英美国家概况名词解释

1、Standard English Standard English is based on the speech of the upper class of southeastern England. Its widely used in media and taught at schools. Its preferred by the educated, middle-class people. It has developed and has been promoted as a model for correct British English. Its also the norm ca

2、rried overseas. Today, Standard English is codified to the extent that the grammar and vocabulary are much the same everywhere in the world where English is taught and used.Commonwealth of Nations The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of independent sovereign states, all of which ac

3、knowledge the British monarch as the head. The commonwealth is not a political union of any sort, and its member states have full autonomy to manage their internal and external affairs. It is primarily an organization in which countries with diverse economic backgrounds have an opportunity for close

4、 and equal interaction after gaining independence. The major activities of Commonwealth are designed to advocate democracy, human rights, and to promote economic cooperation and growth within its members.Critical realismCritical Realism is a literary school which flourished in the 40s and early 50s

5、of the 19th century. The critical realists described the chief traits of the society and criticized the capitalist system from a democratic viewpoint. The greatest English critical realist was Charles Dickens.Three Majestic CirclesItstheforeignpolicyadoptedbytheBritainafterWW II.The first was the Co

6、mmonwealth circle,which embraced much of Africa and Asia as well as the dominions ofCanada,NewZealandandAustralia.ThesecondwasBritains “specialrelationship” withtheUnitedStates,and the third was Britains close relationship with WesternEurope.Melting pot/salad bowlThe United States is not merely a na

7、tion but a nation of nations. The immigrants came in waves, including the Europeans, the Africans and the Asians. Therefore, America was described as a melting pot where various racial and ethnic groups were combined into one culture. Recently, Americans have been called a salad in that people of di

8、fferent races and ethnic groups mix harmoniously but at the same time keep their distinct culture and custom.Checks and balancesIt goes back to the tradition that everybody in the United States was afraid that one persons or group, including the majority, it might become too powerful or be able to s

9、eize control of the country and create a tyranny. To guard against the possibility, the delegates who drafted the constitution set up a government consisting of three parts, or branches: the legislature, executive, and the judiciary. Each branches has powers that the others do not have and each has

10、a way of counteracting and limiting any wrongful action by other branches.Ideals of American educationThe first ideal is that as many people as possible should have access to as much education as they want. The second is that of producing a society that is totally literate and of local control. The

11、third is about the basic nature of knowledge and learning that scholars and students should work to discover new information or conceive new ways to understand what is already known.ThanksgivingIt is celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. For many Americas it is the most

12、 important holiday apart from Christmas. Schools, offices and most businesses close for thanksgiving, and many people make the whole weekend a vacation.The lost generationThe lost generation refers to the young American writers caught up in the world war I and cut off from the old values yet unable to come to terms with the