《英语国家概况》教学课件

1、英语国家概况课件The Latest Survey of the United Kingdom and the United States外语教学与研究出版社 2012使用教材：最 新 英 美 概 况 THE UNITED KINGDOM CHAPTER ONE Map of the United KingdomPart One The LandLearning objectives: After completing this part, students should obtain some more basic facts and detailed information about t

2、he United Kingdom, especially its physical geography, and equip themselves with the knowledge of British natural resources and the climate of the country. 1. The official name, national flag, national anthem, and national capital of the country 2. The location and size of the country3. The terrain,

3、rivers and mountains of the country4. The natural resources of the country5. The climate of the country Focal points:The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Since 1927) 1. The official name, national flag, national anthem, and national capital of the country 1.1 The Official Name o

4、f the CountryConventionally shortened to United KingdomAbbreviation: UKPeople often get confused with the terms “England”, “Britain”, “Great Britain”, “United Kingdom”, and “British Isles”. Even some British people are not fully aware of the precise reality that these terms express.Do these terms me

5、an the same? Question to ponder: Hints Many people say England when they really mean The United Kingdom. This is not correct! People in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland consider it insulting and hate hearing Britain being referred to as “England” as it appears to ignore their existence. England

6、is only a constituent country in the UK, and a part of the island of Great Britain, together with Scotland and Wales. EnglandStrictly, “Britain” refers to the largest island in the British Isles, which contains modern-day England, Wales and Scotland and islands governed from the mainland (i.e. not I

7、sle of Man or Channel Islands). However, the term “Britain” is more commonly used as a political term: an alternative name for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. BritainGreat Britain is the collective name for the three countries of England, Scotland and Wales. It also include

8、s the small adjacent islands but it does not include the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Great Britain and Northern Ireland together form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland“, or UK.Great Britain“The United Kingdom” is the abbreviated form for the official name “The United

9、Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland“, which came into use in 1922 after the constitution of the Irish Free State (1922-1937), the former name of the Republic of Ireland.The United KingdomThe British Isles is a geographical term for a group of islands consisting of Great Britain, the whole

10、of Ireland, and many other smaller surrounding islands.The British Isles are the largest group of islands in Europe. The British Isles 1. A great many people use “Great Britain” instead of “the United Kingdom” to mean the same thing. Do you think it is right? Look at the maps below. Then, you will h

11、ave the answer. Great BritainThe United KingdomTopics for discussion2. In 1970, the BBC showed a series of programs about the history of the British Empire. Before the series started, they advertised it. The advertisement mentioned “Englands history”. Within a few hours, the BBC had received thousan

12、ds of angry calls of protest and it was forced to make an apology. Who do you think the angry callers were?Why did the BBC apologize?1.2 The National Flag of the Country The Union FlagOR popularly known as the Union JackThe National Flag of the UKDescription of the British national flagThe shape and

13、 flag ratio of the United Kingdom Flag is described as 1:2 (length twice the height).A blue field with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) edged in white superimposed on the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland), which is superimposed on the diagonal white

14、 cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland). Historical significance of the British national flagThe Union Jack is a transnational flag, which represents the union of different countries and the growth of a family of nations whose influence extends far beyond the British Isles. The Union Flag,

15、 or the Union Jack, signifies unity and is a fine expression and a great symbol of unity as well as diversity of the nation. Formation of the British national flag A symbol of unity The British flag incorporates the national symbols of three distinct countries, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland

16、. In fact its name Union Jack emphasizes the very nature of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as a union of nations. The flag is also known by another name, this too, emphasizing the idea of union: the Union Flag, perhaps a less common term but a little more precise. The Union

17、 Flag or Union Jack is a composite design made up of three different national symbols: St. Patricks Cross,the flag of Ireland * The cross represented in each flag is named after the patron saint of each country.St. Georges Cross,the flag of England St. Andrews Cross,the flag of Scotland The images b

18、elow give you the idea of the union of the three flags forming one unified flag.Each country of the kingdom has her national flag, and usually there is a story behind each national flag. The national flag of the United Kingdom has an interesting story, too. Question to explore: Why doesnt the Welsh

19、flag appear on the Union Flag? The Red Dragon, flag of Wales Answer Because Wales had already been united to England when the first version of the Union Flag was designed in 1606. However, the dragon flag is in common use today, flying proudly over public and private buildings throughout Wales. Kale

20、idoscopeDo you know the Union Jack is also incorporated into the national flags of some other independent countries? Look at these flags: AustraliaFijiTuvaluNew ZealandUnion Jacks hung along Regent Street in Londonduring the royal wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton on April 29, 2011.W

21、ow!The design of the Union Flag can be used on 1.3 The National Anthem of the Country GOD SAVE THE QUEEN Originated in a patriotic song first performed in 1745.No authorized version of the National Anthem, as the words are a matter of tradition. The words used are those sung in 1745.Substitute “Quee

