英语国家概况名词解释

英语国家概况名词解释（精选6篇）

篇1：英语国家概况名词解释

1.The civil rights movement

It is one of the most important of all social movements in the 1960s in America.Rosa Parks’ spontaneous action in 1955 was believed to the true beginning of the civil rights movement.The black students’ sit-in at a department lunch counter in North Carolina touched off the nationwide civil rights movement.During the first half of the decade, civil rights organizations like the SNCC,CORE,and SCLC struggled for racial intergration by providing leaderships,network and the people.In the latter half of the decade, some black organizations changed their nonviolent tactics, and emphasized on more radical means to end discrimination and raised the self-image of the blacks.The civil rights movement produced such great leaders as Martin Luther King.Jr, and Malcolm X, who inspired a generation of both blacks and whites to devote their lives to fighting for racial equality in th US.2.A federal system【联邦制】

It is one in which power is shared between a central authority and its constiuent parts, with some rights reserved to each.3.King Arthur

It is said that he was the King of England in the 5th century and united the British and drove the Saxons back with his magica sword,Excalibur.His real existence is in doubt.He is the central figure of many legends.4.The Anglo-Saxons

They were two groups of Germanic peoples who settled down in England from the 5th century.They were regarded as the ancestors of the English and the founders of England.5.Riverdance[大河舞] It is a very popular form of dancing based on Ireland’s intricate[错综复杂的]folk dances which are rearranged and modernized and adapted onto current stage performance.Dancing is traditionally part of Irish culture.It is usually accompanied by the Irish pipe and fiddle.The music usually sounds fast and furious.Most of the action

is from the waist down, with the arms held rigidly at the sides.6.The House of Commons

It is the real center of British political life because it is the place where about 650 elected representatives(members of parliament)make and debate policy.These MPs are elected in the General Elections and should represent the interests of the people who vote for them.7.The Commonwealth【英联邦】

In the author’s opinion, the Commowealth is a voluntary association of states which is made up mostly of former British colonies.There are 50 members of the Commonwealth: many of these are developing countries like India and Cyprus;others are developed nations like Australia,Canada and New Zealand.The Commonwealth was set up as a form for continued cooperation and as a sort of support network.8.Maoritanga

It is the Maori word for “Maori culture.” It refers to all the elements of the rich cultural heritage of the indigenous people in New Zealand, including their language, customs and traditions,9.The “Washminster” form polity

It is adopted by the Australian government.It is a mixture of the US Washington system of government and the British Westminster system.This means that the political structure of the government is base on a Federation of States with a three-tier system of government.However, the chief executive is a Prime Minister, instead of a President as in the US system.10.Yellowstone National Park

It is the oldest and one of the largest national parks in the US.It is named after the Yellowstone River that flows through the area.It is known for its geysers and hot springs among other natural wonders.counterculture[反主流文化]

In the wake of the Free Speech Movement and the New Left, there appeared a phenomenon that historians called the “counterculture”.The counterculture rejected capitalism and other Americans principles.They had morals different from those taught by their parents.Some group of youth tried to construct different ways of life,.Among the most famous were the hippies.They thought new experience through dropping out, and drug taking.But it was music,rock music particular, that became the chief vehicle for the counter cultural assault on the traditional American society.The counterculture exerted a great influence upon people’s attitudes toward social morals, marriage, career and success.Martin Luther King, Jr.A black Baptist minister, he was leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference during the civil rights movements of the 1960s.To promote his philosophy of nonviolent protest against segregation and other kinds of social injustice, King organized a series of “marches”, including the march on Washington of August 1963, when King delivered his famous “ I Have a Dream” speech.As a civil rights leader, King worked not only to end racial discrimination and poverty, but also to raise the self image of the blacks.Due to his strong belief in non-violent peaceful protest, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Price in 1964.He was assassinated in the city of Memphis in April 1968.13．Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon was the former President of the United States.He won the elction in 1968 and was re-elected in 1972.While he was in office, he contributed to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the US and China and visited China in 1972.Shortly after he was re-elected ,he was involved in the

Watergate scandal,for which he was forced to resign from the presidency.1.Explain your understanding of how the United States is governed according to its constitution, including its polity and the check and balance mechanism of governing.if Congress proposes a law that the president think is unwise, the president can veto it.That means the proposal does not became law.Congress can enact the law despite the president’s views only if two-thirds of the members of both houses vote in favor of it.If Congress passes a low which is the challenged in the courts as unconstitutional, the Supreme Court has the power to declare the law unconstitutional and therefore no longer in effect.The president has the power to make treaties with other nations and to make all appointments to federal positions,including the position, of Supreme Court justice.The Senate,however,must approve all treaties and confirm all appointments before they become official.In this way the Congress can prevent the president from making unwise appointments.2.How do you understand the saying: ”British history has been a history of invasion.” ?

