仰上帝，1956年现在,23.NickName:UncleSamnicknameandcartoonimageusedtopersonifytheU.S.government.ItisderivedfromtheinitialsU.S.andwasfirstpopularizedonsupplycontainers供应军队牛肉的桶上duringtheWarof1812.ThefirstvisualrepresentationorcaricatureofanUncleSamfigure,attiredinstarsandstripes,appearedinpoliticalcartoonsin1832.,ThecharactercametobeseenasashrewdYankee,possiblyafterthecharacterBrotherJonathanintheplayTheContrast(1787)byRoyallTyler.Inthe20thcenturyUncleSamhasusuallybeendepictedwithashortbeard,highhat,andtailedcoat.In1961theU.S.Congressadoptedthefigureasanationalsymbol.1961年美国国会通过决议，正式承认“山姆大叔”为美国的象征。传说1812年英美战争期间，美国纽约特罗伊城商人山姆威尔逊（1766.9.13-1854.7.31）在供应军队牛肉的桶上写有“u.s.”，表示这是美国的财产。这恰与他的昵称“山姆大叔”(“UncleSam”)的缩写(“u.s.”)相同，于是人们,便戏称这些带有“u.s.”标记的物资都是“山姆大叔”的。后来，“山姆大叔”就逐渐成了美国的绰号。十九世纪三十年代，美国的漫画家又将“山姆大叔”画成一个头戴星条高帽、蓄着山羊胡须的白发瘦高老人。Yankee：AnativeorinhabitantofNewEngland.AnativeorinhabitantofanorthernU.S.state,especiallyaUnionsoldierduringtheCivilWar.AnativeorinhabitantoftheUnitedStates.,24.NationalDay：July4th(IndependenceDay1776）Declaredindependence:July4,1776admiteditsindependence:September3,178325.Capital:WashingtonD.C.26.GDP（PPP）(2006)Total:13.05billiondollars（rank1st）perperson:43555dollars（rank3rd）,ThefeaturesofthetopographyoftheUS：Themiddleishighandthetwosidesarelow.(中间高，两侧低)B.Thesouthandnortharehighandthemiddleislow(南北高，中间低)C.Thetwosidesarehighandthemiddleislow(两侧高，中间低)D.Thesouthandthenortharelowandthemiddleishigh.(南北低，中间高),1.ThreegeographicaldivisionsHowistheAmericanterritoryonthecontinentdivided?threeparts:theeasternpart,thewesternpartandthegreatcentralplaininbetween.2)Whatarethefeaturesofthethreedivisions?(1)theeasternpartthehighlandsformedbytheAppalachianRange.AppalachianRange:Thesize:onesixthofthenationalterritoryonthecontinentthelength:1200milesfromnorthMainetocentralAlabamatheaveragealtitude:800metersabovesealeveltheaveragewidth:notmorethan300miles,lieintheeasternpartofthecountryrunslightlyfromthenortheasttosouthwest.differentnamesforthem:theGreenMountainstheWhiteMountainstheCatskillstheBlueRidgemountainstheGreatSmokiesproductiveagriculturalandindustrialcenters.goodtransportationanabundanceofrawmaterialsvalleysoftheAppalachianHighlands:highlydevelopedindustrialregions.,RipVanWinklebyWashingtonIrving:AmericanwriterrememberedforthestoriesRipVanWinkleandTheLegendofSleepyHollow,containedinTheSketchBook(1819-1820).RipVanWinkleissetinthegreatAppalachianmountainsAppalachianSpring阿巴拉契亚山脉的春天:amusicalcompositionwrittenorusedforballetFallLine(瀑布线):Alineconnectingthewaterfallsofnearlyparallelriversthatmarksadropinlandlevel.(2)thewesternparthighplateauandmountainsformedbytheCordillerarangethewholeareaholdsonethirdofthecountrysterritoryonthecontinent,TheRockyMountainsthebackboneoftheNorthAmericancontinentlieinthewesternpartofthecountryrunslightlyfromthenorthwesttosoutheast.alsoknownastheContinentalDivide:TheyseparatethemajorriversystemsoftheU.S.TheriversthatdescendfromtheeasternslopesoftheRockiesflowintotheMississippiandtheGulfofMexico.ThosethatbeginonthewesternslopesoftheRockiesflowtothePacificOceanandtheGulfofCalifornia,Cascaderange:amountainrangeinthenorthwesternUnitedStatesextendingthroughWashingtonandOregonandnorthernCalifornia;apartoftheCoastRangeSierraNevada:AmountainrangeofeasternCaliforniaextendingabout644km(400mi)betweentheSacramentoandSanJoaquinvalleysandtheNevadaborder.MountWhitney,4,420.7m(14,494ft),isthehighestelevation.