英美国家概况考试题

英美国家概况考试题（精选6篇）

篇1：英美国家概况考试题

1.Great Charter:

It refers to the document sealed by King John of England on June 15, 1215, which contains 63 clauses.The most important are as followed: the King could not exact payment from the vassals without their consent;no freeman should be arrested, imprisoned, or deprived of their property unless they are convinced by a jury;merchants would be allowed to move about freely.If the King attempted to free himself from the law, the vassals had the right to force him to obey the law by every means possible, even by means of a civil war.It is regarded as the foundation of the British constitutionalism.2.“A-level”:

A-level—is an academic qualification offered by educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the British Crown dependencies to students completing secondary or pre-university education.3.Pilgrim Fathers:

The first English immigrants who came to America by the ship Mayflower in 1620.They came to the America to run away from the religious persecution in England.They landed the America from Plymouth and settled down in this land.4.WASPs:

“WASP” stands for White Anglo-Saxon Protestant.It is considered the basis of the mainstream culture of the United States.The people who settled in the 13 North American colonies were mostly white European Protestant believers.The United States was founded and formed largely by Protestants.5.Wall Street:

Wall Street is the financial district of New York City, named after and centered on the eight-block-long, 0.7 miles(1.1 km)long street running from Broadway to South Street on the East River in Lower Manhattan.Over time, the term has become a metonym for the financial markets of the United States as a whole, the American financial sector(even if financial firms are not physically located there), or signifying New York-based financial interests.6.Independence Day:

Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States celebrating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.7.Hollywood:

Hollywood is the US film industry centre.It is located in Los Angeles, California.There are big movie companies, including the Warner Bros.Pictures, Universal Studios, Columbia Pictures, and Paramount Pictures.The annual Oscar Award held there attracts the attention of the world;it has become the synonym of American film.1.Democracy with a constitutional monarch:

Constitutional monarchy is a form of democratic government in which a nonpolitical monarch acts as head of state within the boundaries of a constitution, whether written or unwritten.While the monarch may hold formal reserve powers and while government officially takes place in the monarch’s name, they do not set public policy or choose political leaders.It can be defined as “a sovereign who reigns but does not rule.” This form of government differs from absolute monarchy, in which the monarch controls political decision-making and is not effectively bound by a constitutional order.2.British Newspaper Culture:The United Kingdom has one of the world’s oldest established newspaper industries.In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century, as the British economy began to industrialise, as the development of the society, and as literacy levels rose through the introduction of mass education, more and more newspapers began to appear.They began to influence British society and people’s life.There are two kinds of newspaper in the UK: the “quality press” and “tabloid”.The types of newspaper can reflect the reader’s social class.The quality press, such as The Observer, The Guardian, and The Times normally carries in-depth articles of particular political and social importance and are generally read by well-educated, middle-class readers.The tabloid refers to smaller format newspaper with color photos and catchy headlines.They are usually about scandals and gossips about famous people, whether in politics, sports or entertainment.The articles are short and easy to read.The readers are normally working-class and lower class people.3.Industrial Revolution:

The First Industrial Revolution first originated in the UK.The Industrial Revolution took root in Britain for a variety of reasons.First, Britain had a huge market.Second, from the colonies in America and India, England acquired enormous wealth with which to develop its industries.Third, the enclosure movement deprived many small landowners of their property.The Industrial Revolution began in the textile industry and was marked by a series of important inventions.They were the Spinning Jenny, the water frame, the power loom and the steam engine.By the middle of the 19th century, the Industrial Revolution was accomplished in Britain.It changed Britain in many ways.Its industrial productivity increased dramatically.Britain became the most advanced industrial country and also the financial center in the world.The country also underwent a process of mass urbanization.The Industrial Revolution also created changed in the class structure.（谢福之P.20）

The Second Industrial Revolution（谢福之P.149）: The Second Industrial Revolution, also known as the Technological Revolution, was a phase of the larger Industrial Revolution corresponding to the latter half of the 19th century until World War I.It is considered to have begun around the time of the introduction of Bessemer steel in the 1860s and culminated in early factory electrification, mass production and the production line.The Third Industrial Revolution: The first two industrial revolutions made people richer and more urban.Now a third revolution is under way.Manufacturing is going digital.4.Presidential Election:

America is a presidential government country.The presidential election is held every four years.The system of presidential government is complicated.It includes primary election, the popular vote, the Electoral College.The primary election is the first period.It is time for the party candidates won the presidential candidate of their own party.After the primary election, the candidate will spend huge amounts of money on electoral journey, competition on advertisement, electoral speeches and public debates.In most states, they work on “winner win all”.It means if one wins the most votes of states.He will gain all the votes of these states.American elections for the president are not decided directly by the popular vote, instead under the Electoral College.Each of the fifty states influence on the results equals its population.If both candidates gain 269 votes, or neither of them gains 270 votes, the president will be determined by the parliament.5.American Civil War:

In the early 1800s, the Northern states turned from farming to manufacturing.Black slavery soon disappeared in the North.But things were different in the South.The South expanded both its agriculture and its slavery.The problem of slavery became a serious political issue.The abolitionists tried to abolish slavery while the South tried to keep it.When Abraham Lincoln was elected President, the Southern states broke away and formed a new nation.Then Lincoln was determined to maintain the Union and the war broke out on April 12, 1861, Lincoln realized that he could win support for the Union at home and abroad by making the war a just war against slavery.So he issued Emancipation Proclamation.Thus England and France stood by the Union’s side.Many black slaves joined the Union Army.After a series of battles, Robert Lee could no longer hold Richmond.He surrendered on April 9, 1865.The Civil War ended.6.Separation of Powers:

The American constitutional system includes a notion known as the Separation of Powers.In this system, 3 branches of government are created and power is shared between them.At the same time, the powers of one branch can be challenged by another branch.This is what the system of checks and balances is all about.There are three branches in the United States government as established by the Constitution.First, the Legislative branch makes the law.Second, the Executive branch executes the law.Last, the Judicial branch interprets the law.Each branch has an effect on the other.

篇2：英美国家概况考试题

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

篇3：英美国家概况考试题

21世纪的教育是全面的教育、国际化的教育, 在这一国际化的浪潮当中, 跨文化的通识教育成为主流趋势。因此, 了解西方国家政治、经济、文化、习俗的丛书也应运而生。 因此, 英美概况类丛书也相应地占据了市场。英美概况主要介绍英国、美国、加拿大、澳大利亚等以英语为母语的国家历史、文化、教育、政治、经济、宗教以及生活习惯等基本情况。

笔者在讲授英语专业专科学生的英美概况课程中, 接触到如下几套教材:英美概况新增订本 (主编:来安方) 、英美文化基础教程 (主编:朱永涛) 、英美概况新编本 (主编: 陈治刚) 、新编英美概况 (主编:许鲁之) 、英美概况 (主编: 张奎武) 。

在讲授的过程中, 笔者对这一系列教材做了几点归纳:

第一, 教材覆盖范围大, 涵盖英国、美国、加拿大、澳大利亚、新西兰、爱尔兰等, 编辑过程中, 涉及的内容也很广泛, 从政治到经济, 从历史到宗教, 从娱乐到风俗, 从经济背景到商务礼仪, 一一列举。这就出现了大而全, 但是重点不突出的矛盾。作者的本意是为学生打开一扇解英美国家的全貌的窗口, 对提高英语专业学生的英语素养有利, 无奈教材理论性太强, 因此学生接受起来比较吃力。再者, 考虑到高职高专英语专业的学生的基础比较差, 短时间内很难系统地掌握西方国家的基本概况. 有的教材标明:专供高职高专英语专业学生使用教材, 但学习起来, 和本科专业的学生使用教材大同小异. 造成的结果是, 动力不足, 压力有余. 本学期我校采用河南人民出版社的英美概况新增订版教材 (主编:来安方) , 在对教材进行了一定的了解后, 邀请商务英语班学生进行了一次问卷调查。参与调查人数为30人, 对教材满意, 能了解每节课内容80% 及以上的同学有9人, 满意度占调查总数的30% ;对教材不太满意, 但是通过教辅材料能了解每节课内容50% 以上的同学有13人, 满意度占调查总数的43.3% ;对教材没什么兴趣, 每节课后只能了解课文内容的30%-40%, 甚至对宽泛难懂的教材有些抵触情绪的同学有8人, 满意度占调查总数的26.7%。高职教育最突出的是“职业”二字, 一切工作围绕这一主题, 教材编写也应跳脱出传统模式的捆绑, 遵循理论与实践相结合的方法。