Before the 1st century AD Britain was made up of many tribal kingdoms of Celtic people:a powerful cultural originating in central Europe.Then in 43AD Britain was invaded by Roman Empire, and England and Wales became part of the Roman Empire for nearly400 years.As the Roman Empire came under threat from the east, the Roman armies and Roman protection were withdrawn from Britain, and Britain was again divided into small kindoms, and

again it came under threat from outside, this time from Germanic peoples:the Angles,and the Saxon.In the 5th century AD it is said that a great leader-King Arthur appeared, united the British, and with his magical sword, Excalibur,drove the Saxons back.whatever Arthur’s success,legend or not,it did not last,for the Anglo-Saxons did succeed in invading Britain,and either absorbed the Celticpeople,or pushed them to the western and northern edges of Britain.From the late 8th century on, raiders from Scandinavia, the ferocious Vikings, threatened Britain’s shores.Their settlements in England grew until large areas of northern and eastern England were under their control.1066, the Normans, from northern France, whowere descendants of Vikings.Under William of Normandy they cross the English Channel and in the Battle of Hastings, defeated an English army under King Harold.This marks the last time.that an army from outside the British Isles succeeded in invading

3.Your understanding of the characteristics of American religion and its social functions

First of all, American with different religions live together under the same law.The Bill of Rights in the US Constitution

insists that there should be no state religion.That means that the government has no right to interfere in people’s religious affairs.The freedom of religion and the separation of state and church guaranted in the Constitution is believed to be the basic principles against religious persecution.Secondly,the religious beliefs of Americans continue to be strong with social progress.Every Sunday morning, all over America people pour into the churches.Half of American Protestants are active church members, and there are few who habitually stay away.Not only the Catholic churches,but the Protestant ones too,are flourishing,and new ever-growing suburbs.Through all the social and economic changes religion has remained a constant factor.Thirdly,in the united states every church is a completeluy independent organization,and concerned with its own finance and its own building.if one goes to a Protestant church,he or she will hear morality preached,but not a word of doctrine.Churches and religious sects are expressions of group solidarity rather than of rigid adherence to doctrine.

篇2：英语国家概况名词解释

Unit One Geography

Terms:

1.The Star-spangled Banner(the flag)

2.The Yellowstone National Park

3.Mount Rushmore National Memorial 4.The Great Lakes

5.The Grand Canyon 删除

6.Mississippi River删除

Questions:

1.Please list five famous buildings or things in New York City.Unit Two History

Terms:

1.The Declaration of Independence

2.The Bill of Rights

3.The Boston Tea Party

4.Thomas Jefferson

5.Monroe Doctrine

6.Gold Rush

7.Uncle Tom’s Cabin删除

8.The American Civil War

9.Abraham Lincoln

10.Westward Movement

11.Progressive Movement

12.The lost generation

13.The Monkey Trial删除

14.The Great Depression 15.Franklin Roosevelt

16.Lend-lease Bill删除

17.The Beat Generation删除

18.The Civil Rights Movement

19.Martin Luther King, Jr.Questions:

1.What were the reasons for people to found colonies in North America?

2.What do you know about the War of Independence(reasons, process, and significance)?

3.How was American Constitution established and what do you know about it?

4.5.6.7.8.What do you know about Monroe Doctrine? What do you know about the U.S.-Mexican War and its result? What do you know about the Civil War(reasons, process, and significance)? What do you know about the Progressive Movement? What kind of changes did modern America experienced at the beginning of the 20th century?

9.What do you know about World War One and America’s policy during the war?

10.The target of the Progressive Movement was trust and monopoly.What were the negative effects brought by monopoly?

11.What were the nature and effects of WW I?

12.What do you know about Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal?

13.“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government….”

Who is the writer and what is the name of the document?

What is the historical background of the document and how did it come into being?

Unit Three American Identity

Terms:

1.Hispanics(Latinos)

2.Model minority

3.Melting pot

Questions:

1.Why America is called “a nation of immigrants”?

2.What contributions did immigrants make to America?

(Please list at least three points of views)

Unit Four Political Institution

Terms:

1.The checks and balances

2.Congress

Questions: 1.What are the US government principles?

2.What do you know about the Presidential election in America?

Unit 5 Economy

Questions:

1.What is the most striking characteristic of the American economy in terms of its diversity?

2.When did service industries in the U.S.experience rapid growth? How significant is the service industry in the American economy?

Unit 8 Education

Terms:

1.Harvard College

2.Ivy League Questions

1.How have the goals and purposes of education in the U.S.evolved over time? Trance them briefly.Unit 9 Religion

Questions:

1.In your opinion, why do so many Americans want to keep “In God We Trust” on their currency?

