英语国家社会与文化简明教程(第三版)(本科教材)

Part One The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland001

Chapter OneGeography001

Section 1Position，Name and Areas001

Section 2Major Cities002

Section 3Climate and Environment002

Questions for Discussion003

Chapter TwoPeople003

Section 1The People of Britain Today003

Section 2A Mixed Race Society004

Section 3Class Structure004

Section 4Religions005

Section 5Character and Manners007

Section 6Social Norms and Etiquettes（礼仪）008

Questions for Discussion010

Chapter ThreeFamily010

Section 1Changing Values and Norms of the British Family010

Section 2Family Patterns011

Section 3Family Size011

Section 4Adoptions（收养）012

Section 5Marriage012

Section 6Divorce013

Section 7Older People013

Questions for Discussion014

Chapter FourPolitical System014

Section 1The Constitutional Monarch（君主立宪制）014

Section 2Parliament015

Section 3Government016

Section 4Political Parties018

Section 5Election021

Questions for Discussion021

Chapter Five National Economy022

Section 1General Survey022

Section 2Economic History022

Section 3Industries 025

Section 4Foreign Trade027

Section 5Welfare028

Questions for Discussion031

Chapter SixEducation031

Section 1Educational System031

Section 2Different Types of Schools in England033

Section 3Higher Education035

Section 4Famous Universities037

Section 5 Other Types of Education039

Questions for Discussion040

Chapter SevenScience and Culture040

Section 1Achievements in Science and Technology040

Section 2Research and Development in Industry042

Section 3Outstanding Culture043

Section 4Principal Arts Organizations044

Section 5Arts for Everybody044

Sections 6Museums046

Questions for Discussion047

Chapter EightBritish Literature047

Section 1The Early Writings047

Section 2Elizabethan Drama049

Section 3The Nineteenth Century Novel050

Section 4The Twentieth Century Literature051

Questions for Discussion054

Chapter NineHistory054

Section 1The Founding of the Nation054

Section 2Transition to the Modern Age057

Section 3The Rise and Fall of the British Empire060

Questions for Discussion062

Chapter TenBritain and the World062

Section 1The ThreeCircles062

Section 2Britain and America063

Section 3Britain and Europe under Brexit（英国脱欧）064

Section 4Britain and China066

Questions for Discussion067

Chapter ElevenMedia and Sports068

Section 1Newspapers068

Section 2Television，Broadcast and Radio068

Section 3Popular Sports in Britain070

Questions for Discussion073

Chapter TwelveFestivals and Leisure074

Section 1Traditional Festivals074

Section 2Leisure Activities075

Section 3Public Houses（Pubs）in Britain078

Questions for Discussion080



Part Two United States of America081

Chapter OneGeography081

Section 1Location and Size081

Section 2Physiographic Regions081

Section 3Rivers and Lakes084

Section 4Climate and Weather085

Section 5Major Cities in the USA085

Questions for Discussion087

Chapter TwoHistory087

Section 1Discovering a New World087

Section 2The Founding of the 13 Colonies088

Section 3The War of Independence088

Section 4The Civil War090

Section 5Establishing a New Government091

Questions for Discussion094

Chapter ThreePolitical System094

Section 1General Principles094

Section 2The Three Branches095

Section 3Two Parties System099

Section 4 Relations with China102

Questions for Discussion104

Chapter FourPeople104

Section 1A Nation of Immigrants104

Section 2American Way of Life107

Section 3Character and Values114

Questions for Discussion118

Chapter FiveReligions118

Section 1Religion and the USA Government118

Section 2Protestants119

Section 3Catholics120

Section 4Jewish120

Section 5Other Religions in the USA121

Section 6American Character of Religion121

Questions for Discussion122

Chapter SixAmerican Literature122

Section 1The Age of Romanticism122

Section 2The Age of Realism124

Section 3Modern American Literature125

Questions for Discussion128

Chapter SevenEducation128

Section 1Features of American Education128

Section 2Secondary Education129

Section 3Higher Education130

Section 4Financial Problems132

Section 5Standardized Tests and Their Uses132

Section 6Vocational and Technical Education133

Section 7Education and Employment in the USA133

Questions for Discussion134

Chapter EightNational Economy135

Section 1General Survey135

Section 2How American Economy Works136

Section 3Manufacturing Industries137

Section 4Agriculture138

Section 5Money System139

Section 6Foreign Trade140

Section 7New Economy140

Section 8Subprime Crisis141

