英美国家文化学习心得

教育信息与技术学院 吴利平

这学期，我选了英美国家文化这门选修课，一开始，我就发现这门课跟我的口语课——英美国家概括很类似，老师都是讲一些关于说英语国家的东西，但是我发现两位老师有着完全不同的教学方法。口语课老师注重给我们介绍许多内容丰富的关于英美国家的概况，主要是介绍英国和美国，涉及地理、文化、政治、饮食等等，我们还了解了这些国家的首都、主要城市、领导人、民族宗教、风景、语言等等许多有趣的东西，让我真的对这些英美国家十分神往，特别是对澳大利亚和加拿大。他还让我们自己讲课，目的在于让我们自己主动去了解更多关于这些国家的东西，因为课堂上能学到的东西毕竟非常有限。但是，说实在的，我真的没记住什么东西，很快就忘了，可惜啊课后也没花什么功夫。

李老师则侧重给我们讲西方思想，他希望教会我们学会用西方思想思考问题，确实，很多时候我们需要走出来，不以中国人的普遍思想，用西方的眼光来看待事情，也许我们会收获很多。很多时候，用西方的思想来处理问题确实很不错，只可惜在中国这个大国里，能这样做的人实在太少了，很多人都抱一种无所谓的态度，于是，我们就也真的无所谓了。 李老师在课堂上，给我们介绍西方国家政体、文化等的同时，结合自己了解的许多关于英美国家的事情，也结合自己了身边的现象，对比中西方思想，以全新的视角来教我们思考问题。这种授课方式，确实很吸引人，所以每周来上课的人都挤满教室，对比其他的选修课——门可罗雀，所以李老师的课受欢迎也是必然的。只可惜，上课了一个月，因为上党校，恰好时间全部冲突，每周四周五选修课，也恰好是党校时间，没办法，党校是绝对不能缺的，负责人幽默的狠话，使我不得不放弃了这个选修课很长时间，真的是十分遗憾，因为党校只有一次，这课也只有一次啊！不过还好，除了期间有两次因为科技楼考试封楼外，我还是尽量坚持去上课。每次都早早的去，因为晚了就没位子啦！不过，虽然我缺了不少课，但这堂课的目的总体还是算达到了吧，我会学着在以后的生活中去用西方思想来思考问题。就像我的室友说的，她辅修汉语言文学，她也很喜欢那位老师上课，因为那位老师也总是教他们用国外先进思想来思考问题，她说文学家就是跟着政治走的，我们从小就是看着这些书长大的，所以我们都很少有自己的新颖的犀利见解，因为我们思想都被这些文学家束缚了同化了。如果以西方思想我们来看待某件事情应该是怎样怎样的，事实又是怎样怎样的。确实，我觉得我们生活的圈子太小了，我们总是看国内的书，所以跟大多数中国人的普遍思想没什么两样，这是不应该的，作为大学生，应该走在时代前列，多看看国外的书，去看看外国人是如何评价我们的，如何评价我们的国家，如何评价我们的处事方法的。往往我们都被文学家的赞美而迷惑，不知道自己身处险境，当发现时已经是很久之后的事了。如果我们能先人一步，用西方人的思想去看待，我们国家或许要走很多弯路。

一开始，老师就给我们讲了两节课的文化，《辞海》对广义文化的解释是指人类社会历史实践过程中，所创造的物质财富和精神财富的总和。传统意义上所说的，一个人有或者没有文化，是指他所受到的教育程度。后者是狭义的解释，前者是广义的解释。李老师是这么定义文化的：A set of learned beliefs, values and behaviors; the way of life shared by the members of a society。文化代表了一个国家，它是一个国家不可取代的灵魂，真正的崛起是文化的崛起，如果一个国家丧失了自己的文化被其他的强势文化取而代之，那么这个国家无论从经济还是其他方面都成了强国的傀儡。中华民族五千年的文明，我们都是炎黄子孙，龙的传人，龙就是我们国家的一个象征。目前，听到一些很可笑的事，我记得说过孔子也有4分之1是韩国血统，韩国人怎么能把孔子和李白变成韩国人的？还有，韩国人称李时珍是韩国人，本草纲目为韩国人著作，甚至端午节在中国申请为非物质文化遗产时，已经被韩国首先申请

了，所以他们说端午是韩国的，说李时珍是韩国的。韩国人就是喜欢这样 ，老想着把中国的传统文化占为己有，但是他们能占得去吗？

我还记得老师给我们讲，超市买东西的事情，两根火腿，两种口味，虽然条形码不容易刷，外国人还是刷两次，中国人则麻利的乘以二，我特地注意过的，每次都是。虽然好像没什么事，钱是一样的，但确实如老师所说，库存乱了，没人知道库存还有多少，这在中国是习以为常的事，没人会去批评收银员的，但是确实是不可取的。我觉得老师很有情趣，开了网店卖花，给我们看了很多漂亮的花后，还讲了点养花小技巧，我那天听课回来就把我的芦荟好好照顾了一番，受益匪浅啊！游戏也很好玩，当然更新鲜难忘的当然是外教给我们上的一节课了，老外教到退休年纪了，可依然离开家园，来到中国黄石这个并不发达的地方继续从教，发挥余热，他的精神值得敬佩！事实上，我在学校并没有看到有几个外教，在校园看到他时，总是投去尊敬的目光。深深记得，他在课堂上的那种教学热情，这也是他说的，老师最重要的要有热情。他很有感情的朗读着，仿佛把我们带入了另一个世界，我们静静听着，陶醉着，他夸张的表情，逗得我们大笑。我还注意到，他总是在看手表，时刻把握这时间，四十五分钟，刚好一节课时间，他准时下课，这让我看到了许多与中国人不同的地方。高中我们的老师总是拖堂，甚至可以一直拖到下节课，大学老师还好，知道学生都想早点下课，但是迫于教务处的压力，也不敢提前太多下课，似乎都对这种时间观念不是很强。我倒是十分欣赏外国人的时间观念强，因为我个人就比较喜欢守时的人，早了不好晚了也不好，准时就没异议了吧！老师还给我们讲了他在外院上课的情况，按照西方的时间发卷收卷，对不及格的学生，也不另外法外开恩，确实是，学生总是心存侥幸，这样对学生不好，对一个学生留情了，还有更多的学生等着留情??还有，包括我们大学老师，说真的，有的讲课水平真的不高，上课气氛很压抑，许多学生逃课打瞌睡，我想至少大多数学生还是愿意听课的吧，所以逃课也不仅仅全都是学生单方面的问题，至少我看到有的选修课教室是满满的，我还听到同学说，她们选修课一学期下来，一直都有站着听课的人。

中国确实处处都是人情，就拿考公务员来说，要考高分外，还必须得有“关系”，中国求人办事都要送礼找关系，这似乎是中国的通病。有时我就在想，如果我们国家要能真正做到法治就好了，依法治国，不讲那么多的人情。本来应处以死刑的人，多给点好处，结果减刑到最后无罪释放了，这对受害人是多么不公平啊！类似“我爸是”的事什么时候能不再发生了呢？同样是犯人，家里有钱，多给点好处送点礼，在监狱里日子可能就好过多了，这是同学讲的她家亲戚的真实事情。如果我们真能做到法治，不讲那么多人情，所有人一视同仁，我们是不是也能像新加坡那样发展得那么快呢？也许不是，新加坡的“鞭刑”听起来令人胆战心惊，似乎很残酷，但是确实起着一定的作用的，美国少年在新加坡受鞭刑(19xx年)，就连克林顿总统说情，新加坡当局也没有宽容。这个，在中国是绝对做不到的。

