PART ONE UNFAMILIAR TERMS AND COM PREEENSION QUESTIONS 1
Unit One The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1
Lesson 1 Land and People 1
Lesson 2 The Origins of a Nation （5000BC～1066） 10
Lesson 3 The Shaping of the Nation （1066～1381） 18
Lesson 4 Transition to the Modern Age （1455～1688） 26
Lesson 5 The Rise and Fall of the British Empire （1688～1990） 38
Lesson 6 The Economy 50
Lesson 7 Government and Administration 59
Lesson 8 Justice and the Law 66
Lesson 9 Social Affairs 70
Lesson 10 Cultural Affairs 77
Unit Two The Republic of Ireland 84
Lesson 11 Geography and History 84
Lesson 12 Ireland Today 89
Unit Three The United States of Amereca 94
Lesson 13 Geography 94
Lesson 14 Population， Race and Ethnic Groups 99
Lesson 15 American History（Ⅰ） （1600～1900） 105
Lesson 16 American History（Ⅱ） （1900～1945） 115
Lesson 17 American History（Ⅲ） （1945～1980s） 123
Lesson 18 The Economy 133
Lesson 19 Political Institutions 138
Lesson 20 Education 145
Lesson 21 Literature， Architecture and Music 151
Lesson 22 Holidays and Festivals 158
Unit Four Canada 164
Lesson 23 Geography and History 164
Lesson 24 The Economy 170
Lesson 25 Government and Politics 175
Lesson 26 Society and Culture 179
Unit Five Australia 184
Lesson 27 Land and People 184
Lesson 28 Australian History（Ⅰ） Australia to Federation 190
Lesson 29 Australian History（Ⅱ） Australia Since Federation 197
Lesson 30 The Economy 203
Lesson 31 Government and Politics 209
Lesson 32 Society and Culture 213
Unit Six New Zealand 219
Lesson 33 The Making of New Zealand 219
Lesson 34 New Zealand Today 226
PART TWO SAMPLE TESTS 232
Ⅰ.Illustration 232
Ⅱ.Sample Test for Illustration 233
Key to Sample Test for Illustration 236
Ⅲ.Sample Tests 240
Sample Test 1 240
Sample Test 2 248
Sample Test 3 258
Sample Test 4 267
Sample Test 5 276
Ⅳ.Key to Sample Tests 285
Key to Sample Test 1 285
Key to Sample Test 2 288
Key to Sample Test 3 294
Key to Sample Test 4 299
Key to Sample Test 5 304
附录：1999年上半年全国高等教育自学考试英语国家概况试题 310