(3)thegreatcentralplainItoccupiesonesecondofAmericaslandmassonthecontinentItstretchesfromtheGreatLakesinthenorthtotheGulfofMexicointhesouth1200milesinlength,300milesinwidthMuchoftheareaisusedforcattleandwheatranching.,2.Rivers:1)TheThreeMajorRiverSystems(1)thesystemofGulfMajorrivers:TheMississippiRiver:oftencalledthe“FatherofWaters”oroldmanriverthelongestandthemostimportantriverinthesystemoftheGulf.Themainstreamoftheriver：3779kmlong,(6262kmincludingtheMissouriRiver)Ithasadrainageareaof3,225,000squarekmTwolargesttributaries:theMissouriandtheOhiotheMissouri：3,725kilometers/thelongestriverintheUnitedStatesarisesinMontanaandflowssoutheastwardtobecomeatributaryoftheMississippiatSaintLouis,theOhio:about1,500kilometerslong.calledtheAmericanRuhr(aftertheRuhrRiverinGermany)(2)thesystemoftheAtlanticRockyMountainsformthemostimportantcontinentaldivideinNorthAmerica,separatingthesystemoftheAtlanticandthesystemofthePacifictheHudsonRiver:520kmlong,oneofthemainarteriesforinlandwaterwaytraffic.ItislinkedbycanalswiththefiveGreatLakes.DelawareRiver:formstheboundaryofPennsylvanianandNewJerseyPotomacRiver:about459km(285mi)alongtheVirginia-MarylandbordertoChesapeakeBay.,(3)SystemofPacificTwomajorrivers:theColumbiaRiverariverrisinginsoutheastBritishColumbia,Canadaabout1,947km(1,210mi)theColoradoRiverariverrisingintheRockyMountainsabout2,333km(1,450mi)2)InternationalRiverstheRioGrandeRiverItrisesinthesouthernRockyMountainsandflowstotheGulfofMexico.Itisabout3,200kilometerslongandformsanaturalboundarybetweenMexicoandtheUnitedStates.,theSt.LawrenceRiver：formspartoftheboundarybetweenCanadaandtheU.S.A.TheColumbiaRiver：risesinCanadaandflowsthroughWashingtonStatetheColoradoRiver:ariverinTexas;flowssoutheastintotheGulfofMexico3.LakestheGreatLakes：themostimportantlakesintheUnitedStates:LakeSuperior,LakeMichigan,LakeHuron,LakeOntario,LakeErieLakeSuperior：thelargestfreshwaterlakeintheworldLakeMichigantheonlyoneentirelyintheU.S.,acompletesystemofwaterways.theeconomiclifelineoftheMvidingcheaptransportationformaterialssuchasironore,coalandgrain.Theupperlakesregion:alandofgreatnaturalwealth,thelowerlakesregion:alandofindustries.Thecheapandeasytransportationbetweenthesetworegionsisofgreatimportance,theNiagaranaigrFalls:locatedontheU.S.A.andCanadianboundarybetweenLakeErieandLakeOntario.thewidth:1240meters.thedrop:average49meters.,4.BenefitsofthetopographyTheUnitedStatesisavariedlandofforests,deserts,mountains,plateausandfertileplains.Thelongandirregularseacoastsprovidemanyexcellentharbors.Themountainsarerichinmineralresources.Thefertilegentlyrollingplainsareeasytocultivate.AlargenetworkoflakesandtheAtlanticandGulfriverslinkstheinteriorofthecountrywiththecoastalcities.Manyswiftriversprovidegoodsourcesofhydroelectricpower.,3.Climate1)Sixtypesofclimate(1)ahumidcontinentalclimateinthenortheasternpartofthecounty(NewEngland)summers:longerandhotterinthesouthwinters:colderinthenorth.plentyofrainfallandalonggrowingseason.