英语国家概况2.ppt

The Society and Culture of Major English-Speaking Countries( An Introduction) Requirements: Preview the text according to the questions after each chapter. Your performance will be recorded and added to your final scores. Part One: UK Chapter one Land and People I. Different names for Britain and its Parts:Britainthe United Kingdomthe U.K.Great Britainthe British IslesEngland Political divisions How many political divisions? England Scotlandon the island of GB Wales Northern Ireland The full name of the country:------ The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 2 There are 4 political divisions on the UK , namely, England, Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland. 3 Geographically, the island of Great Britain is made up of England, Scotland and Wales. 4. Imperial past (帝国的历史)----ruled a vast overseas empire( 1/3 of the globe) until the 2nd world war----decolonization----colonies found the Commonwealth of nations（英联邦） (keep loose ties on politics, but maintaining frequent trade relations among the nations.) 5. International relations----joined in the EU（European Union） in 1973. The British Commonwealth of Nations in 1931 The Commonwealth is a free association of independent countries that were once colonies of Britain. Member nations are joined together economically and have certain trading arrangements. (50 members, 1991) II. Geographical Features a. an island country. b.The?north?and?west?of?Britain?are?mainly?highlands;?and?the?east?and?southeast?are?mostly?lowlands.c. separated from Europe by the English Channel in the south and the North Sea in the east.d. the narrowest part of the English Channel between England and France is only 33 km. “Chunnel(通道channel+tunnel) 英吉利海峡隧道(铁路),水底铁路隧道” is a channel tunnel under the straits of Dover(多佛, 英国东南部的港口)(1994) III. Rivers and Lakes non-freezing rivers Not very large but very important:connecting big cities to the sea; playing important role in transportation before modern transportat