Part Ⅰ The United States 1
Unit One The Land and the People 1
Focal Points 1
Discussion Questions 1
Text 1
A Land of Abundance 2
A Nation of Immigrants 5
In Search of the American Dream 7
The National Character 9
Notes 12
Exercises 12
Reference Answers 15
Unit Two American Politics 17
Focal Points 17
Discussion Questions 17
Text 17
Political Beliefs 18
Political System 21
Political Parties，Interest Groups and Citizenry 24
Notes 27
Exercises 28
Reference Answers 30
Unit Three American Values and Assumptions 32
Focal Points 32
Discussion Questions 32
Text 32
Individualism 33
Equality 35
Achievement，Hard Work，and Materialism 37
Optimism，Change，and Progress 39
Notes 41
Exercises 41
Reference Answers 44
Unit Four Religion in American Life 46
Focal Points 46
Discussion Questions 46
Text 46
“In God We Trust” 47
Religious Pluralism 50
Popular Religion 53
Notes 55
Exercises 56
Reference Answers 59
Unit Five Education in America 61
Focal Points 61
Discussion Questions 61
Text 61
Guiding Principles 62
Goals of Education 66
Management of Education 71
Notes 73
Exercises 73
Reference Answers 76
Unit Six The American Family 79
Focal Points 79
Discussion Questions 79
Text 79
The Changing Family 80
Marriage Relationship 82
Parenting 86
Notes 88
Exercises 88
Reference Answers 91
Unit Seven Leisure Life in America 93
Focal Points 93
Discussion Questions 93
Text 93
Sports 94
Recreation 97
Weekends and Vacations 100
Notes 105
Exercises 105
Reference Answers 108
Unit Eight Social Services 110
Focal Points 110
Discussion Questions 110
Text 110
Public Social Services 111
Voluntary Services 115
Health Care Services 117
Housing 120
Notes 122
Exercises 123
Reference Answers 126
Part Ⅱ The Great Britain 129
Unit Nine The Land and the People 129
Focal Points 129
Discussion Questions 129
Text 129
The Land 130
The People 134
Notes 140
Exercises 140
Reference Answers 143
Unit Ten Government and Politics 145
Focal Points 145
Discussion Questions 145
Text 145
A Bird's-Eye View of British Political History 145
Political System 149
Political Parties and Citizenry 154
Notes 157
Exercises 158
Referenee Answers 160
Unit Eleven British Values and Assumptions 163
Focal Points 163
Discussion Questions 163
Text 163
Senses of Irony and Humor 164
Fair Play，Trust and Compromise 166
The English Reserve and Politeness 167
Class Consciousness 170
Keeping Order，Work Ethic and Drink 174
Notes 175
Exercises 176
Reference Answers 179
Unit Twelve Religion in British Life 181
Focal Points 181
Discussion Questions 181
Text 181
A Bird's Eye View of Religious History 182
Christianity and Other World Religions 184
Religion and Society 189
Notes 192
Exercises 193
Reference Answers 196
Unit Thirteen British Education 198
Focal Points 198
Discussion Questions 198
Text 198
Schools 199
Colleges and Universities 202
Changes and Trends in Education 206
Notes 208
Exercises 210
Reference Answers 213
Unit Fourteen The British Family 215
Focal Points 215
Discussion Questions 215
Text 215
The Changing Family 216
Marriage Relationship 219
Parenting 222
Notes 224
Exercises 225
General Questions 227
Reference Answers 228
Unit Fifteen Leisure Life in Britain 230
Focal Points 230
Discussion Questions 230
Text 230
Leisure around the Home 231
Public Entertainment 233
New Patterns in Leisure 239
Notes 241
Exercises 242
Reference Answers 245
Unit Sixteen Social Services 247
Focal Points 247
Discussion Questions 247
Text 247
The Welfare State：An Overview 247
The Welfare System 251
Housing and Personal Social Services 254
Notes 257
Exercises 257
Reference Answers 260
Bibliography 262
Websites 264