22、n” for “King” where appropriate.Also used in a number of Commonwealth realms and British Crown Dependencies. On official occasions, only the first verse is usually sung.1. God save our gracious Queen!Long live our noble Queen!God save the Queen!Send her victorious,Happy and glorious,Long to reign ov

23、er us,God save the Queen./music/UK/flash/vocal/UK God Save the Queen (standard version in the United Kingdom)2. O Lord, our God, arise, Scatter her enemies, And make them fall. Confound their politics, Frustrate their knavish tricks, On Thee our hopes we fix, God save us all.3. Thy choicest gifts in

24、 store, On her be pleased to pour; Long may she reign: May she defend our laws, And ever give us cause. To sing with heart and voice: God save the Queen!Musical VocalOn-line Listening and Viewing: Video/u94/v_NTg5NDYzNTU.html Questions to explore: 1. On what occasions is the British National Anthem

25、sung? The National Anthem is played whenever The Queen makes a public appearance and is played by the British Broadcasting Corporation every night before closedown. It is also sung at: - the end of all Remembrance Day services. - Medal ceremonies for Team GB (representing all countries). - the Engla

26、nd and Northern Ireland football matches. 2. If there is a King and a Queen at the same time what gender will be in the national anthem? The anthem reflects the gender of the RULER.When George VI and Queen Elizabeth were on the throne, the anthem was God Save the King because the ruler was male. Onl

27、y the RULER reigns, so the anthem reflects the gender of the ruler.1.4 The National Capital of the CountryFacts & Figures of London:A history of more than 2000 years, going back to its founding by the Romans.Today, the largest city in the UK.The largest urban zone in the EU. The most populous city i

28、n the EU.LONDONAn international city, with strengths in the arts, commerce, finance, education, entertainment, fashion, healthcare, media, tourism and transport.A city of a wide range of peoples, cultures and religions.A city of more than 300 languages spoken.A city drawing the most international vi

29、sitors to its various attractions.Its Chinatown is the largest in Europe. A sister city with Beijing since 2006. The first city in 2012 hosting the Summer Olympics three times.Map of the city of LondonCity of London skylineWestminster Abbey House of Parliament and Big Ben Buckingham PalaceLondon Tow

30、er BridgeTower of London London eye A night view of LondonChinatown in London Question to ponder It is said if youre tired of London, youre tired of life. Do you think so? Why or why not?ConclusionIn this section, we have learned some very basic facts and detailed information about the United Kingdo

31、m: its official name, national flag, national anthem, and national capital. From the lectures we know better about the UKs official title and the composition of the unitary state; learn the history and formation of its national flag, and know more about its national anthem, God Save the Queen, with

32、its verses and tunes; and we also have an even clearer image of London, the national capital of the UK.Further reading and references (useful websites)/wiki/United_King dom http:/ www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk /wiki/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom /songs/ national_ anthem.html.uk/Bear in your mind wha

33、t you have learned from the textbook and the lectures by the teacher.Read extensively from different resources and learn more about the general features of the UK and detailed facts of its official title, national flag, national anthem, and its national capital, London.Pre-read about the location an

34、d size of the United Kingdom. Assignment2. The location and size of the country2.1 The location of the countryStudy the map on the next page and describe the location of the UK. The words and phrases below might be helpful to you for your work: be situated at/off/onlie offseparate fromcoast of conti

35、nental Europesurround by neighbouring countriesUK Location Map Situated on the British Isles a large group of islands lying off the north-western coast of Europe.Separated from the European continent by the English Channel and the Strait of Dover in the south and the North Sea in the east.Positioned

36、 between 50and 60north latitude and 2east longitude and 10west longitude. Geographically and historically, the United Kingdom is divided into four parts: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.Look at the exact location of each of the four component parts of the UK: Being the largest of the f

37、our countries, England occupies southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain. Sharing land borders with Scotland to the north, and Wales to the west, England is washed by the North Sea in the east and separated from the continental Europe by the English Channel in the south. 2.1.1 The location

38、 of England (red) in the United Kingdom Being the most northern country of the UK, Scotland occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain, and shares a border with England to the south. It is washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the north and west and by the North Sea in the east.2.1.2 The l

39、ocation of Scotland (red) in the United Kingdom Located in the south-west of Great Britain, Wales is bordered by England to the east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Irish Sea to its west and north. 2.1.3 The location of Wales (red) in the United Kingdom Occupying the north-eastern part of

40、 Ireland, which is separated from the island of Great Britain by the North Channel, Northern Ireland borders on the Republic of Ireland in the south-west.2.1.4 The location of Northern Ireland (red) in the United Kingdom Mark and name on the outline map on the right-hand side the FOUR countries of t

41、he United Kingdom. EnglandWaleNorthern IrelandScotlandTest yourselfApproximately 245,000square kilometres (94,600square miles) 2.2 The size of the country2.2.1 The size of England (green) 130,410 square kilometres (50,350 square miles), accounting for just over half the total area of the UK. England

42、78,772 square kilometres (30,410 square miles), occupying the northern third of Great Britain. 2.2.2 The size of Scotland (blue)Scotland20,779 square kilometres (8,023 square miles, accounting for less than a tenth of the total area of the UK. 2.2.3 The size of Wales (red)Wales14,160 square kilometr