篇3：英语国家概况名词解释

一、英语国家概况课程教学现状

上海开放大学英语专业开设《英语国家概况》课程采用外语教学与研究出版社2007年版谢福之主编的《英语国家概况 (A Guide to English-Speaking Countries) 》。对于上海开放大学英语专业学生而言, 英语国家概况的学习有一定难度。学生大多是三校生, 学生的英语基础普遍不是很好, 对英语国家概况课程的学习兴趣不浓, 积极性也不高。《英语国家概况》课程涉及知识面广、信息量大, 语言难度较大, 这在客观上增加了教师教学和学生学习的难度。传统的《英语国家概况》教学以传授英语国家的文化背景知识为教学重点, 教学方法以教师为中心的知识灌输填鸭式为主, 存在一定的局限性。从教学内容看, 传统教学模式只注重对英语国家文化的物质层面和制度层面的介绍, 忽视对跨文化交际影响较大的深层文化因素的讲解。从文化本身的特性看, 文化是动态的, 文化会随着时间地点和人物的变化而发生变化。但传统的教学模式给予学生的是一成不变的事实性描述, 缺乏对某一文化现象的历史起源及最新动态的描述。从教学方式看, 以知识灌输法为主的教学, 只注重对学生知识的传授, 忽视学生的主体地位, 因而不利于培养学生对文化知识的敏感性和识别力, 不利于提高学生的跨文化交际能力。

二、英语国家概况课程教学改革

1.采用多媒体教学

《英语国家概况》课程的特征决定了上海开放大学采用多媒体讲授该课程。在学生不能到英、 美等国亲身体会的情况下, 多媒体教学展示成了该课程的最佳选择。任课教师在多媒体PPT中集中展示学习章节的单词、词汇和短语, 帮助学生扫清阅读障碍; 多媒体中的有关国家的图片知识可以让学生了解英语国家概况, 了解目标国家的地形地貌;多媒体中的图表帮助学生了解目标国家的人口、经济等基本社会情况;多媒体中的音频资料帮助学生听到目标国家的介绍; 多媒体中的视频可以让学生看到英、美等国各地的人文和自然景观。多媒体教学彻底改变了《英语国家概况》课程的面貌, 使得教学内容更直观明了、栩栩如生, 使得教材的内容得以立体性地扩展授课教师要充分灵活地运用这些资料制作成教学多媒体, 以达到相应的教学效果。

2.采用导学—自学—助学“3L”教学模式

在上海开放大学分校网站自建网上, 发布课程说明、教学大纲、教学实施细则、形成性考核实施方案、教学进度表、教材信息、参考资料、教学和自学进度表等, 引导学生明确学习目标和方向。同时, 在上海开放大学分校自建网上, 发布每单元的词语解析、重点归纳、难点讲解、背景知识、参考练习等, 使学生根据每单元的具体学习任务和要求自学。教师集中面授辅导:辅导课开始时, 帮助学生明确该单元的学习目标;辅导课结束前, 帮助学生就自己学习目标的实现情况进行检查和评价。辅导课要针对教学中的重难点, 适量讲解与答疑, 并进行拓展学习。以学生为中心, 采取答疑、组织学生进行小组讨论、集体讨论等灵活多样的形式。教师在不影响学生积极性的前提下, 帮助学生纠正语言不规范之处, 通过提示知识点、介绍教学资源和指导学习方法等方式, 为学生自学后面的知识奠定基础, 提高学生自学的质量。教师在网上发布各种助学信息和电子教案;帮助学生确立学习目标, 制订学习计划;帮助学生掌握自主学习的学习策略;激发学生的学习动机;培养学生的学习习惯和毅力;对学生学习中的困难、问题给予各种帮助和服务等。教师应要求每个学生都根据自己的主客观条件, 自主制订符合实际的课程学习计划。如英语语言能力较强的学生, 可主要关注材料中的知识点, 并积极学习补充材料;英语能力较弱的学生, 可多花时间在课前预习和课后作业上, 多注意积累生词和固定搭配。任课教师负责课程学习计划的审核和实施过程的检查, 对学生的自学过程进行跟踪服务和监控。