第二, 关于语言编排。有的教材采用全英文编排模式, 通篇没有一个汉字, 比如河南人民出版社的英美概况丛书; 有的教材采用全中文的编排模式, 通篇不见几个英文, 比如上海外语教育出版社的英美概况丛书. 说到语言编排问题, 笔者对此深思熟虑, 得出以下结论: 一方面, 世界上50% 以上的报刊杂志是以英语为载体的, 全英文教材有利于增强学生的英语语言氛围, 浸泡在这样一个环境当中, 对熟悉英语, 以致英美国家文化环境都极为利。倘若学生英语基础扎实, 配备这样的教材, 无异于如虎添翼。另一方面, 通篇英语教材的受众若是高职高专类学生, 由于单词多, 句子长, 学生容易望洋兴叹, 好好的一篇英美概况成了分门别类的word study. 与此同时, 各种各样的教学方法在这里也无计可施, 教师很可能为完成教学进度不得已采用“灌输式”或“填鸭式”教学方法。作者编辑此书的初衷是让学生对英美国家的基本情况有深入而透彻的了解, 如果语言艰深而晦涩, 这一初衷很可能就演变成单词的学习或者长句的翻译, 对其本质与精髓则是深深忽略了。笔者认为, 面对高职高专类英语专业的学生, 英美概况教材的选择可以适当灵活。比如, 可以选择一套理论知识与趣味体验相结合, 交际性和文化性相呼应, 内容涉及西方国家的社会现状, 每一章节后有配套练习。 遗憾的是, 此类教材在市场上并不多见, 甚至可以说没有。 因此, 同时使用两种教材成为替补方案, 可鼓励学生同时使用河南人民出版社的英美概况和外研社出版社的英美概况, 一英一汉, 这种结合既可以使学生全面了解英美文化, 又能启发其对跨文化现象的思考和创新。

第三, 关于学生对这门课程的认识与心态。我国的应试教育使得学生对于任何课程都抱着一种“及格万岁, 多一分浪费”的心态。大部分英语专业的学生已经认识到了解英美国家政治、经济、文化、风俗、宗教、习惯等内容的重要性, 但考试仍然学习的主要目标, 至于真正深入到这门课程当中去、培养专业的品格与能力, 则退居其次。总之, 考试是学习的唯一目标。再者, 英美概况作为选修课程, 它的地位也遭到一定程度的“排挤”。有些老师认为, 诸如英美概况类的选修课应该让位给高级英语或英语阅读等专业课, 学生不明就里, 容易盲从, 以学分为导向的前提下就容易附和这一说法, 导致从心态上对这门课程缺乏足够的重视。另外, 有些教材上面的数据统计时间滞后, 比如来安方版的这本教材, 有些经济数据竟然能追溯到1996年, 有些甚至更早。学生看到这样的数据时, 很难信任教材, 乃至不信任老师, 导致教学过程更加困难。基于与时俱进的思想, 笔者呼吁教材编写人员应该从学生的角度出发, 再版教材时应及时更新数据, 增补新内容, 给学生留出足够的思考空间。

二、现阶段英美概况的教学改革尝试

关于英美概况的教学改革, 已有专业人士对此做出过深入浅出的探讨, 像多媒体教学法、任务教学法、合作教学法、 差异教学法、评价教学法、情境教学法、课外活动教学法等等。笔者从师生的心理认知角度, 倡导自主创新学习、注重综合能力, 全面培养学生对英美概况课程的认知能力与学习心态, 从根本上发掘学生潜能, 通过各种渠道进行学习。

