自考英语国家概况资料一

　　《英语国家概况》考核目标

　　一、英国部分

　　1.Land and People

　　Different names for Britain and its parts

　　2.Origins of the Nation

　　Arrival and settlement of the Celts

　　Basis of modern English race： the Anglo-Saxons

　　The Viking and Danish invasions

　　King Alfred and his contributions

　　The Norman Conquest and its consequences

　　3.Shaping of the Nation

　　England's feudalism under the rule of William the Conqueror

　　Contents and the significance of the Great Charter

　　Origins of the English Parliament

　　The Hundred Years' War with France and its consequences

　　Consequences of the Black Death

　　4. Transition to the Modern Age

　　The nature and consequences of the Wars of the Roses

　　Henry VIII and the English Reformation

　　Elizabeth I and Parliament

　　Elizabeth's religious reform and her foreign policy

　　Distinctive features of the English Renaissance

　　The Civil Wars and their consequences

　　The Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell

　　The Restoration and Glorious Revolution

　　5. Rise and Fall of the British Empire

　　Whigs and Tories

　　Agricultural changes in the late 18th century

　　The English Industrial Revolution and its impact on the development of Britain

　　The Chartist Movement and its consequences

　　The building of the British Empire

　　Britain and the First World War

　　Britain and the Second World War

　　Postwar Britain

　　Thatcherism

　　6. Government and Administration

　　The British Constitution

　　Constitutional Monarchy in Britain

　　The British Parliament and its functions

　　The British government

　　7.Social Affairs

　　Religion in British society

　　Festivals and public holidays in Britain

　　8.Cultural Affairs

　　The education system in Britain

　　The college system and the tutorial system

　　Quality papers and popular papers

　　The BBC and its programs

　　Sports in Britain

　　Major forms of art in Britain

　　二、美国部分

　　1. Population， Race and Ethnic Groups

　　Characteristics of the American population

　　Black people and the Civil Rights Movement

　　2.American History （1600-1900）

　　The 'discovery' of the New World

　　Causes of the colonization of the New World

　　The original 13 colonies

　　The American War of Independence and its consequences

　　Establishment of a federal form of government

　　Consequences of territorial expansion and the Westward Movement

　　The American Civil War and its impact on the development of the U.S

　　Rapid growth of capitalism after the Civil War

　　3. American History （1900-1945）

　　Economies growth in the early 20th century

　　Progressivism and some of the reform efforts

　　Role of the U.S. in WWI

　　Characteristics of the 1920s

　　Effects of the Great Depression on American society

　　Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal

　　America in WWII

　　4. America in Postwar Era （1945-1980）

　　Origins of the Cold War

　　The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan

　　Effects of McCarthyism of on American society

　　The postwar boom in the U.S

　　U.S. China relations （1949-1972）

　　The New Right and their Program

　　5. The U.S. Economy

　　Factors that contribute to the fast growth of the economy

　　Characteristics of the U.S. economy

　　The importance of foreign trade

　　Problems facing the U.S. economy

　　6. Political Institutions

　　A workable form of government under the Constitution

　　Separation of powers with checks and balances under the Constitution

　　Safeguards for inspanidual liberty under the Constitution

　　Powers of the American President

　　Powers of the House of Representatives

　　Powers of the Senate

　　The judicial system

　　The two-party system and the characteristics of the two major parties

　　7. Education

　　Characteristics of American education

　　Elementary and secondary education in the U.S.

　　Different types of colleges and universities

　　The admission system in U.S. universities

　　The role of the community college

　　Continuing education

　　Education reform in the 1980s and early 1990s

　　8.Literature

　　Major American writers and their works

　　Harlem Renaissance and black writing in American literature

　　9.Holidays and Festivals

　　New Year's Day celebration in the U.S.

　　Practices of Valentine's Day

　　Easter in the U.S.

　　Independence Day

　　Halloween

　　Thanksgiving Day

　　Christmas

　　三、加拿大、澳大利亚、新西兰和爱尔兰部分

　　1. Canada

　　Canada's geography and history

　　Canada's geographical features

　　Geographical regions and their characteristics

　　The European discovery of Canada

　　The rivalry between the British and the French

　　Self-government and the founding of the Confederation

　　2. Australia

　　Australia's geographical features

　　Australia's geographical structure

　　Factors that affect Australia's climate

　　Composition of Australia's population

　　Australia's built environment

　　Political spanisions in Australia

　　3. New Zealand

　　New Zealand's geography

　　Characteristics of New Zealand's climate

　　Native plants and animals

　　Historical background of New Zealand

　　The Treaty of Waitangi 1840

　　Characteristics of Maori culture（Maoritanga）

　　4. Ireland

　　Ireland's geographical features

　　Climate in Ireland

　　Ethnic composition of Ireland

　　Languages in Ireland

　　Irish Catholicism

　　Conflict between the English and the Irish

　　The issue of Northern Ireland