3.适 时 开 展主 题讨论

学习和了解英语国家社会文化的目的是在跨文化交际中更得体地运用这些英语文化知识。《英语国家概况》课程的主要任务是在传授语言知识的同时, 任课教师教会学生捕捉文化信息, 并解读信息中表达的文化内涵, 从而培养开发大学学生跨文化交际的适应性和敏感性能力。在面授课堂上, 任课教师可以适时采用主题讨论的方法, 主题讨论能达到师生互动的教学效果。在主题讨论中, 学生通过能动性观察, 会自主地参与到活动中, 从而有助于学生加深对英语国家文化知识的认识和了解, 逐步提升学生的语言敏感度及运用英语的交际能力。运用主题讨论时, 任课教师首先要设计好讨论主题, 因为选择的主题会直接影响到学生讨论的效果。《英语国家概况》课程讨论的主题应根据选用教材的性质和内容, 并视学生的英语基础和学习能力选择学生感兴趣并富有挑战性的主题。任课教师所选主题既不要太具体, 又不要太空泛, 所选主题应使学生的讨论既有明确的目标, 又有一定的发挥空间。例如在授课中, 笔者适时让学生在课堂上分组讨论“工业革命对英国的影响”、“二战对英国的影响”、“美国独立战争的起因”、“美国南北战争的起因”等主题。在具体分组讨论前 , 任课教师先宣布讨论主题, 然后在班级随机让学生组成学习小组, 再由学生选出自己小组的组长。小组组长根据讨论主题, 统筹安排具体任务, 分工落实到每位组员, 并督促组员完成各自的工作。最后由组长汇总本小组的讨论结果, 纂写总结报告, 并选定小组发言人用PPT向全班同学展示本组的讨论结果。各小组发言人按照自己选择的方式, 在课堂上向老师和同学汇报讨论结果。其他小组学生可以就该小组陈述内容提出问题或质疑, 该小组成员要对大家的疑问予以及时解答。在主题讨论过程中, 任课教师始终要参与学生的汇报活动, 并指导学生对各小组的讨论结果进行点评和总结。通过老师和同学的点评, 学生了解自己在阶段学习中取得的进步, 同时也找到知识遗漏点, 最后根据这些信息调整日后的学习方法策略, 从而有效地强化学生学习该课程的效果, 并提高学生学习这门课程的兴趣和积极性。

三、结语

《英语国家概况》课程是上海开放大学商务英语专业比较难教的课程, 任课教师只有结合教材内容, 采用行之有效的方法, 才能取得良好的教学效果。在实际教学中, 任课教师要结合教材的特点、学生的英语基础和教学经验, 采取有效的适合学生的教学方法。

摘要：《英语国家概况》是上海开放大学商务英语专业课程中一门较难教学的课程。作者首先对上海开放大学商务英语专业《英语国家概况》课程的教学现状进行分析研究, 然后结合课程及上海开放大学学生的英语基础, 以及自己的教学体验, 探讨提高上海开放大学商务英语专业该课程教学质量的方法。

关键词：开放大学,《英语国家概况》,教学改革

参考文献

[1]谢福之.英语国家概况[M].上海:外语教学与研究出版社, 2007.

[2]丁国声.英语国家概况[M].上海:外语教学与研究出版社, 2008.

篇4：英语国家概况名词解释

关键词:《英语国家概况》、美国英语、地域和文化

美国英语是十七世纪开始产生的。自十七世纪初,英国向北美进行殖民活动起,英国移民开始流向美洲新大陆。在与英格兰不同的北美大陆的特殊地理和生存环境里,英国英语在与印第安语的相互接触中,吸收了不少的印第安词汇,如tamarack (美洲落叶松),raccoon (浣熊),totem (图腾),chipmunk (金花鼠),moose (驼鹿),canoe (独木舟)等。美国独立战争之后,政治上的独立使得人们提出要求在语言方面也应有相应的独立性。于是,1806年Noah Webster首创美国英语(American English)这个词。这样,英语的两大地域变体在一定程度上相互渗透、相互融合,差别有所缩小。首先我们先看一下英美英语之间有哪些显著差别。

一、美国英语与英国英语几处显著差别

1.读音

元音:

英语和美语的发音最具代表性的区别是对er的发音的不同。英语中,短音的er是浑元音,但长音的er也不过是个拉长了的浑元音,听起来是一个很夸张的介于“俄”和“啊”的声音。而美语中,er听起来怎么都是个“儿”音(例外是一些俗语中发成浑元音)。

ar:除了轻读短音(如singular)和者后连元音(如clarity),英语的ar全部清一色的长音[a:],而美语中,是“阿尔”。

2.拼写

拼写方面美国人是一个注重实用的民族,在其文字的拼写方面,他们也是采取了实用主义的态度.在美语的发展过程中,在拼写方面也曾出现过类似我国简化字的运动(The simplified SpellingMovement),删除了单词拼写中不发音的某些字母.拼写上的不同是英语与美语的又一差异.归纳起来有以下几种情况.

1),英语单词中不发音的词尾-me,-ue在美语拼写中被删除.

英语拼法 美语拼法

公斤 kilogramme kilogram

方案 programme program

目录 catalogue catalog

2),英语中的以-our结尾的单词,在美语中删去了不发音的字母u.

英语拼法 美语拼法

举止、行为 behaviour behavior

颜色 colour color

特别喜爱的 favourite favorite

3,英语中以-re结尾,读音为/e/的单词,在美语中改为-er结尾,读音不变.