对于美国，想必一直是我们关注的焦点，世界上最强的国家，联邦政府，现任总统黑人奥巴马，我们还喜欢看美国的好莱坞大片，喜欢过西方的节日，圣诞节、情人节、愚人节、母亲节以及即将到来的父亲节，这些甚至似乎比自己本国的传统节日更受青年人欢迎。我对老师讲的英国政治感兴趣，英国人分为高级阶层、中级阶层、工人阶层，我们当然相比处在最后一个阶层了，所以要努力奋斗！英国实行君主立宪制以及议会民主制，同中国的少数服从多数类似。英国女王伊丽莎白二世，是英国世袭国家元首，除英国外，女王同时也是澳大利亚、新西亚、加拿大等17个英联邦国家的元首，女王宫殿白金汉宫，由于需要经费，聪明的女王决定，近十年来，白金汉宫这最古老最豪华的部分，允许世界各国的游客在夏季进入参观，所以很佩服这位85岁得女王。在英国，君主是世袭制的，而贵族则分为世袭制和

终身制，世袭制只传男不传女，终身制是对那些做出巨大贡献的杰出人才的，可男可女，但是不能传。

随着当今科技的发展，国家与国家间的交流也逐渐加深，英国、美国作为两大经济大国，带动着整个世界的进步，他们的文化也逐渐扩散开来。中国作为一个发展中的大国，受到英美文化的极强渗透。我们应当关注这种文化渗透现象，学习英美文化，并将其与中国文化和谐融合，使这种世界性的文化融合趋势良性影响我们的生活，使其促进国家的发展，这是我们义不容辞的责任。

第二篇：英美国家文化概况

判断题（红为对）

UK

U1

1. The United Kingdom is located in northern Europe.

2. The United Kingdom consists of four political divisions — England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

3. England is one of the two large islands in the British Isles.

4. The British Isles are made up of three large islands and hundreds of small ones.

5. Wales lies on the east coast of the island of Great Britain.

6. The Commonwealth of Nations is a free association of independent countries that all used to be colonies of Britain.

7. In Scotland, rugged mountains, green valleys, and deep, blue lakes provide some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe.

8. The longest river in Britain is the Thames. 9. The largest lake in Britain is the Lough Neagh in northwest England.

10. Britain’s climate is influenced by the Gulf Stream, a warm ocean current that sweeps up from the equator and flows past the British Isles.

U2 1. The English, the Scots, and the Welsh are Anglo-Saxons, but the Irish are Celts.

2. London and England as a whole have great influence over the rest of the United Kingdom because of their large population.

3. People of Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi origin are the largest group of immigrants

in Britain.

4. Compared to the rest of the world, the UK has a smaller percentage of older people and a higher percentage of younger people.

5. The Welsh language is the official language in Wales. 6. Scottish Gaelic is the official language in Scotland.

7. The English language is the predominant language in Northern Ireland.

8. English people all strive to free themselves of regional or local accents in order to sound like educated English-speaking people. 9. Social class in the UK lays more emphasis on money and property.

10. Britishness is associated with political, historical, technological, sporting, and cultural achievements in Britain.

U3

1. The first Roman invasion took place in 43 AD, headed by the Emperor Julius Caesar.

2. The name “England” derived from the Angles, one of the Germanic tribes who came to England in the 5th and 6th centuries.

3. The Magna Carta defined the King’s feudal rights, preventing him from arbitrarily collecting revenue. 4. The Black Death once ravaged England, carrying off three fourths of the population.

5. During Edward III’s reign, the war with France known as the Hundred Years’ War began.

6. The Wars of the Roses were in the main a great contest for Crown between the rival houses of York and Lancaster.

7. Queen Mary was a follower of the Church of England and she was determined to make England once again a Protestant country.

8. James’ son, Charles I, who succeeded him in 1625, also thought that his right to rule was God-given.

9. The establishment of the British East India Company in 1600 was a case of economic penetration. U4

1. Although the monarch does not have any real power, he (or she) does have great influence.

2. Britain does not have a written constitution.

3. Each Member of Parliament represents a constituency, and holds his seat during the life of a Parliament.

4. The House of Lords is the second chamber where changes in law can be made.

5. The party which wins the second largest number of seats in the House of Lords becomes the official Opposition.

6. Ministers are appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.

7. The two major parties in Britain today are the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democratic Party.

8. Ministers in Britain cannot be elected Members of Parliament at the same time. U5

1. Although Britain is a unitary state, it does not have a single legal system.

2. A Magistrates’ Court sits with a jury.

3. In Scotland, all appeals are heard by three or more judges of the High Court of Justiciary.

4. Officers in Great Brain do not normally carry firearms.

5. London’s Metropolitan Police Force is directly under the control of the Lord Chancellor.

6. The main courts of civil jurisdiction in England and Wales are the County Courts.

7. House of Lords is the court of last resort for most instances of UK law. 8. Lord Chancellor is the highest court officer in Britain.

9. Unless the case with which an arrested person is charged is very serious, he will usually be granted bail if he cannot be brought before the court within a day.

10. If a person is charged with murder, and has insufficient means, he must be granted legal aid. U6

1. A century ago the British economy was among the strongest in the world.

2. John Maynard Keynes was an influential American economist.

3. A strong opponent of the policies of the Labor Party, Margaret Thatcher worked to increase government control over the British economy.

4. In Britain service industries account for about two-thirds of its gross domestic product.

5. The area between London and South Wales is often referred to as Britain’s “Silicon Glen”. 6. Britain imports chiefly manufactured products and exports mostly raw materials.

7. Most of the United Kingdom’s trade is with other developed countries, especially other members of the European Union.

8. The value of Britain’s exports of goods usually exceeds the value of its imports.

9.Today, the City of London is the centre of London where government departments are located.

10．The trade union movement in Britain is becoming stronger these years because of changes in the structure of employment. U7

1. The National Health Service (NHS) provides for every resident, regardless of income, a full range of medical services.

2. The National Health Service (NHS) is now a largely free service.

3. Social services authorities give help to families facing special problems.

4. Social security benefits are increased annually in line with percentage increases in retail prices.

5. General Practitioners receive fees based on the number of individuals who register with them as patients.

6. In Northern Ireland, the needs of those in difficulty are met by local authorities, who draw upon funds provided by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

7. Eye tests and dental treatments in NHS hospitals are free of charge.

8.Personal social services refer to the provision of financial support for the people in difficulty.

9.Most British people now live in detached houses.

U8

1. In the UK, more than half of the Christians attend worship on a regular basis.

2. Christianity was first introduced into Britain by St. Augustine in the 6th century.

3. Under the Act of Settlement 1701, the British monarch is required to be a member of the Church of England.

4. The Supreme Governor of the Church of England is the Archbishop of Canterbury. 5. Canterbury Cathedral is used for the Coronation of all British Monarchs.

6. In 1994 the first women were ordained as priests in the Anglican Church.

7. The Church of Scotland is the established church in Scotland and is subject to state control. 8. The Baptist Union of Great Britain is the largest of the Free Churches in Britain.

9.The UK has the second largest Jewish community in Western Europe.

10.Since the United Kingdom guarantees its citizens religious freedom without interference from the state or the community, religion in Britain is separated from politics. U9

1. Parents are required by law to ensure that their children receive compulsory full-time education between the age of 5 and 16.

2. Most of the state secondary school population in Great Britain attends comprehensive schools.

3. Thanks to the 1988 Education Reform Act, the UK has since provided universal and free state primary and secondary education.

4. The Secretary of State for Education is responsible for education in the UK.

5. The Department of Education and Science is primarily responsible for public spending on schools.

6. In the UK, public schools are publicly-funded schools.

7. Universities and higher education colleges enjoy academic freedom, appoint their own staff, award their own degrees, decide which students to admit and are financially self-reliant.

8. In the UK, most undergraduate (bachelor’s) degrees take three years to complete.

9. The Open University was intended to give opportunities to adults who have been unable to take conventional higher education.

10.More than 70 British citizens have been awarded the Nobel Prize in science, second only to the United States.

U10

1. People in the UK spend most of their free time in the pub.

2. The Royal National Theatre often performs in Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace.

3. With the emergence of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and the Who, British popular music led the world from the early 1980s.

