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Brief Introduction to Major English-speaking
Countries
Foreign Language School
Xinjiang Agricultural University
Lecturer: Phone: Email: Location: Title:
Hu Qiping
13579223098 hqp2521@126. com
04. 4. 03 Associate prof.
Nov. 16, 2010
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英 语 国 家 概 况
Brief Introduction to the Major English-Speaking Countries
It is useful for TEM Grade 8
Contents
Part I 第一节: Britain英国概况 ............................................................................................................ 4 1．Geography ........................................................................................................................................ 4 2．Population .......................................................................................................................................... 5 3．London, the Capital ........................................................................................................................... 8 4．Brief History ...................................................................................................................................... 9 5．Politics ............................................................................................................................................. 18 6．Economy .......................................................................................................................................... 20 7．Social Affairs ................................................................................................................................... 21 8．Education ......................................................................................................................................... 21 9．Religion ........................................................................................................................................... 21 10．Festivals and Public Holidays........................................................................................................ 22 11．Sports ............................................................................................................................................. 23 12．The Arts ......................................................................................................................................... 20 13．The Media ...................................................................................................................................... 20 Section II: 第二节America美国概况.................................................................................................. 22 1．General Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 22 2．Geography ....................................................................................................................................... 22 3．The Formation of the Union and Brief History ............................................................................... 25 4．Population Trends ............................................................................................................................ 26 5．American Politics ............................................................................................................................ 36 6．Economy .......................................................................................................................................... 39 7．Education ......................................................................................................................................... 41 8．The Media ........................................................................................................................................ 43 9．Holidays and Festivals ..................................................................................................................... 43 10.Architecture and Music .................................................................................................................... 44 11.Important American Cities ................................................................................................................ 44 Section III 第三节：Canada加拿大概况 ............................................................................................ 41 1. Geography ......................................................................................................................................... 42 2. The Formation of Canada .................................................................................................................. 42 3. Economy ............................................................................................................................................ 42 4. Government and politics .................................................................................................................... 42 5. Population ....................................................................................................................................... 43
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6. Education Education is a provincial responsibility. .................................................................... 44 7. Canadian Culture ............................................................................................................................... 44 8. Media ................................................................................................................................................. 45 Section IV 第四节 Australia澳大利亚概况 ..................................................................................... 46 1. Geography ......................................................................................................................................... 46 2. Climate 气候 .................................................................................................................................. 46 3. Population .......................................................................................................................................... 47 4. Political Divisions ............................................................................................................................. 47 5. The Economy ..................................................................................................................................... 48 6. Government and Politics ................................................................................................................... 48 7. Media ................................................................................................................................................. 49 8. Aussie Culture ................................................................................................................................... 49 Section V 第五节 New Zealand, Irland and Singapore 新西兰 爱尔兰和新加坡概况
I. New Zealand 新西兰 ....................................................................................................................... 54
1.Geography 地理 ..................................................................................................................... 54 2. Climate: .................................................................................................................................... 54 3. Animals ..................................................................................................................................... 54 4. History 历史 ........................................................................................................................... 54 5. Population 人口 ........................................................................................................................ 55 6. Politics 政治 ............................................................................................................................. 55 7. Economy (经济) ........................................................................................................................ 55 II. The Republic of Ireland 爱尔兰共和国 ........................................................................................ 55 III. The Republic of Singapore 新加坡共和国 ................................................................................ 55 Section 第六节 英语国家概况知识练习150+30题 ........................................................................... 57 Bibliography............................................................................................................................................ 66
“An empire on which the sun never set.”
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Part I 第一节: Britain 英国概况
I． Geography
The British Isles are a group of islands situated off the continent of Europe. The British
state is made up of Great Britain (England, Wales, and Scotland) and Northern Ireland. Its
official name is The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Island 大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国 (in short, UK)
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I． Geographical Features
With an area of about 243, 000sq km, Britain is just about 600 miles from north to south. It is therefore possible to travel to any part of the country within one day.
Britain is an island country, surrounded by the sea. It is separated from the rest of Europe by the English Channel in the south and the North Sea in the east. 英国是一个岛国。它
位于大西洋北部，与欧洲大陆的北海岸隔海相望。南面的英吉利海峡和东面的北海将它与欧洲其它部分隔开。
The English Channel between England and France is quite narrow and the narrowest part is called the Strait of Dover (多佛尔海峡). In May 1994, the “Channel” which joined England and France was open to traffic. The UK is divided politically into four parts and they are (1). England 英格兰 英国的主要部分
England occupies the largest, southern part of Great Britain with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north, which takes up nearly 60% of the whole island. The Pennies (奔宁山脉) are the principal mountain chain. It is the largest, most populous section. 英格兰位于大不列颠岛南部，是最大，人口最稠密的地区。
(2) Scotland苏格兰(英国的一部分,在不列颠北部) Britain\\Scotland.wav
Scotland is in the north of Great Britain. There are three natural zones: 1, the Highlands in the north and Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Britain (1,343 meters) is located there; 2, the central Lowlands, the important area in Scotland which contains most of the industry and population; 3. the southern uplands. (丘陵地, 高地)
Though the Gaelic language (盖尔语) is still heard in the Highlands and the Western isles, English is spoken all over Scotland.
Edinburgh (爱丁堡), the capital of Scotland, is in the eastern part of the country on the Firth of Forth. Once known as “Auld Reekie” for the thick clouds of smoke that hung over its low-lying areas, the picturesque city is a brewing center, a popular tourist attraction, and the site of an annual international festival of the arts. Population, 446,361.
苏格兰首府，位于苏格兰东部的福斯湾畔。由于海拔较低，常有浓厚的烟雾笼罩其上，而一度被称为“美丽的烟雾之城”，这座美丽如画的城市是一个酿酒中心和旅游胜地，每年一度的国际艺术节在此召开。Glasgow (格拉斯哥) is a city of southwest Scotland on the Clyde River. Founded
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