英语拼法 美语拼法

中心 centre center

纤维 fibre fiber

二、美国英语独特性的历史文化根源

《英语国家概况》课程是非常重视对美国国家历史的讲解的,从北美大陆的原住民——印第安人独立发展时期、殖民地时期、独立战争和建国初期,一直到二战结束后的越战时期,美国英语都有明显不同于英国英语的重大发展。

1.殖民地时期多国籍移民和印第安原住民对美国英语的影响

美国民族向来被誉为“大熔炉”(the melting pot),因此美国英语也具有“大熔炉”的特点｡美国人在与各民族人民的接触中吸收了大量的他族语言｡

1.1 对印第安语的吸收(American Indian)

白人在与印第安人的友好交往中学会了许多新的东西,从而充实了自己的语言和文化｡在整个殖民时期,白人移民吸收的词汇主要是地名,特别是一些和自然特征有关的词汇,如山川､河流､湖泊､海湾｡在现今50个州当中,至少有27个州取自印第安语｡另外,早期的美国英语借用的词汇还与印第安人的部族关系､生活方式､宗教习俗､农作物､用具､动植物等相关,如moose(驼鹿),skunk(臭鼬)｡

1.2 对荷兰语言的吸收

历史上荷兰殖民者曾在北美大陆称霸一方,后来又有为数甚多的荷兰人定居美国,各种生活用语进入美国英语中｡如食品类词汇:cole slaw(夹心菜丝),cookie(甜点心),cruller(油煎饼),pot cheese(瓷装干酪),waffle(蛋奶烘饼);农场与建筑物,hay barrack(草屋),stoop(走廊),saw buck(锯木架);还有一些社会属性词汇,如boss(工头),patron(大庄园主),yankee(新英格兰人,美国佬)｡

1.3 对德语的吸收

德裔美国人是美国当今最大的民族群体之一｡据估计,每四个美国人中就有一名是德裔｡德裔的不少文化特征都变成了美国生活的一般特征｡牛肉香肠,汉堡包,啤酒都已成为美国生活方式的必备之物｡而这些都是德裔在美国的即兴之作｡美国英语在与德语的长期语言交往中,也溶入了不少词汇｡目前尚见的还有60余个｡如:beer soup(啤味汤),blutwurst(黑香肠),diener(实验室助手),semester(学期),seminar(研讨会),hex(符咒),katzenjammer(醉汉),wunderkind(神童),zinc(锌)等等｡

2.航海文化与美国早期语言

航海与北美殖民地的开拓有着极为重要的联系。无论处于何种动机,各种类型、各种层次的欧洲人要到北美定居,就必须作横跨大西洋的远航。水手们生活中的追求、兴趣爱好,乃至他们所使用的非常有特色的航海用语,无一不在潜移默化地影响着一批准备移居北美殖民地的特殊乘客。他们的语言形象生动,言简意赅,很富有想像力,对于经常与水手们打交道的殖民地居民来说,这种海上语言无疑有极大的吸引力。于是,他们开始自觉地或不自觉地进行模仿。与此同时,描写海上冒险的文艺作品对于航海用于的广泛流传也起了推波助澜的作用。下面是一些例证:

All aboard! 请大家上船!/请大家上车!

3.西部开发与美国语言文化

西部开发时期与初建北美殖民地时期有很多相似之处。西部开发者们与他们的前辈一样,也要进行艰难的长途跋涉,他们必须设法尽快适应陌生的自然环境,设法与讲不同语言的人打交道。西部的牛仔、木材采运工人、矿工等社会群体都很善于使用创新的语言,新颖的词汇不断涌现。这些词汇简练朴实、生动形象,其中有不少的表达方式被推广使用,成为美国英语中带有浓厚西部色彩的成分,这里我们引用少数例子:

(1)与“牛仔”(cowboy)同一含义的多种说法:

Waddy, cowpoke, cowpuncher, vaquero, broncobuster, buckaroo

(2) 牛仔用语及其引申的含义

Tenderfoot:(西部荒凉艰苦地区)新来者;尚无经验的人

horse sense: 粗浅但实用的知识;常识

三、地域变体对英语的影响

《英语国家概况》课程对不同地理形态、行政划分、人口变更的状况都给予了相当大的关注。而英语的地理特征在课程学习中也是应该得到注意的重要环节。地域变体,亦称方言,是语言在地理上的差异。美国人、加拿大人、澳大利亚人、新西兰人的英语各有特点,与英国 英语比较起来有不少差异,可算是英国英语的方言。这些差异表现在语音、词汇、语法、语义各个方面。在词汇方面,如英国英语的“电梯”是"lift",“糖果”是"sweets",“学期”是"term",“议会”是" parliament"等等,而美国英语则分别是"elevator"、"candy"、"semester"和"congress"。在语法方面,如英国英语"Have you any children?"(你有孩子吗?)美国英语则说"Do you have any children?"英国英语"I go to see you every morning."(我每天上午去看你。)美国英语则说" I go see you every morning."等等。在语义方 面,英国英语说"sleeper"是“枕木”,"shop"是“商店”,"corn"是“小麦”,而美国英语中这几个词分别是 “卧车”、“工场”、“玉米”。因此,英语的地域 变体给英语学习者带来了一定的困难,这就需要我们英语教师在教学中加以重视,分析辨明,帮助学生更好地掌握。