4. The British Library, the national library, is one of the world’s three largest.

5. The UK’s biggest-selling newspaper is The Times.

6. The Channel 4 is state-owned, though it operates in a commercial way.

7. The national sport of the UK is rugby.

8. Cricket is popular in all the four home nations.

9. Golf was born in Scotland.

10. Tennis is the highest profile sport for the two weeks of the Wimbledon Championships.

USA

U1

1. The United States stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east.

2. The Mississippi river is the longest river in the United States.

3. The Appalachian region is both complicated and varied, containing some of the highest mountains in North America, but also a vast expanse of intermontane basins, plateaus, and isolated ranges.

4. Western Washington and Oregon receive plenty of rain and central California is noticeably drier in winter.

5. New England is sometimes called the birthplace of America. 6. Washington D. C. is located in the Southern States Region.

7. Many Southerners have a strong sense of regional loyalty and take pride in the South’s history and tradition.

8. The Midwestern States Region is a vast area of generally flat land that covers much of the center of the United States.

9. Las Vegas and Reno stand out as “American dreamland”, for they primarily find wealth through the gambling and entertainment industries.

10. Hawaii has the largest land area of all the states, and Alaska has one of the smallest land areas.

U2

1. The first English colony in America was founded at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607.

2. The early British settlers organized the east coast of North America into 17 colonies.

3. When many thousands of Southerners saw the triumph of Abraham Lincoln in the 1860 election as not simply a political defeat but also a threat to all southern institutions and the southern way of life, they decided to secede from the Confederacy.

4. The Progressive Movement was a well-organized, unified movement, demanding government regulation of economy and social condition.

5. The Stock Market collapse occurred in 1928 in the United States.

6. The Marshall Plan refers to the military and economic aid to Greece and Turkey in the 1950s.

7. Nixon was the second President in American history who resigned.

8. The black-white racial chasm in post-Civil-Rights-Movement America was highlighted by the savage beating of Martin Luther King by white police officers in 1992.

U3

1. In the United States, the major source of population growth is the rising birth rate. 2. In the United States, the largest minority group is the African-American group.

3. In the United States, the fastest-growing group is the Asian-American group. 4. Native Americans have a low school dropout rate.

5. The three major Hispanic groups are the Mexican-Americans, the Puerto Ricans and the Cuban-Americans.

6. The Puerto Ricans are American citizens.

7. The first Asians to arrive in the United States in significant numbers were the Japanese.

8. Today the Indians are only allowed to live on reservations.

9. Traditionally, the mainstream Americans were

U4

1. The Constitution of the United States, after its adoption, has never been revised.

2. According to the Constitution, the federal government is responsible for addressing questions that affect the nation as a whole as well as individual states.

3. Separation of power is designed to prevent the government from being too strong.

4. The U.S. government is divided into four branches: the legislative, the presidency, the bureaucracy and the judiciary.

5. The Supreme Court has the right to declare laws and actions of the federal, state, and local governments unconstitutional.

6. Candidates for the presidency can only be chosen from political parties.

7. The U.S. President has great executive power but no legislative power.

8. Congressmen serve a term of six years while Senators serve a term of two years.

9. The Democrats are thought of as associated with business, Anglo-Americans, and the rich.

10. The number of Senators from each state is based upon its population.

U5

1. Since the U.S. economy is based on free enterprise, there is little government involvement in the economy.

2. The United States is the world’s leading maker of industrial goods.

3. In the 18th century, the New England colonies specialized in producing tobacco from

plantations.

4. While most Americans embraced the idea of money-making and held successful businessmen in great admiration, they resented big businesses monopolizing any industry in any form. 5. By 1956, a majority of U.S. workers held blue-collar rather than white-collar jobs.

6. Many urban Americans, particularly Blacks and Hispanics, found the postwar prosperity inaccessible to them. 7. The American West is now an important region for corn and wheat.

8. While manufacturing giants such as IBM and General Electronic enjoy worldwide reputation as the pillars of the American economy, the U.S. economy is by no means one dominated by giant corporations.

9. As the number of workers employed in the traditional manufacturing industries has declined, union membership has dropped in recent years.

U6

1. In the United States, the social security system provides assistance to people with financial problems.

2. In the United States, Medicare provides virtually free treatment for all American citizens.

3. Social security is the nearly universal retirement program for Americans, with about 92 percent of people aged 60 and over receiving benefits.

4. Since 1996, welfare responsibility under AFDC has been passed to the states, which receive federal grants to run their own programs.

5. The Social Security Administration organizes the distribution of food and food stamps

through state and local governments.

6. Since government-sponsored welfare programs are essential to the needy and the poor, they are quite adequate in confronting the poverty issue.

7. Child Welfare League of America is the largest privately-funded childcare agency in the United States, providing shelter and service to homeless and runaway youth.

8. In the United States, most employees and their families are normally insured for health care through public insurance programs. 9. Medicaid program provides federal grants to states for the free treatment of the elderly.

10. In the United States, two-thirds of the housing units in the private sector are “single-family dwellings”.

U7

1. The U.S. Constitution defines the organization of a court system, including a Supreme Court and inferior courts. 2. In the United States, each state has one district court.

3. District courts are the only national courts that use grand juries and petit juries.

4. All national courts can review decisions of state courts.

5. At the national level, government prosecution is the responsibility of the Supreme Court. 6. The U.S. attorneys are appointed for life terms to the district courts.

7. Anglo-American Common Law is based on the supposed reasonable person’s view of what is right and fair.

8. In the United States, all cases should be tried with a jury.

9. A unanimous decision is needed for a grand jury to make a decision.

10. Federal crimes are mainly the responsibility of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). U8

1. Americans generally hold that everyone is entitled to education.

2. Americans believe that education is beneficial to individuals and society as a whole.

3. In the United States, public education at elementary and secondary level is free.

4. American education system is characterized by diversity.

5. According to the U.S. Constitution, education is the responsibility of the federal government. 6. There is little similarity in the education system of the 50 states.

7. The state board of education is responsible for the education policy of the state.

8. The oldest institution of higher learning in the United States is Harvard University.

9. Junior colleges offer only B.A. degrees.

10. The affirmative action program aims to help ethnic and racial minorities in elementary and secondary education.

U9

1. In comparison with other Western countries, America is less religious in terms of church attendance and financial commitment to church organizations.

2. At the time when the United States was founded, it was the Catholic branch of the Christian faith that had the strongest influence on the development of the religious climate in the United States.

3. The Pilgrims tried to create a community in which life would be guided by God’s will and deviations from His will in any shape or form would never be tolerated.

4. America became “the Kingdom of God” by the end of the 17th century.

5. In the 19th century, Americans stopped talking about the importance of religious values for their national identity.

6. According to the U.S. Constitution, church and state are separate in their role and function.

7. Historically, church and state in the United States has never interacted to each other.

8. A growing trend in American religious life is that religion has become increasingly secularized.

9. In the United States, mainstream Protestant denominations have lost ground to Catholic denominations.

10. Post-war Evangelism has attempted to use its influence to restore some sense of community in a society.

U10

1. Most Americans have an ambition to own their own house on a little piece of property, but it’s difficult for them to have that ambition materialized.

2. After the arrival of the so-called post-industrial society, Americans started to move to the city.

3. Most Americans live in mobile homes which function as prefabricated housing units in stationary settings.

4. Many poor American families expect their children to find part-time jobs, especially as

they enter their teens.

5. Parties for children and for grown-ups are constantly occupying the leisure hours of Americans.

6. In the United States, high-brow arts get most of the financial backing from the government.

7. In the United States, popular culture outshines classical culture in audience size and in public influence.

8. Today’s preeminent spectator game in America is baseball.

9. American football was derived from the British game of soccer.

10. Baseball is adapted by the Americans from the English cricket to their own tastes.

Canada

U1

1. Canada is the second largest country in the Western Hemisphere.

2. Canada is bounded on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the west by the Pacific Ocean, and on the east by the Atlantic Ocean.