第一, 培养团队精神, 各司其职, 各负其责, 创造宽严有度、温馨和谐的教学氛围。知识无疆界, 我们不妨把管理学方面的激励机制引入英美概况的教学。师生关系既像团队之间的上下级关系, 又像家庭之间父母与子女的亲子关系。 教师既是课堂的倡导者, 又是课程的实施者。课堂过程的充盈丰富, 与师生的和谐配合密不可分。鉴于高职高专学生的基础比较薄弱, 教师要注重培养并尊重学生个性, 放大其优点, 弱化其缺点, 对待学生, 鼓励为主, 既注重培养兴趣, 又不脱离课堂内容, 对学生的反应做出真诚、灵活的应对。 教师在讲授过程中通常会利用多媒体, 以此来形象地展现教学内容, 加深学生对英美国家不同时期、不同阶段的历史及现状。与此同时, 教师可以鼓励学生自主制作多媒体, 在制作过程中, 一方面, 学生能够综合章节内容, 强化对内容的理解与认识;另一方面, 师生角色转换, 由学生负责某一章节的讲授, 教师课后对其不足之处进行补充, 既锻炼了学生的语言表达能力, 又能使学生体会到教师授课过程的辛苦, 加深师生感情。笔者在实际教学的过程中鼓励本班学生制作了英美国家主要情况的Powerpoint, 设立奖励机制, 设立一二三等奖, 学生对此热情度很高, 不仅按时完成任务, 质量与内容也同样令人满意。这一积极效果延伸到日后的教学当中, 课堂环境十分融洽, 既培养了学生的自信心, 也鼓励了教师日后教学过程的大胆尝试。

第二, 引入支架式教学 (Scaffolding Instruction) 方法, 把复杂的课程章节具体化, 引导学生由浅入深思考。支架式教学被定义为:支架式教学应当为学习者建构对知识的理解提供一种概念框架 (conceptual framework) 。这种框架中的概念是为发展学习者对问题的进一步理解所需要的。 国家的起源、经济的兴衰、历史的延伸、政治的变革、文化的繁荣, 这些主题从表面上很好理解, 但是其内在的原因往往比较复杂, 运用现代技术手段的同时, 围绕课程主题, 建立概念框架 (搭脚手架) , 如提出一个主题:亨利二世的改革。 通过这个“阶梯”, 将学生引入的具体的问题当中 (进入情境) , 如改革的背景、原因、途径、影响等。接下来, 培养学生的独立探索能力, 教师在此过程中予以启发、帮助, 最初的引导和帮助多一些, 以后逐渐减少, 最后达到放手让学生自主解决, 脱离教师的引导, 让学生登着“脚手架”一步一步向上攀登 (独立探索) 。协作学习的能力在这个过程中发挥着重要的作用, 将班级人数按兴趣自主组合, 大家集思广益, 鼓励新观点、甚至自相矛盾的观点提出。小组讨论后, 每个小组派一名代表作presentation和conclusion, 达到全面掌握知识内容, 最终完成对章节内容的意义建构。最后一个环节是效果评价学生需要对自己的小团队作评价及自我评价, 对协作过程中做出重要贡献的同学予以表彰, 相互评价并衡量结论是否万成了对所学章节的意义建构。

第三, 采纳功能意念法 (Functional Appproach) 。瑞士著名教育心理学家皮亚杰 (J ﹒ Piager) 提出了发挥语言 (外语) 的功能作用的教学法, 被称为功能意念法。这种方法以学生需要为导向, 内容决定形式。首先, 从静态角度透析英美文化的差异性。有个谚语叫“挥金如土”, 我们根据字面意思, 经常译为“spend money like soil”, 而比较地道的译法则是“spend money like water”。究其原因, 这就与作者所处的时代背景息息相关。在英美概况的学习中, 政治、经济、历史、地理、文化、宗教等因素能够帮助学生形成良好的语言规律, 从而达到站在英美文化意识的角度来思考的目的, 这恰恰是中国学生需要精进的地方。其次, 从动态角度实现跨文化交流。在授课过程中, 根据课程内容引入Flash动画、视频、电影、电视剧节选等, 是学生喜闻乐见的授课方式, 纯正的英语母语发音、历史人物、事件的经典演绎, 能够在学生心目中留下极为深刻的印象, 从而达到寓教于乐的目的。总之, 动态与静态的有机结合, 有利于提高学生的语言能力、欣赏能力以及品味的养成, 一举多得, 不妨放手大胆尝试。

