自考英語國家概況一句話(打印).doc.doc

國家概況 - 1 - 英國部分 1. What is the full name of the United Kingdom? It is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 2. What are the two large island that make up the British Isles? They are Great Britain and Ireland. 3. What are the four political division of the United Kingdom? They are England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. 4. Why does the United Kingdom have a mild climate, even though it lies farther north than our Heilongjiang Province? Because Britains climate is influenced by the Gulf Stream. 5. How many metropolitan areas does England have? England has seven metropolitan areas. 6. What is the backbone of England? t is the Pennines. 7. What is the largest lake in the British Isles? It is Lough Neagh. 8. From what languages is English derived? England is mainly derived from the Anglo-Saxon and Norman-French languages. 9. What is an eisteddfod? An eisteddfod is a Welsh festival of poetry, music and other arts. 10. What have the Scottish people been famous for? The Scottish people have been famous for their close-knit clans, colorful plaid kilts, and skill as fierce warriors. 11. How long was Britain under the Roman occupation? Britain was under the Roman occupation for nearly 400 years. 12. Why was the Roman impact upon the Britain surprisingly limited? The Roman impact on the Britain was surprisingly limited because the Romans always treated the Britain as a subject people of slave class and they never intermarried with the native Britain. 13. When did the Anglo-Saxons begin to settle in Britain? The Anglo-Saxons began to settle in Britain in the 5th century. 14. When did England begin to be Christianized? England began to be Christianized in 579. 國家概況 - 2 - 15. What was the result of the Synod of Whitby in Yorkshire in 664? The result of the Synod of Whitby was that the Roman missionaries gained the upper hand over the Celtic missionaries. 16. What was Harold doing when he was informed of the invasion of Northumbria by Tostig and Harold Hardrada? He was in the south preparing to resist the expected attack from Normandy. 17. Where did Harold defeat Tostig and Hardrada? Harold defeated Tostig and Harold Hardrada at Stanford Bridge. 18. By whom was William crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey? William was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey by the Archbishop of York. 19. What did William do after he suppressed the Saxon risings in the north? He built a string of defense castles to ensure his military control of the whole country. 20. Was the Norman Conquest the last successful invasion of England? Yes. The Norman Conquest was the last successful invasion of England because England has never been invaded since. 21. Why did William I give his barons large estates in England? William I gave large estates to his barons because he wanted to get a promise of military service and a proportion of the lands produce. 22. What was the peculiar feature of the feudal system of England? All landowners, big and small, took the oath of allegiance for the land they held, not only to their immediate lord, but also to the king. 23. Why did William I have the Domesday Book compiled? William I had the Domesday Book compiled because he wanted to have a reliable record of all his land, his tenants and their possessi* and to discover how much his tenants could be asked to pay by way of taxes. 24. What was William I s policy towards the church? He wanted to keep it completely under his control, but at the same time to uphold its power. 25. Why did Henry II make Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury? He thought that Thomas Becket would assist him in carrying out legal reforms. 26. What brought Henry II into collision with Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury? The exceptional privileges enjoyed by the clergy brought Henry II into collision with Thomas Becket. 27. What are the two aspects of the Norman legacy that contributed to great domestic unrest in England in the 12th and 13th centuries? One was Englands possession of territory in France. The other was Norman adherence to Roman Catholicism. 28. Who was the French national heroine during the Hundred Years War who helped the French to drive the English out of France? Joan of Arc. 國家概況 - 3 - 29. When did the government establish rules for the first time to keep down wages? The government established rules for the first time to keep down wages in 1351. 30. How many peasant in Kent and Essex were killed by Richard II s troops? 40,000 peasants in Kent and Essex were killed by Richard IIs troops. 31. What were the emblems of the Houses of York and Lancaster? The emblem of the House of York was a white rose and the emblem of the House of Lancaster was a red rose. 32. What was the impact of the Wars of the Roses on feudalism in England? The Wars of the Roses dealt a death blow to feudalism in England. 33. How did Elizabeth I try to avoid troubling Parliament too often for pounds? She tried to avoid troubling Parliament by making strict economies at Court. 34. What questions did Elizabeth I treat as personal and private? These questions were her religion, her marriage, her foreign policy, the succession to the throne, and her finance. 35. How did Elizabeth I manage to maintain in friendly relationship with France? She managed to maintain a friendly relati*hip with France through her marriage alliances which were never materialized. 