1.What are the two major parties in Britan?
------They are the Conservative Party and the Labour Party.
2.What is the official full name of Britain?
-----It is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
3.Who is the head of government in Ireland?
-----It is the Prime Minister.
4.Who is James Joyce?
-----He is the most well-know Irish writer of the modern period.
5.Who were the first Americans?
------They were the Indians.
6.What kind of economic system does the United States have?
-----It has a free-market economy with a dominant private sector.
7.What is bilingualism?
-----The phenomenon that English and French are the two official languages in Canada is called bilingualism.
8.What are the geographical feature of Australia as a continent?
------Australia is the flatest and lowest of the continents.
9.What are the powers the constitution confers on the House of Representatives?
------The House of Representatives has powers to make and change laws.
10.What animal is a national symbol of New Zealand?
------The kiwi is a national symbol of the country.
11.What is the Renaissance?
------Renaissance was the revival of classical literature and artistic styles in European history.
12.What are the most important journals in the U.K.?
------They are the Economist,New Statesman and Society,and Spectator.
13.Why is the Shannon River important to Ireland?
------Because it provides electricity for much of the Republic.
14.How many states are there in the United States?
------There are 50 states in the United States.
15.What is Hispanic?
------A Hispanic is a Spanish-speaking person of the United States.
16.What is the Bill of Rights?
-------It is the term used for the first ten amendments to the Constitution.
17.What is the Canada Council?
-----It is the Canadian Government’s funding agency.
18.What is Aborigines?
-------It is the term used to describe the original people of Australia.
19.What was the nature of the White Australia Policy?
------It was a discriminatory immigration policy,which restricted the non –whites to enter Australia.
20.What are New Zealand’s main exports?
------Meat,wool and dairy products are main exports.
21.What was Queen Mary known as?
------She was known as the “Bloody Mary”and also remembered as the monarch who lost the last British possession on the continent------French port of calais.
22.What did Britain become after the Industrial Revolution?
-----Britain became the “workshop of the world”.
23.What is the House of Lords made up of?
------It is made up of the Lords Spiritual and the Lords Temporal.
24.What are the two major parties in Ireland?
------They are Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.
25.What is meant by “Vietnamization” of the war?
--------It meant that South Vietnamese troops would be war-built up to replace Americal fighting force.
26.Which country is the world’s biggest producer and user of tobacco?
------It is the U.S.A..
27.Who was the only writer in colonial period still read today?
-------He was Benjamin Franklin.
28.Who was the first prime minister in Canada?
------He was Sir John Macdonald.
29.What was the convict system?
------In the convict system, the convicts were punished by being transported to remote places.
30.How is New Zealand electricity produced?
------It is produced by: firstly,hydropower;secondly,gas;thirdly,coal.
31.What is the most important established Church in Britain?
-----It is the Church of England.
32.What is the jury’s job in Britain?
------In criminal cases,it is to decide the issue of guilt or innocence.
33.Where were oil and natural gas found in Britain?
------Oil and natural gas are found under the North Sea.
34.What are the characteristics of Ireland’s climate?
-----It can be described as “mild,moist and changeable”.
35.What did the real Americal Literature begin?
-----It began after the America War of Independence.
36.Where is the president of the United States’ offcial residence?
-----The White House is his official residence.
37.What kind of history do people often say that the history of Canada?
------People often say that the history of Canada is a history of immigration.
38.What is “urban sprawl’’?
------It refers to a city that has grown over a large area of land.
39.What is the way of changing the constitution in Australia?
------The Constitution can be changed only by referendum.
40.Where is the volcanic activity in New Zealand?
------The volcanic activity can be found on the central plateau in North Island.
41.What are the three natural zones in Scotland?
------They are the Highlands in the north,the central Lowlands and the southern Uplands.
42.What was the Gunpowder plot of 1605?
------It was the most famous of the Catholic conspiracies.
43.What did the English Industrial Revolution begin with?
-----It began with the textile industry.
44.What is the capital of Ireland?
------It is Dublin.
45.Which state is the largest in the United States?
------Alaska is the largest one.
46.What is the American foreign policy in the early 1930s?
-----In the early 1930s,the American foreign policy was isolationist.