3. Most of the Canadian people live close to the U.S. border on the south.

4. The highest peak in Canada is Mount Logan.

5. The St. Lawrence is the longest river in Canada.

6. Canada has more lakes and inland waters than any other country in the world.

7. Western Canada consists of the Appalachian Region and the Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Lowlands.

8. The Labrador Current brings warmer air to the southeast of Canada, but its effects are limited.

9. Toronto is the world’s largest French-speaking city outside France.

10. Few French Canadians live in Ontario and New Brunswick.

U2

1. The first group of Europeans to settle in Canada in large numbers were the French.

2. Under the Quebec Act, France officially ceded New France to Britain.

3. Under the Constitution Act of 1791, the British divided Quebec into two colonies, Lower Canada and Upper Canada.

4. Reformers led by William Lyon Mackenzie were demanding an American form of government and separation from Great Britain.

5. Under the British North America Act of 1867, Canada became an independent country.

6. William Lyon Mackenzie King is Canada’s longest-serving prime minister.

7. In 1982 the British North America Act was replaced by a new constitution for the government of Canada.

8. Under the controversial Charter of the French Language adopted in 1977, French is the only official language in Quebec.

9. Conservative Party’s victory in the 2006 elections ended 20 years of Liberal Party rule in Canada and made Harper the country’s 22nd Prime Minister.

U3

1. Saskatchewan is the world’s largest producer of potash.

2. Ontario has the greatest developed and potential hydroelectric resources in Canada.

3. One-half of Canada’s wheat is grown in Alberta.

4. Canada is the world’s largest producer of newsprint.

5. Oil and gas production is centered mainly in Manitoba.

6. Canada is the world’s leading producer of hydroelectricity.

7. Quebec has the heaviest concentration of manufacturing in Canada, accounting for more than one-half of Canada’s total value of manufacturing shipments.

8. Mining industries now produce more than half of Canada’s exports.

9. In the services sector, Canada’s exports exceed its imports.

10. North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) came into effect in 1989.

U4

1. In Canada territories have more autonomy from the federal government than provinces do.

2. Since the British North America Act laid the foundation of Confederation, it formed the entire Canadian Constitution.

3. In Canada the central government exercises all powers not specifically assigned to the provinces.

4. The Canadian Parliament consists of the British monarch, the House of Representatives and the Senate.

5. The executive head of government in Canada is the Prime Minister.

6. The members of the Senate are appointed, normally by the Governor General but in effect by the Prime Minister.

7. The House of Commons in Canada is the key legislative branch, where most important

bills are introduced.

8. In Canada, members of the House of Commons are not directly elected by the voters.

9. The legal system in Canada is based on English common law and there is no exception.

10. The dominant national political parties in Canada during the 20th century have been the Conservative Party and the Labour Party.

U5

1. Canada is officially bilingual, and all services provided by the federal government are available in English and French.

2. Cultural pluralism within a bilingual framework is the essence of the Canadian identity.

3. Religion has been an important influence in Canada’s history since the earliest efforts of missionaries to Christianize the native people

4. Education systems in Canada derive from British, American, and particularly in the province of Québec, French traditions.

5. Although lacrosse is Canada’s first national game, today hockey is its most popular sport.

6. It is more appropriate to speak of Canadian cultures rather than a single national culture.

7. Canada Day commemorates the birthday of Queen Victoria.

选择题

UK

U1

1. The British Isles are made up of _______.

A. three large islands and hundreds of small ones B. three large islands and dozens of small ones C. two large islands and hundreds of small ones D. two large islands and dozens of small ones

2. Which of the following is NOT a political division on the island of Great Britain?

A. England. B. Scotland. C. Northern Ireland. D. Wales.

3. Britain is separated from the rest of Europe by the English Channel in the _______ and the North Sea in the east.

A. east B. south C. west D. north

4. The Republic of Ireland was totally independent in the year _______.

A. 1920 B. 1945

C. 1918 D. 1949

5. The highest mountain in Britain, Ben Nevis, lies in ______.

A. the Highlands B. the Southern Uplands C. the Central Lowlands D. the Lake District

6. The British Empire was replaced by the British Commonwealth or the Commonwealth of Nations in __________.

A. 1921 B. 1931

C. 1945 D. 1950

7. The mountain system the Pennines(奔宁山脉) is often called the backbone支柱 of

_______.

A. England B. Scotland

C. Great Britain D. Ireland

8. The regional capital of Northern Ireland is _______.

A. Glasgow B. Edinburgh

C. Cardiff D. Belfast(贝尔法斯特)

9. Which of the following statements about the climate in Britain is NOT true?

A. Britain’s climate is of the maritime type. B. Winters in Britain are extremely cold. C. Summers in Britain are cool. D. Britain is warmer than Harbin in winter.

U2

1. The English people and the English language were born from the union of ________.

A. the Angles and the Saxons

B. Romans and the Norman French

C. Danes or Vikings and the Norman French

D. Norman conquerors and the defeated Anglo-Saxons

2. The first known settlers of Britain were _______.

A. the Iberians(伊比利亚人) B. the Beaker Folk

C. the Celts D. the Romans

3. About 80,000 Scots speak Gaelic which is an ancient _________.

A. Scottish language B. English language

C. Irish language D. Celtic(凯尔特人的) language

4. About three million people have migrated to Britain since World War II. They a

re mainly from the West Indies西印度群岛（拉丁美洲）’

India印度（南亚国家） and __________.

A. Indonesia B. Singapore

C. Hong Kong D. Pakistan

5. In Britain _______ of the population is urban and _______ is rural.

A. 90% ; 10% B. 80% ; 20%

C. 70% ; 30% D. 60% ; 40%

6. The ancestors of the Welsh威尔士人 were the ancient __________.

A. Celts凯尔特人 B. Romans

C. Normans D. Britons

7. The average population density in Britain is ______ people per square kilometer.

A. 250 B. 370

C. 800 D. 500

8. During the 5th century when the Roman Empire罗马帝国 fell, the Germanic日耳曼人

/_____/____ invaded and conquered Britain.

A. Angles and Celts B. Angles and Picts

C. Angles and Brythons D. Angles and Saxons

9. The upper class in Britain consists of the following except _________.

A. peerage B. gentry

C. landowners D. professionals

10. “Britishness” can be reflected in the following except _________.

A. Union Jack B. conservativeness

C. the Beatles D. Thanksgiving Day

U3

1. In 1066 Harold and his troops fought against William’s army on Senlac field near ________.

A. London B. Normandy

C. Standford D. Hastings

2. The Plantagenet Dynasty(金雀花王朝) was founded by _________.

A. Henry B. Henry II

C. King Joseph D. Count of Anjor

3. English Reformation was carried out by _______ to change the religion宗教 in England from Catholicism天主教 to Protestantism新教.

A. Edward VI B. Henry VIII

C. Mary I D. Elizabeth I

4. King John was forced by the barons(男爵；大亨；巨头) to sign the _______ which restricted(限制) the King’s power.

A. Bill of Rights B. Petition of Right

C. Provisions of Oxford D. Great Charter大宪章

5. Simon de Montfort’s西门孟福尔 reform is considered to be the beginning of English _______.

A. parliament议会，国会 ['pɑ?l?m(?)nt]

B. cabinet C. constitution D. liberty

6. From 1649 to 1658 England was called a Commonwealth. It was ruled first by Oliver Cromwell as _______.

A. Lord Protector护国公 B. Lieutenant General

C. Commander of the New Model Army D. President

7. William of Orange started Constitutional Monarchy君主立宪制度 by accepting _____ in 1689.

A. Bill of Rights权利法案 B. Petition of Right

C. Provisions of Oxford D. Great Charter

8. The 1851 London Great Exposition博览会 was held in the Crystal Palace水晶宫 which was designed by Queen _______’s husband Albert.

