英语国家文化概况复习纲要及历年真题

2014年英语国家概况复习提纲

一、考试题型

1、选择题（15%）：10个小题，每题1.5分。

2、填空题（15%）：10个空格，每空1.5分。

3、术语翻译（英译汉20%）：10术语，每个术语2分。

4、名词解释（15%）：5个术语，每个3分。

5、简答题（20%）：5个小题，每题4分。

6、论述题（15%）：2个小题选答1题。

二、考试范围

美国部分：Unit One, Unit Two, Unit Three, Unit Four, Unit Six, Unit Seven, Unit Eight, Unit Nine。英国部分：Unit One, Unit Two, Unit Four, Unit Nine. 加拿大、澳大利亚、新西兰部分：2000年—2013年历届专八试题中的相关内容（参见“美国文化网”）。

三、考试依据

教材、课程PPT、2000年—2013年历届专八试题中的相关内容

四、考试重点

1、重点翻译术语：

(1) New Frontier 新边疆

(2) the Civil Rights Movement 民权运动

(3) the Great Society 伟大社会

(4) the Counterculture Movement 反主流文化运动

(5) the New Left Movement 新左派运动

(6) the Anti-War Movement 反战运动

(7) the Populist Party人民党

(8) Star Wars星球大战

(9) Monroe Doctrine门罗主义

(10) Truman Doctrine 杜鲁门主义

(11) the Marshall Plan 马歇尔计划

(12) the Missile Crisis 导弹危机

(13) the House Un-American Activities Committee 众议院非美活动调查委员会

(14) WASP 白人盎格鲁—撒克逊新教徒

(15) indentured servants 契约佣工

(16) the Civil War 美国内战

(17) the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 全国有色人种协进会

(18) model minority 模范少数族裔

(19) Indian Reservations 印第安人保留区

(20) Gold Rush淘金热

(21) Supreme Court最高法院

(22) the Court of Appeals 上诉法院

(23) the District Court地区法庭

(24) judicial review 司法复审

(25) the House of Representatives 众议院

(26) chief justice 首席大法官

(27) associate justice 大法官

(28) the Articles of Confederation 《邦联条例》

(29) the winner-take-all rule 赢者通吃规则/ （美国总统选举中）胜者获得所有选举人选票规则

(30) grants-in-aid programs联邦拨款项目

(31) the midterm election中期选举

(32) Watergate Scandal水门事件丑闻

(33) Electoral College选举人团

(34) laissez faire自由放任

(35) Sherman Antitrust Act谢尔曼反托拉斯法

(36) New Deal新政

(37) Social Security system 社会保障制度

(38) Food Stamp食物劵

(39) Aid to Families with Dependent Children未成年人家庭援助计划

(40) original jurisdiction 初审管辖权

(41) grand jury 大陪审团

(42) petit jury 小陪审团

(43) the Department of Justice 司法部

(44) the Attorney General 司法部长/ 总检察长

(45) the Solicitor General 司法部副部长/副总检察长

(46) Common Law 习惯法

(47) civil law 民法

(48) criminal law 刑法

(49) the Federal Bureau of Investigation美国联邦调查局

(50) due process of law 正当法律程序

(51) charter school 特许公立学校

(52) school voucher 教育劵

(53) associate degree 准学位

(54) community college 社区大学

(55) the Bilingual Education Act 双语教育法

(56) affirmative action program 积极行动方案

(57) reverse discrimination 反向歧视

(58) compulsory education 义务教育

(59) city upon a hill 山巅之城

(60) the Great Awakening 大觉醒运动

(61) British Commonwealth英联邦

(62) the Department of State国务院

(63) Secretary of Commerce商务部长

(64) the House of Lords 贵族院、上议院

(65) the House of Commons平民院、下议院

(66) life peers 终生贵族

(67) the Crown Court皇家法院

(68) Parliamentary sovereignty议会主权

(69) statute law成文法

(70) the Progressive Movement 进步主义运动

(71) the Mexican-American War 美墨战争

(72) separation of church and state 政教分离

(73) the New Age Movement 新纪元运动/ 新时期运动

(74) God’s Chosen People 上帝的选民

(75) board of education 教育董事会

(76) the adversary system 抗辩制

(77) impeachment 弹劾

(78) criminal justice 司法公正

(79) block grant program 总额补助

(80) poverty line 贫困线

(81) Zippergate scandal 拉链门绯闻

(82) the sunbelt region 阳光地带

(83) the Constitutional Monarchy 君主立宪制

(84) civil servant 公务员

(85) devolution 权力下放/ 分权

(86) decentralization 权力分散/ 分权

(87) grammar school 文法学校

(89) University of Oxford 牛津大学

(90) University of Cambridge 剑桥大学

(91) state school (in Britain) 国立学校

(92) independent school (in Britain) 独立学校

(93) public school (in Britain) 公学

(94) public school (in America) 公立学校

(95) private school (in America) 私立学校

2、重点名词解释术语

(1) American Dream: It means life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement regardless of social class or circumstances of birth.