47.What is affirmative action?
------It is the preferential treatment for minorities and women in education and employment.
48.What was established in 1670 in Canada?
------The English Hudson Bay Company was established in 1670.
49.Which hemisphere is Australia in?
------It is in the Southern hemisphere.
50.Where is the capital of New Zealand?
------It is Wellington.
51.Who were the Vikings?
-----The Vikings were the Norwegians and the Danes from Denmark.
52.Which system was completely established under William in English?
-----The feudal system was completely established under William in English.
53.What are the main courts of civil jurisdiction in England and Wales?
-----They are the Country Courts.
54.When did Ireland declare itself a republic?
------Ireland declared itself a republic on April 18,1949.
55.Where is known as the agricultural capital of the U.s.?
-----Omaha is known as the argricultural capital of the U.S.A..
56.What is the most central functions of the Congress in America?
-----It is the passage of laws.
57.What is Mark Twain’s master work?
-----It is the Adventure of Huckleberry Finn.
58.Which city is Canada’s largest city?
-----It is Toronto.
59.What was Australia called in the 1950s?
------Australia was called “the lucky country”in the 1950s.
60.What do you think is the most noticeable feature of New Zealand geography?
-----It is mountains widely spread all over the country where active volcanoes scatter.
61.Which war was relatively smooth,with no bloodshed,nor any execution of the king in Britain?
------It is the Glorious Revolution.
62.What are the three periods as far as the evolution of the British economy is concerned?
-------There are steady development in the 50s and 60s,economic recession in the 70s and economic recovery in the 80s.
63.What is a constitutional monarchy?
------It is a governmental system in which the head of State is a king or a queen who reigns but does not rule.
64.What is the chief language of instruction in Ireland?
-----It is English.
65.Which are some of the biggest cities in the U.S.?
------They are New York,Los Angeles,Chicago,San Francisco and Philadelphia.
66.Who drafted The Declaration of Independence in the U.S.?
------He was Thomas Jefferson..
67.Which country is the world’s leading exporter of agricultural products?
-----It is the United States.
68.In what way does Quebec differ from the other provinces of Canada?
-----It differs from the other provinces because it has strong French culture.
69.What is nations largest and most diverse industry today in Australia?
-----It is agriculture.
70.What percentage are Maori to the population of New Zealand?
------About 10% are Maori or part Maori.
71.Where are mostly highland and lowland in Great Britian?
-----The north and west of Britian are mainly highlands,while the east and south-east are mostly lowlands.
72.What is Heptarchy?
-----By the end of the 7th century, England was divided into seven kingdoms which was,called Heptarchy.
73.What did England appear in the 18th century,which owed a great deal to the invention of machines?
-----The Industrial Revolution appeared in England in the 18th century.
74.What is the basic ethnic stock in Ireland?
------It is Celtic.
75.What does tariff protection mean?
-----It means to get higher import taxes to protect domestic production.
76.What is the full name of the U.S.?
-----It is the United States of America.
77.What is the general view of Americans on education?
-----It is that every American has the right and obligation to become educated.
78.What does Governor-General represent?
----It represents the Queen.
79.Which three periods are the history of Australia divided into?
-----They ae the arrival of Aborigines,the colonization of Australia by the British,and the Commonwealth of Australia.
80.Who was the first European come to New Zealand and What was his nationality?
-----He was Abel Tasman and was a Dutchman.
81.What were the forerunners of the Liberal Party in Britain?
------They are Whigs.
82.How many members are there in the House of Commons?
------There are 651 members in the House of Commons.
83.What is the difference between the ancestors of the English and Scots,Welsh and Irish?
------The ancestors of the English are Anglo-Saxons,while those the Scots,Welsh and Irish are Celts.
84.What is the Republican Army?
------It is a terrorist or organization dedicated to the union of all Ireland as one country under one government.
85.Which three countries have the largest populations in the world?
------China,India and the United States have the largest population in the world.
86.Who led the boycott of the bus company in Montgomery,Alabama?
-----He is Martin Luther King,Jr.
87.What is the “ Lost Generation”?
------It refers 60s young intellectuals who becames disappointed and bitter after World War II.