A. Mary B. Elizabeth I

C. Victoria维多利亚 D. Anne

9. The British Prime Minister who led the British to defeat Nazi Germany is _______.

A. Churchill ['t??:t?il] 邱吉尔 B. Chamberlain

C. MacDonald D. Macmillan

U4

1. The British constitution宪法 is made up of the following EXCEPT ___________.

A. Commonwealth law B. statute law

C. common law D. ancient documents

2. The House of Commons下议院（英国）is elected by universal suffrage and has about ___________ Members of Parliament议会，国会.

A. 650 B. 660 C. 670 D. 680

3. British Conservative Party保守党 was formerly called _______ Party in the 18th century.

A. Whig B. Tory

C. Liberal D. Nationalist

4. The United Kingdom is governed in the name of ___________, by ___________.

A. the King; the Prime Minister B. the Queen; the Prime Minister C. the Prime Minister; His or Her Majesty’s Government

D. the Sovereign['s?vr?n]君主；独立国；最高统治者; His or Her Majesty’s Government

5. ________ is the “supreme governor最高管理者 ” of the Church of England英国国

教.

A. The monarch/'m?n?k/. 君主，帝王；最高统治者 B. The Archbishop of York C. The Archbishop of Canterbury D. The Roman Pope

6. In Britain the citizens aged ____________ or over have the right to vote.

A. 16 B. 18 C. 21 D. 30

7. By tradition, the leader of the majority party is appointed任命 ____________ by the Sovereign in the United Kingdom.

A. Prime Minister B. Member of Parliament C. Lord of Appeal D. Speaker of the House

8.The Liberal Democratic Party自由民主党 is the combination of the Social Democratic Party社会民主党 and _____________.

A. the Conservative Party B. the Labour Party C. the Liberal['l?b(?)r(?)l] Party自由党 D. the Green Party

9. Parliament has the following functions EXCEPT ____________.

A. making law B. authorizing taxation and public expenditure C. declaring war宣战 D. examining the actions of the government U5

1、All criminal trials are held in open court公开庭 because the criminal law presumes the _______ of the accused被告until he has been proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

A. guilt B. impartiality

C. innocence['?n?s?ns] 清白，无罪 D. honesty

2. In England, Wales, and Northern Island, people between the age of _________ and 70 whose names appear on the electoral register are liable for jury service and their names are chosen at random.

A. 18 B. 19 C. 20 D. 21

3. The jury consists of ordinary, independent citizens summoned by the court: 12 in England, Wales and Northern Island, and _______ in Scotland.

A. 12 B. 13 C. 14 D. 15

4. Whether the accused is guilty or innocent is decided by _________.

A. the policemen B. the jury陪审团 C. the judge D. the sheriff

5. The ultimate court of appeal in civil cases throughout the Scotland is ____.

A. the Supreme[su?'pri?m]至高 Court[k??t] 法院 of the United Kingdom英国的最高法院

B. the Court of Appeal

C. the High Court of Justiciary D. the House of Lords

6. In England and Wales the highest judicial appointments最高司法任命 are made by the Queen on the advice of ________.

A. the Lord Chancellor B. the Home Secretary

C. the Prime Minister D. the Attorney General

7. Criminal cases in England and Wales may NOT be tried in ____________.

A. the Magistrates’ Court B. the Court of Appeal C. the High Court高等法院 D. the Crown Court

8. The three “lay” magistrates地方法官 that make up a Magistrates’ Court治安法庭 in Britain are known as _________.

A. Justices of the Peace太平绅士 B. stipendiary magistrates

C. Justices of Law D. part-time magistrates

9. The most serious criminal offences in Scotland are tried in __________.

A. the District Court B. the Sheriff Court

C. the High Court of Justiciary高等法院法官的最高法院 D. the Crown Court U6

1. The economic policy Britain pursued in the 1950s and 1960s was based on the theory of _______.

A. Adam Smith B. John Maynard Keynes凯恩斯（英国经济学家）

C. Margaret Thatcher D. Karl Marx

2. Under Margaret Thatcher撒切尔（夫人）（英国前首相） Britain experienced ______.

A. economic recession B. economic expansion经济扩张

C. economic decline D. economic depression

3. Which of the following is NOT true of Britain’s agriculture英国的农业?

A. British farming is highly mechanized B. Agriculture in Britain is intensive.

C. British farming is very efficient.

D. Britain’s agriculture can produce enough food for its people.

4. In Britain less than ________ of the population are farmers.

A. 2% B. 4% C. 6% D. 10%

5. In the ______ Britain became a net exporter of oil一个石油净出口国

A. 1960s B. 1970s C. 1980s D. 1990s

6. To stimulate economic recovery刺激经济复苏, the Thatcher Government carried out all the following policies but ______.

A. privatization B. interventionism[,int?'ven??niz?m]干涉主义 C. deregulation D. market liberalization

7. Britain is the ____ largest trading贸易 nation in the world.

A. third B. fourth C. fifth D. sixth

8. British oil fields were discovered on the _______.

A. English Channel B. Irish Sea C. Norwegian Sea D. North Sea

9. Which of the following is not included in the new industries新产业 in Britain?

A. Microprocessors. B. Computers .C. Biotechnology. D. Motor vehicles机动车辆 U7

1. The National Health Service (NHS) 国民医疗服务制度 was established in the United

Kingdom in _________.

A. 1946 B. 1947 C. 1948 D. 1949

2. ________ is directly responsible for the NHS.

A. Local government B. Central government中央政府

C. Voluntary organizations D. Certain social boards

3. In Britain, children up to the age of低于 ______ can

receive接收 family allowances津贴 for children.

A. 11 B. 12 C. 15 D. 16

4. In Britain, pensions for the elderly, or retirement benefits退休金, begin for women at the age of ________.

A. 50 B. 55 C. 60 D. 65

5. In England the NHS is managed by the ________.

A. Department for Work and Pensions B. Department of Health卫生署

C. Social Security Agency D. Social Services Department

6. The National Health Service in Britain provides a full range of各种 medical services for _______.

A. employees B. residents aged between 18-60

C. every resident['rez?d(?)nt]居民 D. residents aged over 60

7. Social Security社会保险，社会保障 in the UK is the government’s most expensive program, costing _____ of public funding提供资金.

A. 20% B. 25% C. 30% D. 35%

8. A family doctor家庭医师 in Britain is also known as a ______.

A. general doctor B. general pharmacis

C. general普通的 practitioner全科医师 D. family practitioner

9. In 2001 people in marriage accounted婚姻中 for ____of the adult population in Britain在英国的成年人.

A. 60% B. 55% C. 50% D. 45%

10. Houses have traditionally been divided into划分为 following types EXCEPT ______.

A. detached house B. semi-detached house

C. terraced house D. attached house相连屋 U8

1. ________ is the largest of the Free Churches.