三.结语

教师是教学过程的倡导者, 学生是接受者。然而, 二者的角色并非一成不变。笔者在英美概况的课堂上, 适时转换角色, 收到了显著的效果。然而, 将目光停留在培养学生个性、创设教学情境是不够的, 团队激励法、支架教学法以及功能意念法的引, 为学生创造了更加逼真、立体的教学环境。 诚然, 通过这门课程培养学生交流合作、自主创新, 只是一个开端, 学生的全面发展和终身发展才是目的。愿吸收更多的有效方法用于英美概况的实践教学中, 不断反思不足、更新观念, 与课程、与学生共同成长。

参考文献

[1]王彪.大学英语教师角色变为初探[J].教书育人, 2006.

[2]杨忠、张邵杰、谢江巍.大学英语教师的科研现状与问题分析[J].外语教学, 2001. (6) .

[3]胡文仲.跨文化交际学概论[M].外语教学与研究出版社, l999.

[4]朱永涛.英美文化基础教程[M].北京外语教学与研究出版社, 2008. (1) .

[5]张奎武.英美概况[M].吉林科学技术出版社, 2001. (9) .

[6]许鲁之.新编英美概况[M].青岛海洋大学出版社, 2001. (8) .

[7]来安方, 英美概况新增订本[M].河南人民出版社, 2002. (2) .

篇4：《英美国家概况》学习方法

关键词：英美国家概况英美文化学习方法

一、前言

《英美国家概况》是一门集英语国家背景知识和英语语言知识为一体的英语专业必修课，旨在向学生介绍主要英语国家（英国、美国、加拿大、澳大利亚、新西兰等）的社会和文化背景知识，如地理、历史、政治、经济、教育、节假日、宗教信仰和文化传统等方面的基本知识，帮助学生了解主要英语国家的社会与文化概貌，提高学生对文化差异的敏感性、宽容性和处理文化差异的灵活性，培养学生跨文化交际能力，使其从文化和社会的角度更加深刻地理解和掌握所学语言知识和技能，为从事将来的工作打下较为坚实的基础。本课程在江西中医药大学英语专业学生中第5学期开设，选用的教材是谢福之主编、外语教学与研究出版社出版的《英语国家概况》。

二、学习方法

2.1 结合语言学习与文化学习

语言和文化密不可分，英语专业的学生不仅要学好英语语言本身，对英语国家的文化也必须有一定的了解。本课程最大的特色就是将语言知识与文化知识紧密结合起来进行教学，从而有利于语言教学与文化知识教学的相互促进，有利于扩大学生的知识面，提高学生综合素质和人文修养。本课程的内容也是英语专业八级考试必考的部分。

2.2 灵活使用教学方法

本课程属于文化理论课，授课以课堂教学为主，但传统的以教师为中心的理论讲解容易使学生产生枯燥乏味之感，因此在教学过程中，我们将采用“以教师为教学主导、学生为学习主体”的教学理念，以建构主义学习理论作为理论基础，采取专题讨论的方式，将英国、美国等国家按照地理、历史、政治、经济、文学和教育分为六大学习专题，采用合作式学习方式，要求学生在课堂上分小组进行交流、讨论、汇报；除此之外，还定期举办讨论会、辩论大赛、演讲比赛、专题讲座等活动，尽可能地调动学生的学习积极性，激发学习潜力，提高学习效果。