(2) WASP: It is the abbreviation of White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, the group which dominated American society in the history and still controls disproportionate social and financial power. (3) judicial review: It refers to the power of the Supreme Court to decide whether congressional legislation or executive action is constitutional.

(4) federalism: Federalism is a system based upon democratic rules and institutions in which the power to govern is shared between national and state governments, creating what is often called

a federation.

(5) the midterm election: Midterm elections in the United States refer to general elections in the United States that are held in two years after the quadrennial (four-year) elections for the President of the United States (i.e. near the midpoint of the four-year presidential term). Federal offices that are up for election during the midterms are members of the United States Congress, including both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

(6) Electoral College: The United States Electoral College is the institution that officially elects the President and Vice President of the United States every four years. The President and Vice President are not elected directly by the voters. Instead, they are elected by "electors" who are chosen by popular vote on a state-by-state basis.

(7) laissez faire: Laissez faire is an economic doctrine that opposes governmental regulation of or interference in commerce beyond the minimum necessary for a free-enterprise system to operate according to its own economic laws.

(8) Medicare: It is a national health insurance program in the United States for persons aged 65 or over, consisting a basic program for major costs of hospitals and related care and a supplementary medical insurance program for doctor bills and other health care bills.

(9) Medicaid: It is a national health insurance program in the United States for low income persons. Services covered under medicaid include in-patient hospital services, nursing home services, physician services, drugs, laboratory services, X rays, and so on.

(10) grand jury（教材195页相关词条注释中第一句）

(11) petit jury（教材195页相关词条注释中第一句）

(12) the adversary system: Adversary system refers to a system by which competing parties in court present their views to an impartial third party (judge or jury), which decides the case on the basis of the evidence presented to the court.

(13) affirmative action program: Affirmative action program is a program that seeks to redress past discrimination through active measures to ensure equal opportunity, as in education and employment.

(14) reverse discrimination: It refers to discrimination against members of a dominant or majority group, especially when resulting from policies established to redress discrimination against members of a minority or disadvantaged group.

(15) Manifest Destiny: Manifest destiny refers to the beliefs that Americans are God’s chosen and that American people have a special destiny under God.

(16) straight ticket: It refers to the practice of voting for candidates of the same party for multiple positions in an election.

(17) split ticket: In American politics, a split-ticket refers to a ballot on which the voter has chosen candidates from different political parties when multiple offices are being decided in a single election.

(18) Constitutional monarchy: Constitutional monarchy refers to a monarchy in which the powers of the ruler are restricted to those granted under the constitution and laws of the nation.

(19) Devolution: Devolution refers to a process by which the powers of the central government over local affairs are transferred to the Scottish and Welsh people through their own democratically elected local legislatures.

(20) parliamentary sovereignty: It is the most important part of the UK constitution. According to this principle, Parliament has the supreme legal authority in the UK and can create or end any law. Generally, the courts cannot overrule its legislation and no Parliament can pass laws that future Parliaments cannot change.

3、简答题复习范围（共24题）

(1) Describe the four recognizable and definable topographic regions in the United States. (See page 116)

(2) What makes the Northeast stand out as a unique cultural region? (See ppt)

(3) How did the South and the North differ from each other in their economic development before the Civil War?

[Answer for reference: Before the Civil War, the North was based on industrialization and urbanization, while the South was based on slavery.]

(4) From what parts of Europe did immigrants mainly come in the 17th, 18th and much of the 19th centuries? (See page 146)

(5) How is the President elected? What are the presidential election’s proceedings? (See ppt about American Political Institutions)

(6) What qualifications does one need in order to vote in the U.S.? (See page 162)

(7) What are the powers of the US president?

[Answer for reference: According to US Constitution, the President the head of the executive branch of federal government, who has the power to appoint ambassadors, members of the Cabinet, Justices of the Supreme Court and Judges of the lower Federal Courts. In terms of legislative power, the President can recommend legislative measures to Congress and veto bills passed by Congress. Besides, the president has the power to make treaties with other nations and is commander-in-chief of the armed forces.]

(10) What were the two key traditional attitudes of Americans towards social services? (See page 177)

(11) What are the main areas covered by social security in the U.S.? (See page 178)

(12) The U.S. has a three-tiered national court system. What are the three levels and their respective functions? (See ppt)

(13) What are the four categories of institutions in the higher education system in the United States? (See ppt)

(14) What reforms have been made in the United States over the past several decades for its public schools? (See page 199 or ppt )

(15) What are the major differences between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism? [Answer for reference: Both Roman Catholicism and Protestantism are branches of Christianity. Their differences lie mainly in two aspects. First, according to Roman Catholicism, the Pope is the authority of God’s revelation, while Protestantism believes that the Bible is the only s ource of revelation. Second, in Roman Catholicism, there is an episcopal hierarchy, while Protestants believe in the universal priesthood of all the believers.]