36. When was Mary Queen of Scots executed? Mary Queen of Scots was executed in 1587. 37. What did the destruction of the Spanish Armada show? It showed Englands superiority as a naval power. 38. What was the long-term result of the Gunpowder Plot? The long-term result of the Gunpowder Plot has been an annual celebration of November 5, when a bonfire is lit to burn a guy and a firework display is arranged. 39. What was Puritanism noted for? It was noted for simple dress, high moral standards and very egalitarian attitudes. 40. What is a constitutional monarchy? A constitutional monarchy is one whose power is limited by Parliament. 41. What did the Whigs stand for in the early 19th century? They stood for a reduction in Crown patronage, sympathy towards Nonconformists, and care for the interests of merchants and bankers. 42. Why did changes in farming methods affect lives of millions in the 18th century? Changes in farming methods affected lives of millions in the 18th century England because village and agriculture were the backbone of England at that time. 國家概況 - 4 - 43. What did the land owners want to do in the late 18th and early 19th centuries? They wanted to replace the small farms cultivated on the “open-field” system by larger, economically more efficient farms with hedge-divided fields. 44. Why was King George III nicknamed “Farmer George”? King George III was nicknamed “Farmer George” because he was very enthusiastic about agricultural changes at Winsor. 45. What were the two events which most alarmed the British ruling classes in the closing decades of the 18th century? They were the American War of Independence and the French Revolution. 46. When did the British begin to transport convicts to Australia? The British began to transport convicts to Australia in 1788. 47. What was the result of the general strike of 1926? The strike failed. The miners were forced to return to work with longer hours and lower wages even than before. Yet, outside the mining district, the strike seemed to have improved relati* between the workers and the middle classes. 48. Why d4id Edward VIII abdicate in 1936 after a reign of 10 months? Edward VIII abdicated because he wanted to marry Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American. 49. When did Britain finally become a full member of the European Economic Community? Britain finally became a full member of the European Economic Community in January,1973. 50. Why was Mrs. Thatcher removed from office in 1990? It was because of her opposition to European Union and her imposition of an extremely unpopular flat-rate “poll tax” in place of property taxes to pay or local government service. 61. Where does the Sovereigns coronation take place? The Sovereigns coronation takes place at Westminster Abbey in London. 62. When is the Sovereigns birthday officially celebrated? It is officially celebrated in June every year. 63. What does the Duke of Edinburgh do when the Queen pays state visits to foreign governments? He accompanies her. 64. Where does the Queens expenditure arising from public duties come from? The Queens expenditure arising from public duties comes from the Civil List and government departments. 65. What does the term “parliament” originally mean? The term “parliament” originally means a meeting for a parley or discussion. 66. What is the main function of the House of Lords? The main function of the House of Lords is to bring the wide experience of its members into the process of law-making. 國家概況 - 5 - 67. What is the Speakers task in the House of Commons? His task is to preside over the House and enforce the rules of order. 68. How many counties are there in England and Wales? There are 53 counties in England and Wales. 69. What are the three island areas where single-tier authorities were introduced in Scotland? They are the Orkneys, the Shetlands and the Western Isles. 70. How do local authorities in Great Britain raise revenue? They raise revenue through the council tax. 81. Are British people obliged to use the National Health Service? No. They are not obliged to use the service. 82. What are services for elderly people aimed at? Services for elderly people are aimed at helping them live at home whenever possible. 83. What is the aim of the social security system? The aim of the social security is to secure a basic standard of living for people in financial need. 84. At what age do men and women generally retire? Men generally retire at the age of 65, and women at the ate of 60. 85. What are the two established churches in Britain? They are the Church of England in England and the Church of Scotland in Scotland. 86. How many provinces does the Church of England have? The Church of England has two provinces: Canterbury and York. 87. When were the first women priests ordained in Britain? They were ordained in March 1994. 88. Who founded the Salvation Army in the East of London in 1865? William Booth, a great follower of John Wesley, founded the Salvation Army. 89. Where do the people in London go to see the Christmas decorations? They go to Oxford Street, Regent Street and Piccadilly to see the Christmas decorations. 