A. The Baptists B. The Methodist Church

C. The Roman Catholic Church D. The Church in Wales

2. Established Churches in Britain are ___________.

A. Church of England and Church of Wales B. Church of Wales and Church of Scotland

C. the Anglican Churches D. Church of England and Church of Scotland

3. The Free Churches do NOT include _________.

A. the Church of England B. the Methodist Church

C. the Baptist Church D. the United Reformed Church

4. The principal non-Christian communities in Britain are _______.

A. the Moslems B. the Buddhists C. the Hindus D. the Jews

5. The Church of Scotland is a ________ church.

A. Methodist B. Baptist C. Presbyterian D. Catholic

6. In Great Britain, the ___________ is uniquely related to the Crown.

A. Church of England B. Church of Scotland

C. Church of Ireland D. Church of Wales

7. The members of _______ in Britain have also been known as dissenters or nonconformists.

A. the Anglican Church B. the Church of England

C. the Roman Catholic Church D. the Free Churches

8. The Church of England has two provinces. They are ________.

A. Canterbury and York B. London and York

C. Durham and Canterbury D. London and Winchester

U9

1. There are some _______ universities in Britain, including the Open University.

A. 70 B. 80 C. 90 D. 100

2. The Universities of Oxford and Cambridge date from the _____________ centuries.

A. 12th and 13th B. 13th and 14th

C. 14th and 15th D. 15th and 16th

3. The usual age for transfer from primary to secondary schools is _____________ in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

A. 14 B. 13 C. 12 D. 11

4. In Britain, private schools are often called ______.

A. comprehensive schools B. grammar schools

C. secondary modern schools D. independent schools

5. In Britain, higher education is usually defined as advanced courses of a standard higher than ________ or equivalent.

A. GCE O-Level B. GCE A-Level C. GCE AS-Level D. GCSE

6. In Britain, education at primary levels emphasizes the following EXCEPT ____________.

A. reading B. writing C. arithmetic D. science

7. The following universities belong to “red-brick” universities EXCEPT _________.

A. University of Leeds B. University of Liverpool

C. University of Manchester D. University of Glasgow

8. The leading scientific society in Britain is ________.

A. the British Association for the Advancement of Science

B. the Royal Institution

C. the British Academy D. the Royal Society

U10

1. The largest and the most important museum in Britain is ____________.

A. the British Museum B. the Victoria and Albert Museum

C. the Imperial War Museum D. the National Gallery

2. Britain’s most popular pastime is ____________.

A. reading newspaper B. watching TV C. playing football D. horse racing

3. The Times is a ____________ newspaper in Britain.

A. quality daily B. popular daily C. quality Sunday D. mid-market daily

4. The Daily Mirror is a _________ newspaper in Britain.

A. quality daily B. popular daily C. popular Sunday D. mid-market daily

5. Football has its traditional home in ___________.

A. England B. Scotland C. France D. Italy

6. _____________ is the most typical English sports.

A. Football B. Rugby C. Cricket D. Horse racing

7. Of the following four sports, _____________ has the longest history.

A. cricket B. golf C. football D. rugby

8. The Beatles was a band formed by four boys from _________.

A. Manchester B. Liverpool C. London D. Edinburgh

USA

U1

1. The United States of America is the ____________ country in the world in size.

A. largest B. second-largest C. third-largest D. fourth-largest

2. ____________ extend from the northern tip of Maine southwestern to Alabama.

A. The Rocky Mountains B. The Appalachian Highlands

C. The Coast Mountains D. The Blue Mountains

3. The climate of the United States is influenced by ____________.

A. the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans B. the Gulf of Mexico

C. the Great Lakes D. All of the above

4. What is the leading commercial crop of the south?

A. Cotton. B. Tobacco. C. Sugar cane. D. Rice.

5. What Midwestern city is the automobile capital of the world?

A. Chicago. B. Detroit. C. Milwaukee. D. Cleveland.

6. One of the most important lakes in the United States is _________, which is the largest fresh water lake in the world.

A. Lake Superior B. Lake Michigan C. Lake Huron D. Lake Ontario

7. New England lies in __________ of the United States.

A. the northern part B. the southern part C. the northeastern part D. the southeastern part

8. The southern part of the Pacific coast in California has a ___________ climate.

A. subtropical B. continental desert C. maritime D. Mediterranean

9. The smallest state in the United States is ___________.

A. Washington B. Rhode Island C. Hawaii D. Maryland

10. In the United States, the largest city along the Pacific coast is ___________.

A. Los Angeles B. San Francisco C. Seattle D. Portland

U2

1. The British established 13 colonies along _________.

A. the west coast of North America B. the west coast of South America

C. the east coast of North America D. the east coast of South America

2. In the early 1850s, with the westward movement, the slavery became a serious political issue endangering the unity of the country because _________.

A. whether or not slavery would expand into the future states formed as a result of the westward movement would affect the balance of power in the Senate

B. the South insisted that slavery should be allowed to spread into all new territories

C. the North refused to let slavery spread into new territories

D. the North wanted to put an end to slavery

3. The Progressive Movement wanted to ________ in order to stop big business control.

A. initiate strict government regulation

B. have the government fix prices

C. break up all the big businesses D. do away with rebates

4. The 1920s in the United States has been described as a period of ____________ .

A. cultural revival B. loss of purpose C. development in science and technology

D. material success and spiritual frustration

5. The serious economic crisis in the late 1920s and 1930s was first brought about by _____________.

A. bank failures B. serious unemployment C. farm foreclosures D. the stock market crash

6. The purpose of the New Deal measures was to __________.

A. save American democracy and the capitalist system

B. check the worsening of the economic situation

C. help people tide over the difficulty

D. increase American export

7. On June 5, 1947, ________ suggested that the U.S. should offer economic aid to Western Europe so as to protect the region from Soviet expansion.

A. George Marshall B. Franklin D. Roosevelt

C. George Kennan D. Harry Truman

8. At the time of Cuban Missile Crisis, the President of the U.S. was ____________.

A. Truman B. Eisenhower C. Kennedy D. Johnson

9. New Frontier and Great Society were programs initiated by _______.

A. President Kennedy B. President Johnson C. Presidents Kennedy and Johnson respectively D. Presidents Johnson and Kennedy respectively

10. The conservatism during Reagan’s administration was known as _____________.

A. the New Left B. the New Right

C. the New Frontier D. the New Freedom

U3

1. The current situation of African-Americans presents _______.

A. a favorable picture B. a negative picture

C. a mixed picture D. a positive picture

2. Although discrimination has been legally abolished, ________.

A. discrimination in employment still exists

B. discrimination in university admission still exists

C. poverty rate of the blacks is the highest among all racial and ethnic groups

D. inequality and subtle discrimination still exist

3. The Cuban-Americans mainly live in ______.

A. Florida B. Texas C. Louisiana D. Alabama

4. Some people say Asian-Americans owe their success to the Asian tradition of the following EXCEPT ________.

A. family B. hard work C. education D. discrimination

5. Now about 80% to 90% of immigration to the United States is from _______.

A. Asian and Hispanic countries B. African countries

C. European countries D. Central and South American countries

6. The first immigrants in American history came from __________.

A. England and the Netherlands B. Ireland C. West Germany D. East Europe

7. Among the major Hispanic groups in the United States, the largest group is _______.

A. the Puerto Ricans B. the Mexican-Americans

C. the Cuban-Americans D. the Central and South American immigrants

8. Among the major Hispanic groups in the United States, ________ have the highest social status.

A. the Chicanos B. the Cuban-Americans

C. the Puerto-Ricans D. the Latin American immigrants

9. The Native Americans are __________.

A. the Indians B. the whites C. the blacks D. the Hispanics U4

1. The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in ________.

A. all kinds of cases B. cases involving foreign citizens

C. cases involving a state D. Both B and C

2. Political parties are the basis of the American political system, _________.

A. but there is no provision in the Constitution for political parties

B. and the Constitution has clear provision

C. but the founding fathers had strong apprehension of political parties

D. Both A and C

3. The two major parties today have ______ differences in policy concentration.

A. no B. little C. some D. great

4. The writers of the Constitution worked out the checks and balances in order to _______.

A. prevent the government from misusing its power

B. prevent the government from being strong

C. pacify those who opposed the Constitution

D. meet the demands of small states

5. The President of the United States is elected _____.

A. indirectly by the electors B. by Congress

C. directly by the voters D. None of the above.

6. U.S. President can serve ________ term(s).

A. only one B. two C. more than two D. as many as four

7. The U.S. President’s appointments have to be approved by ________.

A. the House of Representatives B. the Senate

C. the Cabinet D. the Supreme Court

8. The Supreme Court of the United States consists of one Chief Justice and ______ Associate Justices.

A. 6 B. 7 C. 8 D. 10

9. The two major political parties in the United States are _______.

A. the Democratic Party and the Labor Party

B. the Federalist Party and the Democratic Party

C. the Federalist Party and the Republican Party

D. the Democratic Party and the Republican Party

10. The U.S. Congress has the power to override the president’s veto by a _____ majority.

A. 2/3 B. 3/4 C. 3/5 D. 4/5

U5

1. The United States ranks ________ in the world in the total value of its economic production.

A. first B. second C. third D. fourth

2. The following are the factors that have contributed to the development of the U.S. economy EXCEPT __________.

A. the vast space and resources of the land

B. the ideals of freedom and economic opportunity

C. English as its national language

D. hard work by the people

3. What is America’s most important food crop?

A. Corn. B. Rice. C. Barley. D. Oat.

4. Service industries account for more than _________ of the U.S. gross domestic product.

A. a third B. half C. two thirds D. three fourth

5. The westward expansion is a demonstration of American ________.

A. individualism B. patriotism C. liberalism D. expansionism

6. Hamilton believed that the United States should pursue economic growth through the following EXCEPT ________.

A. shipping B. manufacturing C. banking D. slavery

7. With the arrival of the 20th century, the United States became increasingly urbanized, particularly in the_________ cities.