结语

综上所述,美国英语的形成与美国的社会风尚和民族性格是分不开的｡这种独特的个性使得美国英语不断创新而且能够独立发展｡它不拘于传统的羁绊,以大胆的观念与方法创造和借用新词,以更加灵活的方式合成新词｡美国人求新求奇,乐于试验创造,而英语的原母语国——英国则倾向于遵守传统的格式,力求保持统一的规范｡这也许是美国不同的民族精神在语言运用上的态度和实践差异的反应,也是同宗语言在不同地域的形成变体的主因｡而作为英语专业的专业必修课《英语国家概况》,要求学生掌握英国、美国等讲英语的国家的历史、文化、地理、经济、社会等各个层面的基本知识和基本概念,对于美国英语的诞生、发展、变化、稳定成长的历程要有一定的了解和认识。所以学好《英语国家概况》对深入认识美国英语的特点有着至关重要的作用。

参考文献:

1.D.Donnell W. K. Variety in Contemporary English. George Allen and Unwin,1980

2.丁•艾奇逊著:《现代语言学导论》,方文惠、郭谷全译,福建人民出版社1986年版.

3.桂诗春:《应用语言学》,湖南教育出版社1988年版。

4.桂诗春:《应用语言学与中国英语教学》,山东教育出版社1988年版。

篇5：英语国家概况期末考试

全部题目用英文作答，并将答案写在答题纸的相应位置上，否则不计分。

考试时间共150分钟。

Part One (40 points)

I. Read the following unfinished statements or questions carefully. For each unfinished

statement or question, four suggested answers marked A, B, C and D are given. Choose

the one that you think best completes the statement or answers the question. Write the

letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space on the answer sheet. (40

points, 1 point for each)

1. On the island of Great Britain, there are _______.

A. four political divisions --- England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

B. four political divisions --- England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland

C. three political divisions --- England, Scotland, and Wales

D. three political divisions --- England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland

2. Who invaded and conquered Britain for the first time in 55 BC?

A. Emperor Claudius

B. Julius Caesar

C. King Alfred

D. King Ethelred

3. Who is the author of Murder in the Cathedral?

A. Christopher Marlowe

B. T. S. Eliot

C. Ben Johnson

D. Thomas Becket

4. In England, the most famous of the Catholic conspiracies was _______.

A. the Cobham’s Plot

B. the Gunpowder Plot

C. the murder of Thomas Becket

D. the execution of Mary Queen of Scots

5. English colonial expansion began with the colonization of ________.

A. India

B. Australia

C. Canada

D. Newfoundland

6. The economic policy Britain pursued in the 1950s and 1960s was based on the theory of

______.

A. Karl Marx

B. Margaret Thatcher

C. John Maynard Keynes

D. Adam Smith

7. The Royal National Eisteddfod is a(n) _____ festival of poetry, music and other arts.

A. English

B. Scottish

C. Welsh

D. Irish

8. The British constitution is made up of the following except _______.

A. commonwealth law

B. conventions

C. common law

D. statute law

9. In Britain, capital punishment is the penalty of _______.

A. piracy

B. treason and murder

C. assassination

D. piracy and treason

10. _______ is more important than Christmas to Scots.

A. New Year’s Day

B. Whit Sunday

C. April Fool’s Day

D. Easter

11. The Hundred Years’ War with France was fought ________.

A. from 1327 to 1443

B. from 1337 to 1453

C. from 1347 to 1443

D. from 1357 to 1453

12. From 1649 to 1658 England was called a Commonwealth. It was ruled first by Oliver

Cromwell as _______.

A. Lord Protector

B. Lieutenant General

C. Commander of the New Modal Army

D. President

13. Ireland is divided into two political parts: _______.

A. Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland

B. Southern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland

C. the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland

D. Northern Ireland and Britain

14. Ireland has a bipolar political system with two major parties: _______.

A. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael

B. Sinn Fein and Fine Gael

C. Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein

D. Sinn Fein and IRA

15. _______ has been called the American Ruhr.

A. The Ohio River

B. The Mississippi

C. The Missouri

D. The Colorado

16. The Constitutional Convention in America was attended by _______.

A. all of the 13 states

B. all of the states except Maryland

C. all of the states except Rhode Island

D. all of the states, but later Rhode Island withdrew from the convention

17. The largest of the racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S. is the ______.

A. blacks

B. Hispanics

C. Asian-Americans

D. WASPs

18. The goal of Roosevelt’s New Deal was ______.

A. to change the American economic system

B. to save the American democracy and the capitalist system

C. to weaken monopoly interests in America

D. to nationalize banks and financial institutions in America

19. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. The Louisiana was taken from Britain as a result of the war of 1812.