Questions for Discussion144

Chapter Nine Work and Welfare144

Section 1Overview of American Labor Market144

Section 2Major Social Welfare Programs145

Section 3Welfare Reform147

Questions for Discussion148

Chapter TenMass Media and Entertainment148

Section 1 The Press149

Section 2Television149

Section 3Radios149

Section 4Movies150

Section 5Music151

Questions for Discussion154

Chapter ElevenLeisure Activities154

Section 1Traveling in America154

Section 2Sports160

Questions for Discussion163

Chapter TwelveHolidays163

Section 1Martin Luther King Day（Third Monday in January）163

Section 2Valentine’s Day （February 14）165

Section 3Mother’s Day and Father’s Day166

Section 4Memorial Day（Last Monday in May）167

Section 5Independence Day（July 4）167

Section 6Halloween（October 31）168

Section 7Thanksgiving Day（Fourth Thursday in November）169

Section 8Merry Christmas（December 25）170

Questions for Discussion171

Chapter ThirteenDomestic Problems171

Section 1Racial Discrimination171

Section 2The Gap Between the Poor and the Rich173

Section 3Health and Health Care175

Section 4Drug Abuse176

Section 5Violent Crime and Juvenile Delinquency176

Section 6Traffic Accidents178

Section 7Teen Pregnancy and Abortion178

Questions for Discussion179



Part Three Canada，Australia and New Zealand180

Canada180

Chapter OneAn Overview180

Section 1Location and Size180

Section 2Regions181

Section 3People189

Section 4Languages191

Questions for Discussion192

Chapter TwoHistory of Canada192

Section 1British and French Settlement193

Section 2Canada and the Two World Wars194

Section 3Canada since the 1960s and at the Turn of the Millennia（千年之交）196

Questions for Discussion197

Chapter ThreeCentral Canada197

Section 1General Survey197

Section 2Ontario198

Section 3Quebec199

Questions for Discussion201

Chapter Four Political System202

Section 1Canadian Government202

Section 2Foreign Influences204

Section 3Major Political Parties205

Questions for Discussion207

Chapter FiveEducation and Literature207

Section 1Education207

Section 2Literature210

Questions for Discussion216

Chapter SixEconomy216

Section 1General Survey216

Section 2Effects of the Two World Wars and the Great Depression217

Section 3Canadian Economy after World War Ⅱ219

Section 4Economy around the Beginning of the 21st Century221

Section 5Quebec Nationalism（魁北克民族主义独立运动）222

Questions for Discussion223

Chapter SevenInternational Relations223

Section 1From Junior Partner to Middle Power223

Section 2The Military Contributions and Commitments of Canada225

Section 3CanadianAmerican Relations227

Section 4SinoCanadian Relations228

Section 5Overseas Development Programs of Canada229

Questions for Discussion231

Australia232

Chapter OneAn Overview232

Section 1Size and Location232

Section 2Climate233

Section 3Population and Major Cities234

Section 4A Multicultural Society236

Questions for Discussion238

Chapter TwoHistory of Australia238

Section 1Early Colonial Period238

Section 2The Rising of a Nation240

Section 3Australia in the Two World Wars and the Great Depression242

Section 4Australia after World WarⅡ244

Questions for Discussion246

Chapter ThreePolitical System246

Section 1Australian Government246

Section 2Political Parties248

Questions for Discussion249

Chapter FourEconomy and Education249

Section 1Economy249

Section 2Education251

Questions for Discussion252

Chapter FiveForeign Relations252

Section 1Relations with UK and US252

Section 2Relations with UN and AsiaPacific Region253

Section 3Australia and China255

Section 4Australia and Other Major Countries256

Questions for Discussion257

New Zealand258

Chapter OneAn Overview258

Section 1Land and Climate258

Section 2Nature259

Section 3People and Society261

Section 4Culture and Arts263

Questions for Discussion264

Chapter TwoHistory of New Zealand264

Section 1Early Settlement264

Section 2British Colonization265

Section 3Postwar New Zealand266

Questions for Discussion266

Chapter ThreePolitical System267

Section 1Government of New Zealand267

Section 2Major Political Parties268

Questions for Discussion269

Chapter FourEconomy and Education269

Section 1Economy269

Section 2Education270

Questions for Discussion271

Chapter FiveForeign Relations271

Section 1New Zealand and the United Nations272

Section 2New Zealand in the AsiaPacific Region272

Section 3New Zealand and China273

Section 4New Zealand and EU274

Section 5New Zealand and the United States275

Questions for Discussion276



References277