(17) Describe the symbols in the national flag of the U.S. and their respective symbolic meanings.（See ppt）

(18) Describe the major symbols in the front side of the grand seal of the U.S. and explain their respective symbolic meanings. (See ppt)

(19) What are the major ideas in the Declaration of Independence?

[Answer for reference: The document declared that all men were equal and that they were entitled to some unalienable rights such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It also explained the philosophy of government: the power of government came from the consent of the governed and the purpose of government was to secure the rights mentioned above. The theory of politics and the guiding principles of the American Revolution mainly came from John Locke.]

(20) What are the differences between the Democrats and the Republicans in terms of

class orientation and attitude towards the role of federal government in public life?

（See page 161）

(21) List at least three factors which can help explain the low turnout in the

presidential election. (See page 162）

(22) Explain in plain language the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights (1791)

which states that “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of

religion, or prohibting the free exercise thereof.” (See page 209)

(23) What are the four principles of government in American Constitution? (See ppt)

(24) What are the five major elements of American Creed? (See ppt)

(25) What is the United Kingdom geographically and politically

composed of? (See page 2)

(26) What are the characteristics of the British Constitution? (See page 43)

(27) What are the functions of British Parliament? (See page 45)

(28) What are the Queen’s roles as monarch? (See page 44)

(29) What are the central beliefs of the Labour Party? (See page 49)

(30) What are the central beliefs of the Conservative Party? (See page 49)

(31) How can the British universities be classified? (See page 95)

历年真题

2000年

1. Who were the first known inhabitants of Britain?

A. The Celts

B. The Romans

C. The Beaker Folk

D. The Iberians

2. The native people of Canada came from _______ in prehistoric times.

A. Asia

B. Russia

C. Europe

D. South Africa

3. The United States of America is the ________ populous country in the world.

A. second

B. third

C. fourth

D. sixth

4. The United Kingdom is a ______ State.

A. federal

B. unitary

C. republic

D. feudal

2001年

1. Canada occupies about _________ of the North American continent.

A. 1/2

B. 1/4

C. 1/3

D. 1/5

2. The Australian population is mainly of _______ descents.

A. British

B. American

C. Japanese

D. Chinese

3. The causes of the Hundred Years’ War between France and England were partly _____ and partly _____.

A. political; territorial

B. religious; economic

C. territorial; economic

D. political; religious

4. The _____ is the America’s leading center of heavy industry.

A. Midwest

B. Middle Atlantic states

C. South

D. Pacific Coast

2002年

1. New Zealand is situated about 1,500 km ________.

A. northwest of Australia

B. southeast of Australia

C. northeast of Australia

D. southwest of Australia

2. The term of office for the head of state is _______ years in Ireland.

A. five

B. four

C. six

D. seven

3. English and ______ are official languages in New Zealand.

A. French

B. Dutch

C. Maori

D. Polynesian

4. The Thanksgiving Day is a historical, national and religious day that began with ______.

A. Pilgrims

B. Protestants

C. Catholics

D. Christians

2003年

1. The largest fresh water lake in the world is ______.

A. the Thames

B. Lake Superior

C. the Great Lakes

D. the Yangtze River

2. There are _______ political divisions on the island of Great Britain.

A. one

B. two

C. three

D. four

3. The majority of French-speaking Canadians live in ______.

A. Ontario

B. Quebec

C. Nova Scotia

D. New Foundland

4. In Elizabeth I’s time, the two great Catholic powers were ______.

A. France and England

B.France and Scotland

C. England and Spain

D. France and Spain

2004年

1. The biggest city of the United States was _______, with a population of over 18 million in 1990.

A. Chicago

B. New York

C. Los Angeles

D. San Francisco

2. _________, the great Roman general, invaded Britain for the first time in 55 BC.

A. Claudius

B. Julius Caesar

C. Robert Lee

D. Stephen Lang

3. The Tories are the forerunners of ________, which still bears the name today.

A. the Labor Party

B. the Liberal Party

C. the Democratic Party

D. the Conservative Party

4. The affection name given to the clock tower of the House of Parliament is ____.

A. St. Paul’s Cathedral

B. Big Ben

C. Golden Gate Bridge

D. Tower of London

2005年

31. ______ is the capital city of Canada.

A. Vancouver

B. Ottawa

C. Montreal

D. York

32. U.S. presidents normally serve a (an) _________term.

A. two-year

B. four-year

C. six-year

D. eight-year

33. Which of the following cities is NOT located in the Northeast, U.S.?

A. Huston.

B. Boston.

C. Baltimore.

D. Philadelphia.

34. ________ is the state church in England.