A. Northeast B. Northwest C. Southeast D. Southwest

8. The American South is a center of the following traditional crops EXCEPT _________.

A. tobacco B. corn C. cotton D. wheat

9. As the world’s leading maker of industrial goods, the U.S. now produces around _________ of the world’s industrial products.

A. 20% B. 25% C. 30% D. 35%

10. In the United States, the following areas tend to specialize in high-tech and computer industries EXCEPT ________.

A. Northeast B. Midwest C. Northwest D. Southwest U6

1. The American social security system includes the following programs EXCEPT _________.

A. OASDHI B. Medicare C. Medicaid D. Unemployment Compensation

2. Americans may start receiving their pensions at the age of _________.

A. 55 B. 60 C. 65 D. 70

3. The main federal welfare programs in the USA consist of the following programs EXCEPT _________.

A. Medicaid B. AFDC C. Food Stamps D. Medicare

4. Which of the following belongs to the religious welfare organization?

A. NCH. B. CWLA. C. CCHD. D. Ford Foundation.

5. Among private foundations, which has become increasingly prominent in private charity activity?

A. Rockefeller Foundation. B. Ford Foundation.

C. Buffett Foundation. D. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

6. Which of the following statement is NOT true about American health care services?

A. A sizable number of Americans still remain uninsured.

B. The U.S. has top-quality medical facilities.

C. Medicaid covers only about 40 percent of the poor nationwide.

D. Compared with other developed countries, the United States spends less on health care.

7. According to the healthcare reform proposed during the Obama administration, the government will require most Americans to have health insurance by _______.

A. 2011 B. 2012 C. 2013 D. 2014

8. Homes and houses give Americans the following sense EXCEPT ________.

A. possession B. material satisfaction

C. personal identification D. freedom

U7

1. There are currently ________ district courts in the United States.

A. 52 B. 54 C. 92 D. 94

2. There are currently _______ courts of appeals in the United States.

A. 10 B. 11 C. 12 D. 13

3. __________ argues cases for the government before the Supreme Court.

A. Chief Justice of Supreme Court B. Attorney General

C. Solicitor General D. President of the United States

4. District judgeships are filled by the President with the consent of _________.

A. Chief Justice of Supreme Court B. Attorney General

C. the Senate D. the House of Representatives

5. Generally, the trial jury consists of _______ ordinary citizens.

A. 1－6 B. 6－12 C. 12－23 D. 23－30

6. Generally, the grand jury consists of _______ ordinary citizens.

A. 1－6 B. 6－12 C. 12－23 D. 23－30

7. The Supreme Court consists of a chief justice and _______ associate justices.

A. 7 B. 8 C. 9 D. 10

8. In the United States, people between the ages of _______ are the most inclined age group to commit crimes.

A. 11－19 B. 19－24 C. 24－45 D. 45－54

9. In some urban areas in the United States, murder is the main cause of death among non-White males between the ages of ________.

A. 11－19 B. 19－24 C. 24－45 D. 45－54

10. As a rule, the implementation of state law is carried out by the police and detectives in the city, and by _______ in rural areas.

A. sheriffs B. constables C. magistrates D. both A and B

U8

1. To many Americans, education is important because _____________.

A. it contributes to the success of individuals

B. it contributes to the strengthening of national strength

C. it prepares the young people for future development

D. Both A and B

2. In the United States, public schools at the elementary and secondary level are ______________.

A. free B. compulsory C. open to al D. Both A and C

3. American schools fall into two categories, namely, _______________.

A. public and private schools B. academic and vocational schools

C. coeducation and single sex schools D. national and state-run schools

4. In the United States, education policies are made by ______________.

A. the federal government B. the state board of education

C. local school district D. board of trustees

5. The governing board of school district is responsible for _______________.

A. the hiring of teachers and staff B. the designing of a suitable curriculum

C. the compiling and approving of budget D. All of the above

6. There is _______________ difference(s) in tuition rates between public and private

institutions of higher learning in the U.S.

A. no B. significant C. some D. not much

7. The community college _______________.

A. offers bachelor degrees B. offers associate degrees

C. offers master degrees D. Both A and B

8. Elementary and secondary education in the U.S. covers _______ years.

A. 9 B. 11 C. 12 D. 14

9. Admission to an educational institution in the U. S. is determined by ______________.

A. the institution itself B. the state board of education

C. the local authority D. the federal government

10. The following are the public policies and legal decisions emphasizing special rights for ethnic and linguistic minorities in the area of education EXCEPT _______________.

A. Bilingual Education Act B. Proposition 227

C. affirmative action program D. No Child Left Behind Act

U9

1. The Catholic faith was first brought to the North American continent by ______________.

A. the Portuguese B. the English C. the French D. the Spanish

2. The great waves of Jewish immigration started in ______________ and made the United States a major center of Judaism.

A. 1836 B. 1863 C. 1936 D. 1963

3. By the end of the 17th century, ______________ had already begun to lose its energies.

A. Protestantism B. Catholicism C. Puritanism D. Judaism

4. The First Great Awakening of ______________ provided the opportunity for a fresh reaffirmation of God’s role in directing the fortunes of His chosen people.

A. the 17th century B. the 18th century

C. the 19th century D. the 20th century

5. The Second Great Awakening of ______________ exerted a profound impact both on the scale of church membership and on the range of American sectarianism.

A. the 17th century B. the 18th century C. the 19th century D. the 20th century

6. The _______________ Amendment of Constitution states that “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

A. First B. Second C. Tenth D. Twentieth

7. Which of the following minority religions is deemed by the mainstream religion to advocate or practice kinds of beliefs against the public interest?

A. Islam. B. Hinduism. C. Mormonism. D. Zenism.

8. The following mainstream Protestant denominations have recently witnessed significant loss of members EXCEPT ________________.

A. Methodists B. Episcopalians C. Presbyterians D. Evangelists

9. Post-war Evangelicalism has made effective use of __________ to reach massive audiences.

A. telephone B. music C. television D. movies

10. Which of the following contemporary religious groups is relying upon big rallies to draw Christian men together?

A. “Saved” Christians. B. Fundamentalists.

C. Promise Keepers. D. Seventh-Day Adventists. U10

1. For most Americans, one of the first activities at home is to _______________.

A. watch TV B. do repair work C. surf on the Internet D. drink coffee

2. The following are “chores” assigned to the children in American families EXCEPT ________________.

A. washing and waxing floors B. mowing the lawn

C. keeping the car(s) clean D. babysitting

3. The following are part-time jobs expected to be done by American children EXCEPT _________.

A. mowing lawns B. delivering newspapers C. taxi driving D. babysitting

4. The following are the leisure activities outside the home for American adults EXCEPT ___________.

A. playing bowling B. playing soccer

C. attending public service activities D. attending church-related activities

5. The following are the leisure activities outside the home for American children EXCEPT ________.

A. taking lessons B. traveling overseas C. horseback riding D. swimming

6. One out of every ______ Americans donates some part of their time as volunteers.

A. 3 B. 4 C. 5 D. 6

7. The following belong to high-brow culture EXCEPT ___________.

A. classical music B. ballet C. opera D. movies

8. The following remain high on the domestic vocational destination list in the minds of most Americans EXCEPT ________________.