(2)ahumidsubtropical（亚热带)climateinthesoutheasternpartofthecountry.summers:hotandwintersmild.anadequateamountofrainfallInthelatersummerandearlyautumnhurricanesometimesblowinfromtheAtlanticcausingheavydamage.However,theclimateofthesouthisgenerallyfavorable,especiallyforagriculture.,(3)thecontinentalsteppeclimate（大陆草原型气候）oftheGreatPlains(4)thecontinentaldesertclimate（大陆沙漠型气候）oftheintermountainregion.TheamountofrainfalldecreasesuntilthereisalmostnoneatallinthedesertsofNevada,ArizonaandsoutheasternCalifornia.(5)amaritimeclimate（海洋性气候）likethatofBritainThePacificnorthwest(6)aMediterraneanclimate（地中海型气候）thesouthernpartofthePacificcoastinCaliforniawarm,drysummersandmoistwinters.,2)Factorsthatinfluencetheclimate(1)ThelargebodiesofwateroftheAtlanticandPacificOceans,theGulfofMexicoandtheGreatlakesthemostimportantforcesthatinfluencetheclimateintheUnitedStates.supplymuchofthewatervaporthatfallsasrainandthushelpkeeptemperaturesmoderateintheregionsborderingthem.,(2)Oceancurrentsinfluencetheclimateoverwideregions.ThesoutheasterncoastiswarmedbytheGulfStream.NewEnglandiscooledbythewatersoftheLabradorCurrent拉布拉多洋流.ThecoolCaliforniaCurrentmoderatesclimatesallalongthesouthernpartofthewestcoast.TheJapanCurrentwarmsSouthernAlaskaandthenorthernpartofthewestcoast.,(3)ThewesternmountainrangeshaveanimportanteffectontheclimateoftheFarWest.TheSierraNevadaandCascademountainrangespreventwesterlywindsfrombringingmoisturetotheintermountainregionofthewest.TheInteriorPlainsoftheMidwestareexposedtoboththecoldnorthernwindsfromCanadaandthetropicalwindsfromtheGulfofMexico.ThesewindsexplaintheextremesoftemperaturethatoccurintheMidwestregion.,50centimeterRain-FallLine(50厘米降雨线):OneofthemostimportantgeographicboundariesintheUnitedStatesisthe50-centimeterrainfallline,whichrunsnorthandsouthalmostthroughthemiddleofthecountry.Anytravelerchancestocrossthisinvisiblelinewillbecomeawareofdifferenceintheatmosphere.Eastoftheline,farmingisrelativelyeasyandthepopulationisrelativelylarge;westoftheline,onecanfindman-madeirrigationsystems,dry-farming,grazingandfewerpeople.,Climate:mostlytemperate,tropicalinHawaiiandFloridaandarcticinAlaska,semiarid(雨量非常少)inthegreatplainswestoftheMississippiRiveraridintheGreatBasinofthesouthwest;lowwintertemperaturesinthenorthwestareameliorated(tomakebetter)occasionallyinJanuaryandFebruarybywarmchinookwinds(awarmdrywindblowingdowntheeasternslopesoftheRockies)fromtheeasternslopesoftheRockyMountains,4.NaturalResourcesTheUnitedStatesisrichinnaturalresourcesindeposits,forests,waterpower,etc：coal,copper,lead,molybdenum,phosphates,uranium,bauxite,gold,iron,mercury,nickel,potash,silver,tungsten,zinc,petroleum,naturalgas,timberOnefourthofthecountrysterritoryiscoveredwithforests.Thetotalwaterpowerresources:130billionwatts5.TerritoryTherapidexpansionofAmericanterritory:200yearsago:13statesalongtheAtlanticinanarrowstrip.1783:theareatotheMississippiRiverbecamepartofAmericaintheTreatyofParisbetw