A. The Roman Catholic Church.

B. The Baptist Church

C. The Protestant Church

D. The Church of England

2006年

31. The President during the American Civil War was______.

A. Andrew Jackson

B. Abraham Lincoln

C. Thomas Jefferson

D. George Washington

32. The capital of New Zealand is ______.

A. Christchurch

B. Auckland

C. Wellington

D. Hamilton

33. Who were the natives of Australia before the arrival of the British settlers?

A. The Aborigines

B. The Maoris

C. The Indians

D. The Eskimos

34. The Prime Minister in Britain is head of ______.

A. The Shadow Cabinet

B. The Parliament

C. The Opposition

D. The Cabinet

2007年

31. The majority of the current population in the UK are decedents of all the following tribes

respectively EXCEPT______.

A. the Anglos

B. the Celts

C. the Jutes

D. the Saxons

32. The Head of State of Canada is represented by______.

A. the Monarch

B. the President

C. the Prime Minister

D. the Governor-general

33. The Declaration of Independence was written by______.

A. Thomas Jefferson

B. George Washington

C. Alexander Hamilton

D. James Madison

34. The original inhabitants of Australia were______.

A. the Red Indians

B. the Eskimos

C. the Aborigines

D. the Maoris

2008年

31. The largest city in Canada is _______.

A. Vancouver.

B. Montreal.

C. Toronto

D. Ottawa.

32. According to the United States Constitution, the legislative power is invested in

A. the Federal Government.

B. the Supreme Court.

C. the Cabinet.

D. the Congress.

33. Which of the following is the oldest sport in the United States?

A. Baseball.

B. Tennis.

C. Basketball.

D. American football.

34. The head of the executive branch in New Zealand is _________

A. the President.

B. the Governor-General.

C. the British monarch

D. the Prime Minister.

2009年

31. The Head of State of New Zealand is ___________.

A. the governor-general

B. the Prime Minister

C. the high commissioner

D. the monarch of the United Kingdom

32. The capital of Scotland is ___________.

A. Glasgow.

B. Edinburgh.

C. Manchester.

D. London.

33. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence and later became the U.S. President?

A. Thomas Jefferson.

B. George Washington.

C. Thomas Paine.

D. John Adams.

34. Which of the following cities is located on the eastern coast of Australia?

A. Perth.

B. Adelaide.

C. Sydney.

D. Melbourne.

2010年

31. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT?

A. The British Constitution includes the Magna Carta of 1215.

B. The British constitution includes Parliamentary acts.

C. The British constitution includes decisions made by courts of law.

D. The British constitution includes one single written constitution.

32. The first city ever founded in Canada is

A. Quebec.

B. Vancouver.

C. Toronto.

D. Montreal.

33. When did the Australian Federation officially come into being?

A. 1770

B. 1788

C. 1900

D. 1901

34. The Emancipation Proclamation to end the slavery plantation system in the South of the U.S. was issued by

A. Abraham Lincoln

B. Thomas Paine

C. George Washington

D. Thomas Jefferson

2011年

31. The northernmost part of Great Britain is ___________.

A. Northern Ireland

B. Scotland

C. England

D. Wales

32. It is generally agreed that __________ were the first Europeans to reach Australia's shores.

A. the French

B. the Germans

C. the British

D. the Dutch

33. Which country is known as the land of Maple Leaf?

A. Canada

B. New Zealand

C. Great Britain

D. The United States of America

34. Who wrote the famous pamphlet, The Common Sense, before the American Revolution?

A. Thomas Jefferson

B. Thomas Paine

C. John Adams

D. Benjamin Franklin

2012年

31. The Maori people are natives of ___________

A. Australia.

B. Canada.

C. Ireland.

D. New Zealand.

32. The British monarch is the Head of _________

A. Parliament.

B. State.

C. Government.

D. Cabinet.

33. Americans celebrate Independence Day on ________

A. July 4th.

B. October 11th.

C. May 31st.

D. September 6th.

34. Canada is bounded on the north by ___________

A. the Pacific Ocean.

B. the Atlantic Ocean.

C. the Arctic Ocean.

D. the Great Lakes.

2013年

31. The full name of Australia is

A. The Republic of Australia.

B. The Union of Australia.

C. The Federation of Australia

D. The Commonwealth of Australia.

32. Canada is well known for all the following EXCEPT

A. its mineral resources.

B. its heavy industries.

C. its forest resources.

D. its fertile and arable land.

33. In the United States community colleges offer

A. two-year programs.

B. four-year programs.

C. postgraduate studies

D. B.A. or B.S. degrees

34. In _____, referenda in Scotland and Wales set up a scottish parliament and a Wales assembly.

A. 2000

B. 1946

C. 1990

D. 1997