B. The Louisiana Territory was ceded to the United States by France.

C. The Louisiana Territory was purchased from Spain.

D. The Louisiana Territory was purchased from France.

20. Which of the following is NOT TRUE about the Vietnam War?

A. The United States was weakened as a result of it.

B. American society had never been so divided since the Civil War.

C. Richard Nixon changed the strategy into “Vietnamization” of the war.

D. The cease-fire agreement was signed in 1975.

21. The following are the factors that have contributed to the development of the U.S.

economy EXCEPT _____.

A. the vast space and resources of the land

B. the ideals of freedom and economic opportunity

C. English as its national language

D. hard work by the people

22. America’s post-war policy toward the former Soviet Union was _______.

A. isolationism

B. containment

C. appeasement

D. neutrality

23. The second highest level of the federal judiciary in the U.S. is made up of ______.

A. the Supreme Court

B. the courts of special jurisdiction

C. the courts of appeal

D. the district courts

24. In the U.S., nearly all the ______ practice some form of open admission.

A. research universities

B. private colleges

C. public community colleges

D. specialized institutions

25. Among those American writers, ____ was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954.

A. Walt Whitman

B. Ernest Hemingway

C. Mark Twain

D. Washington Irving

26. In order to remember George Washington, _______.

A. a memorial hall was built in his birthplace

B. a memorial hall was built in Washington D.C.

C. a tall white Washington Monument was built in the capital

D. an expensive car was named after him

27. The name “Canada” is believed to be derived from an Indian word “Kanata”, meaning

______.

A. a settlement

B. a country

C. a meeting place

D. a colony

28. By ______, Upper Canada and Lower Canada were created.

A. Canada Act of 1791

B. Quebec Act of 1774

C. British North American Act

D. Act of Paris in 1763

29. ______ and _______ are two main federal parties in Canada.

A. The Liberal Party, the Social Credit Party

B. The Liberal Party, the Progressive Conservative Party

C. The New Democratic Party, the Social Credit Party

D. The New Democratic Party, the Progressive Conservative Party

30. Since 1971 the Canadian government has adopted a policy of ______, recognizing that

cultural pluralism within a bilingual framework is the essence of the Canadian identity.

A. assimilation

B. integration

C. multiculturalism

D. gender quality

31. The majority of French Canadians live in _______.

A. Quebec

B. Ontario

C. Newfoundland

D. Nova Scotia

32. The Parliament of Canada is made up of all the following EXCEPT _____.

A. the Crown

B. the Senate

C. the House of Commons

D. the National Assembly

33. The Great Barrier Reef is included on the World Heritage list because it has _____.

A. the most beautiful seascape in the world

B. the greatest number of islands in the world

C. the most diverse and complex marine life in the world

D. the longest coast in the world

34. The first major discoveries, made in _____ in the early 1850s, resulted in gold rushes in

Australia.

A. Queensland

B. South Australia

C. Victoria and Tasmania

D. Victoria and New South Wales

35. It is assumed that the first Europeans who reached Australia’s shores were ______.

A. the Dutch

B. the English

C. the Germans

D. the Spanish and the Portuguese

36. Under the Whitlam government “God Save the Queen” was replaced by _____ as

Australia’s national anthem.

A. Waltzing Matilda

B. Click Go the Shears

C. Advance Australia Fair

D. My Country

37. With regard to its size, Australia is ______ country in the world.

A. the third largest

B. the fourth largest

C. the fifth largest

D. the sixth largest

38. In Australia, the House of Representatives and the Senate have equal powers EXCEPT

that _____.

A. the House of Representatives cannot introduce money bills

B. the Senate cannot introduce money bills

C. the House of Representatives can pass laws

D. the Senate can pass laws

39. The capital of New Zealand is ________.

A. Nelson

B. Wellington

C. Melbourne

D. Dunedin

40. Which of the following about New Zealand is TRUE?

A. New Zealand is a republic.

B. New Zealand has three major political parties.

C. New Zealand has a bicameral parliament.

D. Queen Elizabeth II is represented in New Zealand by the Governor-General.

Part Two (60 points)

II. Give a one-sentence answer to each of the following questions. Write your answer in

the corresponding space on the answer sheet. (30 points, 3 points for each)