A. Walt Disney World B. New York

C. the Yellowstone National Park D. the Grand Canyon

9. The following are the “four major sports” in the United States EXCEPT _______________.

A. basketball B. football C. baseball D. volleyball

10. The Super Bowl is a game for _______________.

A. basketball B. football C. baseball D. volleyball

Canada

U1

1. Indigenous peoples, also called “Aboriginal”, make up ________ percent of the total population in Canada.

A. 1.5 B. 2 C. 4.4 D. 3.5

2. Canada occupies nearly all of North America north of latitude ____________ north.

A. 40° B. 45° C. 49° D. 50°

3. There may be as many as _____________ lakes in Canada.

A. 1 million B. 1.5 million C. 2 million D. 2.5 million

4. The largest lake wholly within Canada is _________.

A. Lake Superior B. the Great Bear C. the Great Slave D. Lake Huron

5. _________ is the largest river in Canada in volume of water.

A. The St. Lawrence B. The Mackenzie C. The Yukon D. The Saskatchewan

6. The largest island in Canada is ___________.

A. Manitoulin Island B. Baffin Island

C. Victoria Island D. Newfoundland

7. The following are the provinces in Canadian Interior Plains EXCEPT ________.

A. Alberta B. Saskatchewan C. Manitoba D. Quebec

8. ________ is the fastest-growing mother tongue in Canada.

A. Spanish B. French C. Chinese D. English

9. _______ were beneficiaries of the westward movement and enjoyed growth rates well above the Canadian average.

A. Ontario and Quebec B. British Columbia and Alberta

C. Saskatchewan and Manitoba D. Nunavut and Northwest Territories

10. _____________ is the first large political unit in North America with an indigenous majority.

A. Northwest Territories B. Yukon C. Nunavut D. Saskatchewan U2

1. The name “Canada” is believed to be derived from

“kanata”, an Indian word meaning ______.

A. a guitar B. a meeting place C. a settlement D. a piece of land

2. Who was the first French to discover Canada?

A. John Cabot. B. Jacques Cartier. C. Samuel de Champlain. D. Henry

Hudson.

3. Who founded the first permanent settlements at Quebec and Montreal on the St. Lawrence River?

A. John Cabot. B. Jacques Cartier C. Samuel de Champlain. D. Henry Hudson.

4. In 1774, the British passed _______ that guaranteed the French protection of their language and religion.

A. the Quebec Act B. the Treaty of Paris

C. the Constitution Act of 1791 D. the Act of Union

5. When was Canada given internal self-government?

A. In 1791. B. In 1840. C. In 1848. D. In 1867.

6. Who was the first Prime Minister of the new Canada?

A. Sir John Macdonald. B. Sir Wilfrid Laurier.

C. Robert Borden. D. Mackenzie King.

7. In 1905, ________ were carved out of the Northwest Territories.

A. Ontario and Quebec B. Manitoba and British Columbia

C. Alberta and Saskatchewan D. Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island

8. In 1967, _______ was approved by the Parliament of Canada as the national anthem.

A. “God Save the Queen” B. “O Canada”

C. “Advance Canada Fair” D. “God Defend Canada”

9. Since when has the Canadian government followed a policy of bilingualism?

A. 1969 B. 1970 C. 1976 D. 1980

10. Quebec voters narrowly rejected secession from Canada in a _______ referendum.

A. 1980 B. 1990 C. 1995 D. 2000 U3

1. Which of the following is NOT Canada’s waterway

A. The St. Lawrence. B. The Mississippi.

C. The Great Lakes. D. The Mackenzie.

2. Almost _______________ of the land area of Canada is covered by forests.

A. half B. one-third C. two-thirds D. three-quarters

3. British Columbia ranks _____________ in the productivity of forests in Canada.

A. first B. second C. third D. fourth

4. Most of the Canada’s farmland is located in _______.

A.the Atlantic Provinces B.the Prairie Provinces

C. Quebec D. Ontario

5. The following types of fish have been the most important exports from the Atlantic coast EXCEPT __________.

A. cod B. crab C. lobster D. salmon

6. Much of pre-Confederation history revolves around the competition between the French and British for control of the profitable ________.

A. mining industry B. farmlands C. fur trade D. tobacco plantation

7. Canada is the world’s largest exporter of the following EXCEPT ______________.

A. uranium B. zinc C. potash D. nickel

8. Canada is the world’s ______________ largest exporter of oil.

A. second B. fourth C. sixth D. tenth

9. Canada has just 0.6% of the world’s population, but accounts for _______ of total exports in world trade.

A. 4% B. 5% C. 6% D. 7%

10. Canada’s largest trading partner is ________.

A.Great Britain B.the United States C. Japan D. German U4

1. Canada is a federation of ______________ provinces and ______________ territories.

A. six / two B. eight / four C. ten / three D. twelve / four

2. __________________ cut the last legal tie between Canada and Britain and transferred the constitutional amending power from the British government to Canada.

A. The BNA Act B. The Meech Lake Accord

C. The Constitution of 1982 D. The referendum in 1995

3. The constitution of 1982 gathered the previous constitutional acts into a single framework and added the _________________.

A. Charter of Rights and Freedoms B. Statute of Westminster

C. Canada Act D. Constitution Act

4. Canada is divided into _______________ districts, called “ridings” or “constituencies”.

A. 105 B. 308 C. 650 D. 100

5. There are ______________ Senators in Canadian Parliament.

A. 105 B. 308 C. 650 D. 100

6. Québec has a ____________ system based on the _____________ law system.

A. criminal-law / French B. civil-law / French C. criminal-law / British D. civil-law / British

7. In Canada, general elections must be held at least once every ______________.

A. two years B. three years C. four years D. five years

8. The third party with a tradition of national support is _______________.

A. the Democratic Party B. the New Democratic Party

C. the Labour Party D. the Socialist Party

9. In 2003, the Progressive Conservatives and the _____________ merged to form a new party known as the Conservative Party.

A. the New Democratic Party B. Canadian Alliance C. Reform Party D. Liberal Party

10. Canada’s system of political parties is characterized by the following EXCEPT ______________.

A. two major parties B. one-party rule

C.division between federal and provincial party ystem

D.two-and-a-half party system

U5

1. In ______, the Canadian government adopted a

policy of multiculturalism.

A. 1969 B. 1970 C. 1971 D. 1972

2. As far as Canadian education is concerned, each province has its own system because _________.

A. education is very important to Canadians

B. education is a provincial responsibility

C. most Canadians live in towns and cities D. most Canadians speak English

3. According to _____, Canada’s health system should provide health services to all people regardless of income.

A. Hospital Insurance and Diagnostic Services Act B. Medical Care Act

C. Canada Health Act D. Canada Health and Social Transfer program

4. _______ was the first private non-denominational university to receive a charter.

A. McGill University B. Université du Québec

C. University of Toronto D. University of British Columbia

5. The federal Department of Environment was established in ______.

A. 1969 B. 1970 C. 1971 D. 1972

6. The Official Languages Act, which stated that both French and English were to be official languages throughout Canada, was passed in ________.

A. 1969 B. 1970 C. 1971 D. 1972

7. Charter of the French Language, which stated that only French was the official language in Quebec, was passed in ________.

A. 1975 B. 1976 C. 1977 D. 1978

8. July 1, which was known as “Dominion Day”, became “Canada Day” in ____________.

A. 1867 B. 1879 C. 1982 D. 1985

9. In Canada, Thanksgiving Day was celebrated on _________.

A. the first Monday in October B. the second Monday in October

C. the fourth Thursday in November D. the final Thursday in November