2.3 综合运用现代教育技术

在教学过程中我们充分认识到现代教育技术是教学的有力支持，是教育教学改革的动力，因此，本课程采用电脑、投影、电视、录像、 网络等多媒体手段进行教学，为学生创造了声像并茂、真实生动的图形资料和视频素材。如在讲解美国历史中的“911事件”的时候，我们就让学生观看事件的视频及相关的新闻报道，让学生对这一恐怖事件有了比较直观地认识。同时，为了体现教材内容的生动性和趣味性，我们还购置了有关英美文化的音像资料和补充教材，帮助学生学习英语国家国情，使学生对相关知识点的理解从文字发展到形象，从单纯抽象的思维上升到感性与理性的结合，从而较好地实现学习目的。

三、课程实施模式

3.1课前准备

江西中医药大学英语专业在第5学期开设了《英美国家概况》，共54个课时，学生约30人。我们在学期初要求学生自由组合，每五人为一个小组，每一组承担一个章节的主题展示。每一章的内容由各小组成员自己讨论以何种形式表述。小组成员根据自己的专题提前一周开始准备，通过学校的图书馆、学院资料室以及网络等途径查阅资料。五位同学各自发挥自己的特色，做出自己负责那部分主题的PPT，而每一个小组的内容又是一个完整的体系。学生通过这种准备工作对课本内容有了比较好的了解，也锻炼了自己的口语及PPT制作能力。

3.2 教师讲解

上课的前15分鐘，由老师对本节课的内容进行简要的讲解，教师应充分发挥组织者的引导作用。教师需要做大量的课前备课准备，不仅要给出每一章的主题要点，还要对每一章的相关的内容进行阅读、收集、思考，才能为学生的讨论、提问给出深层意义的解答。老师讲解目的是让学生掌握本节内容的基本知识，拓宽学生的思维，加深思想深度。比如在讲述美国的南北战争的时候，老师就应该引导学生思考战争发生的根本原因、导火索、战争的转折点、结果以及对美国社会的影响等，其中可以穿插林肯纪念堂、小说《汤姆叔叔的小屋》等和战争相关的资料。

3.3 学生陈述

紧接着的下面10分钟为小组成员的课堂陈述阶段（presentation），每位同学的时间为2分钟左右，都要求以PPT的形式展现。小组成员生动、认真的陈述往往能吸引下面每一位学生的注意力。这种陈述彻底的改变了传统教学中教师满堂讲、学生被动的接受的授课方式。学生成了课堂的主体，他们是课堂的设计者、参与者和讲演者。事实证明，这种主体性、主动性、协作性和自主性相结合的模式能极大地活跃课堂气氛，激发学生的求知欲，提高学习热情，让师生都受益匪浅。

3.4提问和交流

小组成员陈述之后，是班上其他学生自由提问和小组成员回答问题的阶段，时间为15分钟。小组成员必须全力以赴，聚精会神地倾听问题，参考已查询的资料和自己所掌握的知识进行回答。比如在讲述美国的议会制度的时候，大家就可以探讨和英国议会制度的异同以及形成的缘由。讨论往往非常踊跃、激烈，问题不断的扩展和深入。通过课程改革实践证明，这种师生共同参与、互为作用的过程营造了一种积极向上、自由和谐的课堂氛围，也培养了学生的主体意识和协作精神。通过提问与交流，全班同学对整个专题的内容、要点和相关的知识、社会现象、历史事件等都有了详细的了解和深刻的认识。这种课堂是生动活泼、充满求知欲、充满思索的文化交流会，是感知英语文化的良好平台。

3.5评价与反馈

教师的评价和总结是整个教学过程中非常重要的一个环节。评价主要包括两方面的内容：内容和表达。内容涉及课外知识面的广度，主题内容的加工和延伸，课文内容的重点把握程度等。表达包括语音、语调的准确和流畅，多媒体手段的利用，肢体语言的表达等。随着教学理念的改变，课程的教学评估体系也发生了很大变化，由以前的单一的终结性评估转变为形成性评估与终结性评估相结合。具体来讲，本门课程的期末总成绩由两部分组成：平时成绩（也叫形成性评估）和期末考试成绩（也叫终结性评估），平时成绩占总成绩的30%，期末考试成绩占总成绩的70%。平时成绩考核学生的出勤、学习态度、课堂表现、阶段性测试等，这样学生的注意力不仅在期末的考试，也非常关注平时的表现。