88.What are most industries in Canada?
------It is manufacturing.
89.Who was the first Prime Minister in Australia?
-----He was Edmund Barton.
90.What are two main islands in New Zealand?
------They are North Island and South Island.
91.Who were the Lollards?
----They were poor priests and travelling preachers who were John Wyclif’s followers in the 14th century.
92.What has the new farming been called in Britain?
----It has been called agribusiness.
93.What does the NHS provide in Britain?
----It provides the family health,hospital and specialist services.
94.Who is the head of state in Ireland?
------The head of state is the president.
95.Who were the Puritans?
----The Puritans were the members of a Protestand group in England who wanted to purify the Church of England.
96.Which three branches is the U.S. government divided into?
------They are the legislative,the executive and the judicial.
97.What is adult education also called now?
-------It is also called”continuing education” programs or “lifelong education” programs.
98.What was the consequence of the Seven Years’ War between the British and the French?
------After the Seven Years’ War, the French were forced to give up every inch of land in North America.
99.What is the role of the Senate in Australia?
------The senate has the very nearly equal power as the House of Representatives,except that it has no power to deal with money bills.
100.Education in New Zealand is free,secular and compulsory,What does this sentence mean?
-----It means that no tuition fee is paid,no school is run by religious party and every child must go to school to study.
西方人眼中的数字
生活中的数字(number)无处不在，但有写数字带有固定的象征意义。由于中西方国家文化背景和风俗习惯的不同，它的意义和用法也有很大的差异，听我来介绍一下吧。
就像咱们中国人(Chinese)偏爱数字8(eight)和6(six)，忌讳4(four)一样，西方人认为3(three)和7(seven)是大吉大利的数字，会给人带来幸福和快乐。
西方文化认为世界(the world)是由大地(land),海洋(sea)与天空(sky)三者合成的；大自然由动物(animal),植物(plant)和矿物构成,所以他们就特别喜欢3这个数字。
但是西方人认为13 (thirteen)是个不祥的数字。重大活动不安排在13号，请客避免13人入席，电影院里没有第13排和13号座位。
这是因为耶稣受难的前夜，和12个门徒共进晚餐，师徒13人中出现了一个叛徒犹大，因此，信奉基督教的民族都认为13是个不祥的数字。
国家的奥秘
拓展孩子对英美文化和历史的了解，本期学科学习给您和孩子提供了这方面的内容，欢迎查看！
“英国”的种种表达：
英国的全称是大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国（The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland），简称为联合王国，缩写为the U.K. 。英国由两个大岛组成，一个是大不列颠，另一个是爱尔兰岛北部。大不列颠由威尔士（Wales），英格兰（England）和苏格兰（Scotland）三部分组成，其中英格兰面积最大，人口最多，所以人们谈起英国的时候常常称之为England或者Britain。
国家名称和大写字母
大家一定都知道我们的祖国的英语名称是China吧！但是提到PRC，可能很多同学就不知道了，其实PRC也是中国的意思！在英语中，为了使用方便，很多国家名称都可以用几个简单的大写字母来代替，如：
PRC =the People's Republic of China中国（中华人民共和国）
CAN = Canada 加拿大