90. Why is December 26th called “Boxing Day”? December 26th is called Boxing Day because it was formerly the custom to give “Christmas boxes”, or gifts of money, to servants and tradesmen on this day. 91. How many kinds of state secondary schools are there in Great Britain? Three. They are grammar school, secondary modern school and comprehensive school. 國家概況 - 6 - 92. When was the Open University founded? When did it begin its first courses? It was founded in 1969, and it began its first courses in 1970. 93. Why is the Open University so named? It is so named because it is “open” to all to become students. 94. How much money is spent on press advertising every year in Great Britain? About 5,100 million. 95. How much time do British people spend a day watching television? People spend an average of over three and a half hours a day watching television. 96. How are the state-run television channels BBC1 and BBC2 financed? They are financed from the sale of television licences. 97. How are independent channels ITV and C4 funded? They are funded entirely by advertising. 98. When did the BBC begin to provide regular television broadcasts? The BBC began to provide regular television broadcasts in 1936. 99. Which sport is regarded as typically English? Cricket is the most typically English sport. 100. What is a “copyright” library? It is a library which is entitled to receive a free copy of every book published in the United Kingdom. 美國部分 1. How does the United States rank among the countries of the world in population and area? The United States of America is the third-largest country in the world in population and the fourth-largest country in area. 2. What are the two major mountain ranges in the United States? They are the Appalachian Highlands and the Rocky Mountains. 3. What is the Continental Divide, or Great Divide? The Continental Divide, or Great Divide, is an imaginary line that separates streams that flow into the Pacific Ocean from those that flow into the Atlantic. 4. What are the five Great Lakes of the United States? They are Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, and Superior. 5. How many geographical regi* can be found in the United States? What are they? There are seven geographical regi* in the United States. They are New England, the Middle Atlantic States, the southern States, the Midwestern States, the Rocky Mountain states, the Southwestern States, and the Pacific Coast States and the New States. 6. What states are in New England? New England is made up of six states of the North-East. They are Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. 7. Apart from Now York City, what other large cites are located in the Middle Atlantic region? 國家概況 - 7 - Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Newark. 8. What is the Midwest famous for? The Midwest is famous for its large stretches of fertile soil. 9. What states make up the Pacific Coast Region? The region known as the Pacific Coast includes the western parts of Washington and Oregon and nearly all of California. 10. What role does tourism play in Hawaiis economy? Tourism is Hawaiis most important industry. 11. What is the population of the United States? How does it rank in the world? The United States is the third most populous country in the world after China and India, with a population of 267 million (estimated) in April 1997. 12. What is the reason for the growth of population in Florida? It is because of its warm climate and convenience in doing business with and traveling to Central and South America. 13. Which are the five biggest cities, in terms of population, in the United States? New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia. 14. Why are people moving so often in the United States? People often move from one place to another for various reasons: to look for better job opportunity or for better climate or for other goals. 15. What are some of the consequences of the outflow of city residents to the suburbs? The movement brings serious consequences to big cities: rising unemployment rate, the increase of the number of poor people, the worsening of city living conditions and the fall of government revenues. 16. Which are the three largest groups of Hispanics? The Chicanos, the Puerto Ricans and the Cuban-Americans. 17. Why do many Puerto Ricans go to the United States? They are drawn to the United States by better job opportunities. 18. What explanation do experts give for the success of Asian-Americans? The experts attribute the success to Asian cultural tradition: emphasis on education, hard work and family. 19. What was the fate of Japanese-Americans in WWII? The Japanese-Americans were taken to relocation centers in isolated parts of the western mountain and plains states and stayed behind barbed wires. 20. Can you give an example to show the awakening of American Indians? Many Indians are taking legal steps to demand compensation for land and resources grabbed from them illegally. 21. What is one of the explanations of how the early Indians came to the Americans? One of the explanations is the Indians crossed from Asia on the landbridge that connected Siberia and Alaska. 22. How did the Plymouth settlers manage to survive? The neighboring Indians came to teach them how to grow corn and they succeeded in having a good harvest. 23. In what way were the Puritans different from the Pilgrims? The Pilgrims were mostly poor, labouring people while the Puritans were wealthy, well-educated gentlemen. 