四、结束语

综上所述，江西中医药大学英语专业开设的《英美国家概况》教学目标明确，教学方法多样，教学手段先进，教学效果显著，学生在学习语言的同时对英美国家的文化有了一个基本的了解，提高了学生的跨文化交际能力。我校英语专业学生在全国英语专业四级考试及英语专业八级考试中的通过率一直名列省内高校前列，本课程起了一定的作用。

参考文献：

[1]李丹.基于建构主义理论的英美概况教学模式研究[J].江西青年职业学院学报， 2011（4）： 88-90.

[2]刘安洪.关于“英语国家概况课”教学的思考[J].重庆教育学院学报， 2004， （4）.

[3]罗少茜.英语课堂教学形成性评价研究[M].北京：外语教育与研究出版社， 2003：18-19.

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：英美概况总复习

(1)The Anglo-Saxon（盎格鲁）

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.(2)The Good Friday Agreement（北爱和平协议）

As a result of multi-party negotiations, the Good Friday Agreement was approved on 10 April 1998.This agreement assures the loyalist community that Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom and it won’t change its political status unless the majority of the people of Northern Ireland agree.Under the terms of the agreement, Northern Ireland should be governed by three separate jurisdictions: that of the Republic of Ireland, that of Great Britain and that of its own elected executive government of ten ministers.(3)The Bill of Rights of 1689（权利法案）

In 1688, king James II’ s daughter Mary and her husband William were invited by the politician and church authorities to take the throne, on condition that they would respect the rights of Parliament.The bill of rights was passed in 1689 to ensure that the king would never be able to ignore Parliament.(4)The constitution of Britain（英国的宪法）

Britain has no written constitution.The foundation of the British state are laid out in statute law, which are laws passed by parliament;the common laws, which are laws established through common practice in the courts;and conventions.(5)The function of Parliament（议会的功能）

To pass laws, to vote for taxation, to scrutinize government policy, administration and expenditure and to debate the major issues of the day.(6)The house of commons(众议院)

The house of commons is the real center of British political life because it is the place where about 650elected 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)Class system in Britain society（英国社会的等级制度）

The class system does exist in British society.Most of the British population would claim themselves to be either of middle-class or working-class, though some people would actually belong to the upper middle-class or lower middle-class.Class division are not simply economic, they are cultural as well.People of different classes may differ in the kind of newspapers they read, in the way they speak and in the kind of education they receive.One of the distinctive features about the British class system is that aristocratic titles can still be inherited.(8)Privatisation in UK economy（英国经济私有化）

The British economy went through a particularly bad period in the 1970s, with high rates of inflation and devaluation of the pound.Therefore, in the 1980s, when the conservative party under Margaret Thatcher was in power, an extensive programme of privatization was carried out.Many state-owned businesses(such as steel, telecom, gas, aerospace)were turned into private companies.Privatisation was successful in controlling inflation but at the same time unemployment rate increased rapidly.(9)Elizabethan drama（伊丽莎白一世时的戏剧）

The general flowering of cultural and intellectual life in Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries is known as the renaissance.In British culture, one of the most successful and long-lasting expressions of this development lay in drama.That was the period of the reign of Queen Elizabeth(1558-1603).The first professional theatre in London opened in 1576, and others followed, performing the plays of many notable playwrights, including Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson and William Shakespeare.(10)Romanticism（浪漫主义）

Roughly the first third of the 19th century makes up English literature’s romantic period.Writers of romantic literature are more concerned with imagination and feeling than with the power of reason.A volume of poems called lyrical ballads written by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge is regarded as the romantic poetry’s “Declaration of Independence.” Keats, Byron and Shelley, the three great poets, brought the romantic movement to its height, the spirit of romanticism also occurred in the novel.(11)Modernism（现代主义）