43、es (5,470 square miles), covering about a sixth of the total area of the island of Ireland. 2.2.4 The size of Northern Ireland (red)Northern Ireland ConclusionIn this section, we have learned some detailed facts of the geographical location and size of the United Kingdom. From the lectures we know b

44、etter where the United Kingdom is exactly located, and can identify the specific location of the four constituent countries making up the kingdom. We also learned how big in area the country is as a whole and the individual size of each constituent part of the UK. Further reading and references (use

45、ful websites)/wiki/Geography_of_the_United_Kingdomhttp:/ www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk /areas-of-britain/.uk/places-geography-great-britain.htmReview what you have learned from the textbook and lectures by the teacher.Read and explore more about the location and size of the United Kingdom and the

46、 four parts making up the country from different resources, especially from the Web.Pre-read about the terrain, major rivers and mountains of the United Kingdom. Assignment3. The terrain, rivers and mountains of the country 3.1 The terrain of the countryView the map on the next page to gain a genera

47、l idea of the land forms of the United Kingdom. UK Terrain Map *The colour green on the map represents the lowland area. *The colour brown represents the highland area. Tips:Roughly two kinds of terrainhighland and lowland. The highland area in the northern part of the country, comprising the mounta

48、inous regions of Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England and north Wales. The lowland area especially in the east and south of England. 3.1 The terrain of the countryHilly regions in the north, west, and southwest; low coastal plains in the east and southeast. The east and west Midlands region,

49、 with its rolling hills, lies to the south of the Pennine Range.The highest point is Scafell Pike, in the northwest Lake District, which rises to 3,210 feet above sea level.3.1.1 The terrain of EnglandTraditionally divided into 3 topographicalareas:The northern highlands, occupying the northern half

50、 of Scotland; The central lowlands, averaging about 500 feet in elevation; And the southern uplands, featuring the Scottish moor lands with their many rivers and valleys. 3.1.2 The terrain of ScotlandMap of Scotlands highland-lowland divide Mountainous, occupied largely by the Cambrian Mountains wit

51、h an altitude ranging between 1500 and 2000 feet.The highest point in Wales: Mount Snowdon, which rises to 3,563 feet above sea level. Small lowlands in the east. Narrow plains along the south and west coasts. 3.1.3 The terrain of WalesMostly low-lying hills and plateaus, usually no more than 500 fe

52、et high.The highest part in the southeast, the Mourne Mountains, rise to 2,796 feet (852 m) and the highest peaks of the Sperrin Mountains in the northwest all over 2,000 feet (608 m). 3.1.4 The terrain of Northern IrelandOf the many rivers in the United Kingdom, only a few are navigable.Among the m

53、ost important rivers is the Thames, which is second longest but is the deepest river in the county. The longest river in the UK is River Severn. For other major rivers, see the map and the table on the next pages. 3.2 The major rivers and mountains of the country3.2.1 The major rivers of the country

54、 A map of major rivers in the UK Top Ten Longest Rivers in the UK River Country Length (miles) (Km)1. River Severn Wales & England 220 3542. River Thames England 215 3463. River Trent England 185 2974. River Great Ouse England 143 2305. River Wye Wales & England 135 2156. River Tay Scotland 117 1887

55、. River Spey Scotland 107 1728. River Clyde Scotland 106 1729. River Nene England 100 16110. River Tweed Border of Scotland 96 155Notes: The Yorkshire Ouse and the River Swale were they combined would be 114 miles (183 km) long, and could therefore be included in 7th place after the River Tay. Compa

56、red with China, Britain does not have very tall mountains. The ten highest mountains in the UK are all found in Scotland. The highest peaks in each part of the UK are:Scotland: Ben Nevis (1,344metres)Wales: Snowdon (1,085metres) England: Scafell Pike (978metres) Northern Ireland: Slieve Donard (850

57、metres)3.2.2 The major mountains of the country Map showing mountain areas in the UKConclusionIn this section, we have learned some detailed facts of the United Kingdom: its terrain, major rivers and mountains. From this section we have come to know the two landforms of the UK: the Highland Zone in

58、the north and the Lowland Zone in the south, and form a deep impression of the individual terrain of each of the four parts of the UK. We should now be able to name, identify and locate the main mountains, and important rivers in the UK./wiki/Geography_of_the_United_Kingdomhttp:/www.terrain.co.uk/ h

59、ttp:/www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch. uk/./ rivers/UK.htm/./List_of_mountains_and_hills_of_the_United_Kingdom .hk/search?q=uk+mountainsFurther reading and references (useful websites)Review what we have learned from this section.Read extensively and do some research to find more about the physical geo

60、graphical features, especially the landforms of the United Kingdom and its four constituent parts.Pre-read about the natural resources and climate of the United Kingdom. Assignment4. The natural resources of the countryCoal Britain has a rich deposit of coal with major coal mines in central and sout