24. Did the War of Independence start with the adoption of the Declaration of Independence? No. It started when clashes took place at Concord and Lexington. 25. What was the chief weakness of the Articles of Confederation? The chief weakness was the document failed to set up a government that could function. 26. What was the significance of the adoption of the Bill of Rights? The adoption of the Bill of Rights in addition to the Constitution completed the foundation of the American constitutional system. 27. Why did American territorial expansion threaten British interest? Because some Americans wanted to take advantage of the war in Europe to expand into Canada. This ran counter to British 國家概況 - 8 - interest. 28. What was the Compromise of 1850? The Compromise of 1850 was an arrangement which kept a balance between free and slave states in the Senate. 29. Why did the Civil War break out? The Civil War broke out because the southern states left the Union and formed a new nation but president Lincoln was determined to maintain the Union. 30. How did the government help in the development of American economy? The government carried out the policy of trade protectionism. 31. What were the three features in the growth of American economy at the beginning of the 20th century? Large corporation, urbanization and new technology were the three features. 32. What was the basic demand of the Progressive Movement? The basic demand was government regulation of economic and social conditions. 33. Why did the United States pursue a policy of pro-Ally partiality in the early part of WWI? Because of ethnic ties, cultural tradition, social background, economic interests and successful British propaganda, the U.S. government pursued such a policy. 34. What were the immediate causes that led the United States into the war? The immediate causes were Germanys unlimited submarine warfare and Germanys attempt to get Mexico into the war against the United States. 35. What government policies in the 1920s helped big business? The policies of tariff protection, favorable tax rates and little government restrictions contributed to high profits of big businesses. 36. How did many Americans view their country after WWI? They believed that American political, economic and social institutions were the best in the world. 37. What was the experience of WWI veterans demanding payment of bonuses in Washington D.C. in 1932? They were driven out of the capital by military force directed by General McArthur. 38. What were some of the personal characteristics of F.D.R. that helped him in doing his work as president? He had a sure sense of what was practical or possible, a strong sense of timing and was a great communicator. 39. What were the two guiding principles underlying American diplomatic activities in WWII? The first was to win the war； the second was to bring the Soviet Union into a postwar world order under American leadership. 40. What was the basic reason for the postponement of the opening of the Second Front? It was a reflection of the desire of not letting the Soviet Union expand into eastern and central Europe too quickly. 41. What was the postwar strategy of the United States? The strategy was American leadership of the world and open market for American goods and capital. 42. What was the theory put forward by the Soviet Union in around 1946? There could be no long-term peaceful co-existence between socialism and capitalism. 43. What was the immediate cause of the Berlin crisis in 1948? The Soviet Union cut off Western routes to West Berlin. 44. What decision did President Truman make to deal with the Berlin crisis? He decided to mobilize all possible American cargo planes to airlift supplies into West Berlin. 45. What effect did the Berlin blockade have on the people in West Berlin and western occupied zones? it pushed the people in West Berlin and western occupied zones further to the side of the United States because they were grateful for American airlifts. 46. What measure did the United States take in the Cuban Missile Crisis? The United States introduced a naval blockade around Cuba and demanded the dismantlement and withdrawal of the missiles from Cuba. 國家概況 - 9 - 47. Did the allies of the United States give their full support to the U.S. in the Vietnam War? No , some criticized the United States for escalation of the war, some refused to support American war efforts. 48. What is the significance of the Shanghai Communique? The key thing is American commitment to a one China policy. 49. What is the importance of the Civil Rights Act of 1964? The Act outlawed racial discrimination in housing and employment. 50. What is the Port Huron Statement about? The Port Huron Statement was the platform of the Students for a Democratic Society ( SDS ) which condemned racism, poverty amidst plenty, big corporations and the Cold War. 51. How does the United States rank among the countries of the world in the total value of its economic production? The United States ranks first among the countries of the world in the value of its economic production. 52. What kind of system is the United States economy based on? The United States economy is based on a free enterprise system. 53. What are the factors that have helped build the United States into the economic giant it is today? The United States has one of the worlds most varied populations, and the vast