US = USA = the United States of America 美国（美利坚合众国）
UK = the United Kingdom (of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)英国（大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国）
大写字母不仅能代表国家名称的缩略形式，还有许多的用途，例如：厕所WC；世界贸易组织WTO；光盘CD等。大家不妨搜集一下，把这些有意义的大写字母都放在一起，好好领略领略大写字母的魅力吧！
西方的进餐礼仪
欧美国家(country)的餐桌大多是长方形的，男主人(host)坐在桌子的一端，女主人(hostess)坐在另一端，通常安排座位时要尽量避免两位男宾或两位女宾并坐在一起。
就餐时，身体(body)要坐得端正，身体和餐桌间距离以能使用刀(knife)、叉(fork)、匙(spoon)和饮食方便为度，手臂不要放在桌上，也不要张开妨碍别人。餐巾只用于擦嘴(mouth)和手(hands),切不可用来擦拭餐具和擦鼻涕、擦汗。用餐完毕后收起餐巾放在盘子(plate)右方。使用knife, fork和spoon时，不要弄出声音，不用时，也不要用手摆弄刀叉玩。
当一道菜吃完，或不想再吃时，就把刀和叉并排放在一起，刀叉的柄朝自己胸部。如未吃完，只是为了谈话暂时停吃，就把刀叉摆成“八”字形，这样服务员就不会把盘子收走。
女主人通常是主持整个宴会(party)的主人，大家注意她的动作。入席时，特别是小型宴会，一般总要等女宾先坐下后，男宾才坐下。男宾最好还要帮邻座的女宾拉椅子。上菜后，一般要等女主人动手吃后，客人们(guests)才吃。宴会结束时，也由她领头离席。
西方的进餐礼仪还有很多呢，学习英语时老师也会给孩子讲到相关内容。如果有机会和孩子一起吃西餐，或者其他正餐时，何不提醒孩子注意这些餐桌礼仪呢，让孩子变得更礼貌，更文雅。
在美国打的
你经常打的吗？Do you often take a taxi? 那么你们知道在美国“打的”的规矩吗？俗话说: “When in Rome, do as Romans do.”（入乡随俗）, 所以我们也要知道一些人家的风俗。
In America, if you sit ahead when you take a taxi，the driver will be very happy. 在美国，如果你坐在车前座上，司机会很高兴，他会一路上与你谈笑风生。But if you sit at the back, the driver will not say a word to you. 但是，如果你坐在后座上，司机则跟你一句话也不说。即便你主动搭讪，人家也爱搭不理的。
原来啊，如果你坐在前面，说明你把司机当作了朋友；你若坐在了后面，便表明对方成了纯粹为你服务的司机，你们就是雇佣关系了。
现在人们往往还是寻求金钱（money）以外的尊重（respect）与友谊（friendship），这看上去虽然只是个座位的问题，但却体现了人与人之间的尊重。
所以啊，如果您有机会在美国打的“take a taxi”，可要记得坐在前面啊！
感觉到了吗？学英语其实是件很有趣的事情，你可以从中了解到当地的风俗，人们的日常生活，而不仅仅是单一的词汇。英语，作为一种语言的魅力，你发现了吗？
身为时尚前沿的“潮人”，你是不是经常把“潮词”挂在嘴边呢？下面就来看看这些潮词的英文说法吧。
trendsetter 潮人
aficionado （西班牙语）/ fancier 发烧友
boney beauty 骨感美女
card slave 卡奴
school belle / campus belle （法语） 校花
school beau / campus beau （法语）校草
disco dancing 蹦迪
big gun 达人
gamer 电脑游戏迷
guru（印度语）骨灰级
house-husband 家庭主男
kept man 小白脸，吃软饭的
kept woman 二奶
kuso（日语）恶搞
Mic king / Mic queen 麦霸
metrosexual man 型男（泛指那些极度重视外貌而行为gay化的直男，型男属于其中的一种）
new-new generation 新新人类
offbeat 另类
rookie 菜鸟
shutterbug “色”友（摄影爱好者）
tour pal 驴友
sissy 娘娘腔
spend-more-than-earn 负翁
stay-at-home mom 全职妈妈
streaking 裸奔
3S lady （single, seventies, stuck） 剩女
post-80's generation 80后
all-match 百搭
belly dance 肚皮舞
bento 便当
cinemads (日语）片前广告
cosplay 角色扮演
couples dress 情侣装
doujinshi（日语） 同人志
e-book 电子书
e-zine 电子杂志
fetal education 胎教
flash sale 限时抢购
flat-share 合租
forward delivery housing 期房
glow tattoo 荧光纹身
group purchase 团购
HQ 健商
kiss and tell 名人八卦杂志
low-rise jeans 低腰牛仔裤
loose socks 泡泡袜
nude look 裸妆
Pilates 普拉提
scalped ticket 黄牛票
see-through dress 透视装
shopping spree 扫货
singelringen(瑞典语） 单身戒指
smokey-eye make-up 烟熏妆
smuggled goods 水货
sudoku（日语） 数独
tight pants 热裤
tongue pin 舌钉
nanotechnology 纳米技术
psychic 通灵