41. Why is Alfred known as “the father of the British navy”?

篇6：英语国家概况课程教学大纲

一、课程基本信息

课程代码：03050201222 课程类别：必修课

学 时：总36学时；2学时/周 学 分：2学分 适用专业：英语

开课院（系）：英语语言文化系 开课学期：2009～2010学年第一学期

二、教学目标及教学要求

教学目标：根据全国专业英语教学大纲的要求，英语专业二年级英语国家概况的教学目标是培养学生实际运用语言的能力，帮助学生打下坚实的专业基础，达到专业四级水平；同时培养学生良好学习作风和正确学习方法，培养学生逻辑思维能力和独立工作能力，丰富学生社会文化知识，增强学生对文化差异的敏感性，为学生升入三年级打下扎实基础。

教学要求：本课程主要是为了使英语专业学生了解主要英语国家的地理、历史、经济、政治等方面的概况，了解主要英语国家的文化传统，风俗习惯和社会生活的其他情况。本课程是一门实用性很强的文化知识课。一方面通过英语阅读主要英语国家的背景材料扩大知识面，另一方面通过学习文化知识进行语言基本功的训练，巩固和提高英语水平。

三、教学内容及学时分配

1.第一章

Britain: Land and People(2学时)目的要求：掌握英国的自然、地理、人口概况。基本内容：英国的自然自然、地理、人口概况。重点难点：英国的国家名称及其组成成分。

2.第二章

Britain: History I（2学时）

目的要求：英国的古代史。基本内容: 英国的古代史。

重点难点：英国历史上主要的入侵者，如：盎格鲁·萨克逊人；诺曼征服及其影响。

3.第三章

Britain: History II（2学时）目的要求：英国的形成。基本内容: 英国的形成。

重点难点：英国历史上的大宪章，百年战争，及其黑死病等重要历史事件。

4.第四章

Britain: History III（2学时）目的要求：英国的近代史。基本内容：英国的近代史。

重点难点：英国宗教改革，文艺复兴，英国内战，光荣革命。

5.第五章

Britain: History IV（2学时）目的要求：英国的现代史。基本内容：英国的现代史。

重点难点：工业革命，英国与两次世界大战。

6.第六章

Britain: Education, Social Affairs, Cultural Affairs（2学时）目的要求：英国的教育，社会与文化。基本内容：英国的教育，社会与文化。

重点难点：英国的教育制度，英国的政治制度与政党，英国的主要节日。

7.第七章

U.S.A.: Land and People-（2学时）目的要求：美国的自然、地理、人口概况。基本内容：美国的自然、地理、人口概况。

重点难点：美国的主要山脉，河流，自然区域以及人口组成。

8.第八章

American History I(2学时)目的要求：美国的早期发展史。基本内容：美国的早期发展史。

重点难点：美洲发现，独立战争，宪法的形成，领土扩张，西进运动，南北战争。

9.第十章 American History II(2学时)目的要求：美国的近现代发展史。基本内容：美国的近现代发展史。

重点难点：美国与两次世界大战，大萧条，新政。

10.第十一章 American History III(2学时)目的要求：美国的现代史。基本内容：美国的现代史。

重点难点：冷战，民权运动，越南战争。

11.第十二章 Political Institutions(2学时)目的要求：美国政治体制。

基本内容：美国政治体制。

重点难点：三权分离，三权制衡，两党制。

12.第十三章 American Education(2学时)目的要求：美国教育制度。基本内容：美国教育制度。

重点难点：美国高等教育基本特点与美国教育分类。

13.第十四章 American Literature and Holiday(2学时)目的要求：美国文学名家，社会与文化。基本内容：美国文学名家，社会与文化。

重点难点：美国主要文学家及其代表作品，美国重要节日。3

14.第十五章 Canada(2学时)目的要求：加拿大发展简史，人口及其文化。基本内容：加拿大发展简史，人口及其文化。

重点难点：七年战争，英国与法国在北美的争夺，双语制、多元文化。

15.第十六章 Australia(2学时)目的要求：澳大利亚简史及其当代社会文化。基本内容：澳大利亚简史及其当代社会文化。

重点难点：多元文化，澳大利亚的早期开发，英国殖民简史。

16.第十七章 New Zealand(2学时)目的要求：新西兰简史及其当代社会文化。基本内容：新西兰简史及其当代社会文化。重点难点：新西兰的早期开发，英国殖民简史。

17.第十八章 The Republic of Ireland(2学时)目的要求：爱尔兰简史及其当代社会文化。基本内容：爱尔兰简史及其当代社会文化;总复习。重点难点：爱尔兰历史。

18.总复习((2学时)

四、考核方式

闭卷考试

五、教材及主要教学参考书

教

材：《英语国家概况》，余志远主编，外语教学与研究出版社，2006。参考书：《英国社会与文化》 上，下册，朱永涛主编，高等教育出版社，2003。BBC英国史的视频网址:

http:///search_video/q_BBC%E8%8B%B1%E5%9B%BD%E5%8F%B2

任课教师： 段玲琍

大纲主撰人： 徐婷婷

大纲审核人： 赵平静

英语学院