Modernism refers to a form of literature mainly written before WWⅡ.It is characterized by a high degree of experimentation.It can be seen as a reaction against the 19th century forms of realism.Modernist writers express the difficulty they see in understanding and communicating how the world works.Often, modernist writing seems disorganized, hard to understand.It often portrays the action from the viewpoint of a single confused individual, rather than from the viewpoint of an all-knowing impersonal narrator outside the action.One of the most famous English modernist is Virginia Woolf.(12)Declaration of independence（独立宣言）

The declaration of independence was mainly drafted by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by the congress on July 4, 1776, when the people of 13 English colonies in North America were fighting for their freedom and independence from the British colonial rule.The document declared that all men were equal and that they were entitled to have some unalienable rights such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.It also explained the philosophy of government: the powers of government came from the consent of the governed and the purpose of governments was to secure the rights mentioned above.The theory of politics and the guiding principles of the American Revolution mainly came from john locks.(13)Transcendentalists（先验论者）

In his book nature, Emerson claimed that by studying and responding to nature, individuals could reach a higher spiritual state without formal religion.A circle of intellectuals who were discontented with the New England establishment gathered around Emerson.They accepted Emerson’s theories about spiritual transcendence.They are known as Transcendentalists

(14)The “lost generation”（迷失的一代）

In the aftermath of world war I, many novelists produced a literature of disillusionment.Some lived in Europe.They were known as the “lost generation.” Two of the most representative writers of the “lost generation” were Hemingway and Fitzgerald.简答题：

（1）The Magna Carta and its significance（大宪章及其意义）

（2）Glories of Revolution and its significance（光荣革命及其意义）

（3）Modernism in Britain literature writer, masterpieces, its significance（英国现代主义文学作家的杰作,它的意义）

（4）Puritanism and its significance（清教主义及其意义）

Puritanism

They follow the idea of the French reformer and theologian John Calvin

1.doctrines:

(1)Predestination: God decided everything before things occurred.(2)Original sin and total depravity: human beings were born to evil, and this original sin can be passed down from generation to generation.(3)Limited atonement 赎罪:only the “elect” can be saved.Influence of Puritanism on American Literature

(1)a group of good qualities----hard work, thrift, piety, sobriety(serious and thoughtful)

influenced American literature

(2)it led to the everlasting myth.All literature is based on a myth---Garden of Eden.(3)Symbolism: lots of American writers liked to employ symbolism in their works.To the pious Puritan the physical, phenomenal world is nothing but a symbol of God(typical ways of Puritans who thought that all the simple objects existing in the world connected deep meanings).Symbolism means using symbols in literary works.The symbol means something represents or stands for abstract deep meaning.(4)Simplicity characterizes the Puritan style of writing.With regard to their writing, the

style of fresh, simple and direct;the rhetoric is plain and honest, not without a touch of nobility often traceable to the direct influence of the Bible.(5)Fired with a sense of mission.The Puritans looked the worst of life in the face of

tremendous optimism.The optimistic Puritan has exerted a great influence on American Literature.Early American Literature were mainly optimistic because they believed that God sent them to the new continent, to fulfill the sacred task.so they would overcome all the difficulties.They met at last.Gradually Americans found that their dreams would not be successful, so lots of pessimistic literary works were produced.(5)Transcendentalism and its significance（超越论及其意义）

Transcendentalism

Transcendentalism is an American literary, political and philosophical movement of the early nineteenth century, centered on Ralph Waldo Emerson.Keys:

--------the new spirit was neither social nor political, nor industrial, nor economic, nor literary, nor scientific, nor religious.It was all of them at once.It transcended every phase of life.It is a whole new way of thinking.Transcendentalism in its literal meaning is the recognition in man of the capacity of acquiring knowledge transcending the reach of the five senses, of knowing truth intuitively or reaching the divine without the need of an intercessor.It was essence romantic idealism on Puritan soil.In application, American transcendentalism urged a reform in society and that such a reform may be reached if individuals resist customs and social codes, and relu rather on reason to learn what is right.Ultimately, transcendentalism believed that one should transcend society’s code of ethics and rely on personal intuition in order to reach absolute goodness, or absolute truth.Influence: