week 2 introduction.ppt

A Brief Introduction to the UK Country name conventional long form: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland conventional short form: United Kingdom abbreviation: UK  The Queen Elizabeth II She was born on 21 April in 1926 She came into power in 1952 The Prime Minister Tony Blair The leader of Labour party Country profile of UK Area: total: 244,820 sq km  water: 3,230 sq km  land: 241,590 sq km Country Profile Population 60,094,648 (July 2003) Nationality: British Ethnic groups: English 81.5%, Scottish 9.6%, Irish 2.4%, Welsh 1.9%, Ulster 1.8%, other 2.8% Religions: Anglican(英国国教的） and Roman Catholic, Muslim, Presbyterian（长老制）, Methodist（循道宗）, Sikh（锡克教）, Hindu（印度教）, Jewish Country Profile Languages: English, Welsh (about 26% of the population of Wales), Scottish form of Gaelic（盖尔语） About London London is dominant in the UK in all sorts of ways. It is by far the largest city in the country, the seat of government, it is the cultural center, home to all the major newspapers, theatres and museums. Also it is the business center, headquarters of the nation, and one of the three major international financial centers in the world. Buckingham Palace-- the official London residence of Britains sovereigns since 1837. Changing royal guards every morning Windsor castle The Tower of London伦敦城东南角的塔山上，建有伦敦塔该塔曾用作军事要塞、王宫、监狱、档案室，现在是王冠和武器的展览处， 藏有维多利亚女王加冕时戴的镶有３０００颗宝石的王冠和伊丽莎白二世加冕时戴的镶有重达１０９克拉大钻石“非洲之星”的王冠 Tower Bridge on the Thames 【大本钟】 作为伦敦市的标志以及英国的象征，大本钟巨大而华丽，重13.5吨，四个钟面的面积有两平方米左右。钟楼高79米，钟楼四面的圆形钟盘，直径为6.7米。大本钟从1859年就为伦敦城报时，根据格林尼治时间每隔一小时敲响一次。至今将近一个半世纪，尽管这期间大本钟曾两度裂开而重筹。现在大本钟的钟声仍然清晰、动听。 国会大厦 Houses of Parliament (Palace of Westminster) The House of Parliament (palace of Westminster) London City　Library 　 No.10 Downing Street 唐宁街10号是英国首相官邸。门口除了有一名警察站岗外，看不出来这里与其他街巷民居的差别，但它却是世界出镜率最高的门口。  Big Ben 依泰晤士河而建的议会大厦是英国的政治中心。它不仅外表雄伟壮观、内部装饰华丽，而且其建筑结构和内部设计也能充分地体现世界上最古老的君主立宪政体。据说英国国会开会时，国王应坐在上议院的国王宝座上，但首相和议员需从下议院进