Part One The United KingdomChapter 1 Brief Introduction to the United Kingdom 3
Brief Introduction 3
Location and Area 4
Climate 4
Topography 5
Rivers and Lakes 7
Mountains and Hills 8
Population 9
Languages 10
Notes 11
New Words 12
Exercises 15
Chapter 2 History of the United Kingdom 18
Early Settlers 18
The Roman Invasion of Britain 18
Anglo-Saxon Conquests 19
Viking Challenge and the Rise of Wessex 20
Norman Conquest 20
Tudor England(1485-1603) 22
The House of Stuarts(1603-1714) 23
The Hanovarians(18th-19th Century) 25
Two World Wars(1918-1945) 26
21st Century 28
Notes 29
New Words 32
Exercises 33
Chapter 3 British Politics 36
General Introduction 36
The Monarchy 36
The Parliament 37
The British Government 39
The General Election 43
Political Parties 44
The Judicial System 46
Notes 49
New Words 50
Exercises 50
Chapter 4 Economy 53
General Introduction 53
Economic Sectors 56
Global Financial Crisis Impacts upon the UK and the World Economy 60
Notes 62
New Words 63
Exercises 66
Chapter 5 Military 68
Overview 68
History 68
Structure 71
Equipment 73
Uniforms 74
Recruitment 75
Notes 77
New Words 77
Exercises 79
Chapter 6 Culture and Education 81
Introduction 81
Culture 81
Education 86
Notes 92
New Words 93
Exercises 94
Chapter 7 Religion 96
General Introduction 96
Role in History and Modern Society 97
Christianity 98
Other Religions 101
Religious Views about Social Issues 104
Notes 106
New Words 107
Exercises 109
Chapter 8 Literature and Arts 112
Literature 112
Arts 120
Notes 124
New Words 125
Exercises 126
Part Two The United StatesChapter 1 Brief Introduction to the United States of America 133
Brief Introduction 133
Location and Area 134
Climate 135
Topography 136
Rivers and Lakes 137
Mountains and Hills 138
Population 139
Languages 140
Notes 141
New Words 143
Exercises 146
Chapter 2 History of the United States 149
The Discovery of the New World 149
The Colonial Period(1600-1763) 149
The Independence War of America(1763-1783) 152
Territory Expansion and the Westward Movement(1789-1849) 152
The Civil War 153
The US Imperialism and World War Ⅰ 155
World War Ⅱ(1939-1945) 156
Post-World War Ⅱ 157
Toward the 21st Century 158
The 21st Century 158
Notes 160
New Words 162
Exercises 163
Chapter 3 American Politics 165
Why Government 165
The United States Constitution 165
Federalism 167
The United States Congress 167
The Executive Branch 169
The Federal Judiciary 170
The Legislative Process 171
Voting in America 171
Political Parties 173
Notes 175
New Words 176
Exercises 177
Chapter 4 Economy 179
Introduction 179
Economic Sectors 183
Notes 189
New Words 190
Exercises 192
Chapter 5 Military 194
Overview 194
History 195
Structure of US Army 199
Personnel 200
Equipment 200
Recruitment 201
Notes 202
New Words 203
Exercises 205
Chapter 6 Culture and Education 207
Introduction 207
Culture 207
Education 212
Notes 219
New Words 220
Exercises 221
Chapter 7 Religion 223
General Introduction 223
The Principal American Religions 223
Characteristics of American Religion 228
Religion in Today's America 231
Religious Views about Social Issues 232
Notes 233
New Words 234
Exercises 235
Chapter 8 Literature and Arts 239
Literature 239
Arts 249
Notes 252
New Words 254
Exercises 255
Appendix Ⅰ:Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom 257
Appendix Ⅱ:Presidents of the United States 263
References 271