講課 第一單元

1、An Outline Introduction to Britain and America:The Country and the People (p1-9) Sep.2011 - Jan.2012 By Du PengQuestions1. What do you know about Britain? Any places, people, names, things, etc.2. Can you refer all British people as English(Englishman or Englishwoman)? Five Parts1. Names2. Positions

2、3. Geographic Features4. Climate and Weather 5. Exercises1. Namesa. Names: U.K. Great Britain England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland People: British people/Briton English Scots Welsh Irishb. U. K.Official Name: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandTranslation: ?Two parts: Great B

3、ritain Northern IrelandBritish Isles：大不列顛群島 To the west and off the European Continent, there are several thousands of islands on the Continent Shelf.（大陸架）They are generally called the British Isles. Great Britain is the largest island in the British Isles. It is often shortened to Britain. Sinceit

4、is the most important part of U.K., people usually use Britain to indicate the whole country. It is traditionally divided into three regions: England(英格蘭) in the south Scotland(蘇格蘭) in the north Wales(威爾士) in the southwestc. EnglandLargest and most developed of all the three parts: 60% of the whole

5、land and 85% of the countrys total population Foreigners usually use England or English to indicate U.K. or its people. It is informal and may be unpleasant for some British people. Capital city: London The Tower of London, British Museum, Big Ben, etc. London Bridges Oxford University: The cradle o

6、f British prime ministers Cambridge University: 劍橋 or 康橋 Xu Zhimo “Say Farewell to Cambridge Again”d. Scotland Second largest both in area and population. Its people are called Scots. Capital city: Edinburgh Famous for its beautiful scenery and landscape. “Brave Heart”f. Wales The smallest both in a

7、rea and population, but very important. The Prince of Wales is the future king of U.K.g. Northern IrelandIreland: second largest island in British Isles Emerald Isle （綠寶石島） History: An independent country Anglo-Norman invades Henry VIII(1491-1547) English control Northern Ireland (Ulster) 1610, Scot

8、tish Republic of Ireland Northern Ireland 1927, establishment remains in U.K. 1948, declares itself a republic Northern Ireland is the northeast part of Ireland. The majority of its population believe in Protestantism and want to stay in U.K.; One third of its population are Roman Catholic and want

9、independence from U.K. Capital city：Belfast Terms: IRA: Irish Republican Army. An terrorist organization formed by the radical Roman Catholics. (愛爾蘭共和軍) Heathrow Airport (London) 倫敦希斯羅機(jī)場 Sinn Fein 新芬黨 Downing Street Declaration 唐寧街宣言h. SummaryAdditional knowledge: Specialties in U.K Scotland: Scotti

10、sh Whiskey; Scottish Bagpipe(風(fēng)笛); Kilt 蘇格蘭格子裙; Northern Ireland: Irish Beer (Guinness 吉尼斯); Irish Dance (Tap Dance 踢踏舞)2. LocationTo the north: Norway Arctic OceanAcross the North Sea: Holland Germany Denmark NorwayTo the west: Atlantic OceanEnglish Channel (英吉利海峽southeast): France (link) Channel Tu

11、nnel(海底隧道) 3. Geographic FeaturesAn island countryTwo parts divided: Highland Zone in the north and west Lowland Zone in the south and southeastHighland Zone Highlands of Scotland (蘇格蘭高地)- Ben Nevis(本奈維斯山): highest mountain.Central Lowlands of Scotland(蘇格蘭中央平原) EdinburghSouthern Uplands(南部高地)The Pen

12、nines (奔寧山脈): Backbone of EnglandThe Lake District of Cumbria: 坎布里亞湖區(qū)Lake Poets(湖畔詩人): romanticism Southey, Wordworth, ColeridgeThe Welsh Massif(威爾士山地) 4. Climate and WeatherFirst, Britain has a maritime(海洋性) climate and changeable weather.It is difficult, even for a good weather experts, to give a

13、correct and reliable weather forecast in Britain. British people like to discuss about weather because it is always an uncertainty. Their discussion is mainly based on guesswork.Second, Britain has a mild temperature.Britains temperature is “strange” because it is “incompatible” with the latitude: i

14、n winter not too cold and in summer not too hot.There are still discernible seasons in Britain.Spring: Season of Reawakening, from March to May.Summer: from June to August.Autumn: Season of Maturity and Harvest, from September to November.Winter: from December to February.Third, the British weather

15、is famous for its abundant rainfall. The annual average rainfall is about 1m in the west and 0.7m in the east and southeast. Much of the rain comes down in drizzle, and therefore more than half of the days of the year in Britain are rainy days. England has a reputation for fogs, especially London. However, the truth is different from what foreigners imagine.Londons smog (smoke + fog) in the past: the use of coal and the humidity of the atmosphere. Today the visibility of London is much better: coal is no longer used for cooking or heating. 5. Exercisesa. Term ex