英语报刊选读unit6Britains Affairs知识讲稿.ppt

英语报刊选读;Unit 6 Britains Affairs(I);“In Great Britain things that are conventional become habitual,and things that are habitual become constitutional2,”wrote American historian George Brinton Cooper 40 years ago.In Britain the monarch remains very much at the heart of its Constitution.As constitutional monarch,Queen ElizabethⅡ3 holds powers that may surprise many.She can choose a prime minister,dissolve Parliament and declare war.In reality,she waives these powers and is bound by tradition to accept the advice of Parliament.This system prevents politicians from too easily usurping power and,it may be argued,has prevented a dictator from dominating Great Britain since Oliver Cromwells short rule in the 17th century. It is one of the great strengths of monarchy that it has never taken sides in any political debate,that it shows itself,as an institution,to be evenhanded.This apolitical stance has made it possible for the political culture of Great Britain to assimilate,with relative ease,theories that would appear on the face of things to be radically at odds with a system of monarchical government—for example,socialism.4Monarchy in this century has worked with socialist governments as effectively as with those whose politics one might choose to think were more sympathetic to the institution.;1.helm n. a position of leadership or control领导或支配地位 2.figurehead n. a person given a position of nominal leadership but having no actual authority傀儡：名义上为领袖但无实权的人。 3.waive v. to give up voluntarily放弃,常为自愿地放弃 4.usurp v. to seize anothers place,authority,or possession wrongfully篡夺；篡位；篡权：错误地抢占他人的位置，夺他人的权势或占有他人的财产。 5.evenhanded adj. showing no partiality;fair公平的，大公无私的，不偏不倚的 6.apolitical adj. having no interest in politics不关心政治的，对政治无兴趣的 7.assimilate v. to incorporate and absorb into the mind结合和吸收;Expressions;1.shun v. to avoid keep away from躲避,故意避开 2.distraught adj. deeply agitated,as from emotional conflict心烦意乱的,极其烦恼的(如因感情纠葛) 3.catastrophic adj. of or relating to,a