Chapter 1 Land and People

1.The Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations is a free association of independent countries that were once colonies of Britain. Member nations are joined together economically and have certain trading arrangements, It has no special powers. The decision to become a member of the Commonwealth is left to each nation. At present there are 50 member countries within the Commonwealth(1991)

Chapter 2 The Origins of a Nation

2. Heptarch

It is a collective name for the seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms from the 7th century to the 9th century. They are Kent， Essex， Sussex， Wessex， East Anglia， Mercia and North Umbria. After the 9th century， the seven kingdoms were conquered one after another by the invading Danes.

William the Conqueror

He was the Duke of Normandy, In 1066,he led the Normans to cross the English Channel and conquered England. He became William I, his reign marked the beginning of the complete feudal system in England.

the Celts

The Celts were ancient people in English history. They arrived in England in about 700BC. They invaded England in three waves : the Gaels, the Brythons and the Belgae. The Celts are the ancestors of the Scots, the Welsh and the Irish

Alfred the Great

He was king of Essex， one of the seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. It was he who led the Anglo-Saxons to fight against the invading Danes and maintained peace for a long time. Alfred was not only a brave king at wartime， but also a wise king at peacetime. He encouraged education and introduced a legal system. He is known as “the father of the British navy.”

The Norman Conquest

The Norman Conquest of 1066 is perhaps the best-known event in English history. William the conqueror confiscated almost all the land and gave it to his Norman followers. He replaced the weak Saxon rule with a strong Norman government. So the feudal system was completely established in England.

Witan 贤人会议

    Witan was the council or meeting of the wisemen.It was created by the Anglo-Saxons to advise the king.It's the basis of the Privy Council which still exists today.

The battle of Hastings

 In 1066,King Edward died with no heir, the Witan chose Harold as king. William, Duke of Normandy, invaded England. On October 14,the two armies met near Hasting. After a day's battle, Harold was killed and his army completely defeated. So this battle was very important on the way of the Roman conquest.

哈罗德被威廉击败。

The Danelaw 施行丹麦法的地区

    By the middle of the ninth century, the Vikings and the Danes were posing a threat to the Saxon kingdom of Wessex whose capital was Winchester. Alfred, King of Wessex, was strong enough to defeat the Danes and came to a relatively friendly agreement with them in 879.The Danes gained control of the north and east of England(-"the Danelaw"),while Alfred would rule the rest.

协议规定丹麦人控制英格兰北部和西部（丹麦法区），而阿尔弗雷德统治其他地区。

Chapter 3 The Shaping of the Nation

1.Domesday Book

　　It is a book compiled by a group of clerks under the sponsorship of King William the First in 1086. The book was in fact a property record. It was the result of a general survey of England. It recorded the extent， value， state of cultivation， and ownership of the land. It was one of the important measures adopted by William I to establish the full feudal system in England. Today， it is kept in the Public Records Office in London.

3.The Great Charter(Magna Carta)

The Great Charter， also called Magna Carta， was the first famous political document to limit the king's powers in English history. It was signed in 1215 by King John. It contains altogether 63 clauses.

4.The Hundred Years’War

It referred to the intermittent war between France and England that last from 1337 to 1453.The causes were partly territorial and partly economic .When EdwardIII claimed the Franch Crown but the French refused to recognize,the war broke out.At first the English were successful,but in the end ,they were defeated and lost almost all their possessions in France.The expelling of the English was a blessing for both countries.

5.Joan of arc：圣女贞德

　　she was a national heroine of France during the hundred year's war，she successfully led the france to drive the English out of France.

6.The Black Death

It is a modern name given to the dearly bubonic plague， an epidemic disease spread through Europe in the fourteenth century particularly in 1348-1349. It came without warning， and without any cue. In England， it killed almost half of the total population， causing far-reaching economic consequences.

7.the peasant Uprising (1381)

Armed villagers and townsmen of Kent and Essex, led by Wat Tyler and Jack Straw, moved on London in June, 1381. The king was forced to accept their demands. Most of the rebels dispersed and went home, while Tyler and other leaders stayed on for more rights. Tyler was killed at a meeting with the king.

Chapter 4 Transition to the Modern Age(1455-1688)

　　2. the wars of Roses

　　答：After the Hundred Year's War， in order to decide who would rule England， a war broke out between the House of Lancaster and the House of York， which were symbolized by the red and white roses respectively. The war lasted from 1455 to 1485. It is usually regarded as the end of English Middle Ages.

4.the Glorious Revolution

2. The Glorious Revolution happened in 1688. It is a important event in English history. In this revolution king James II’s reign was turned down. The takeover was relatively smooth, no bloodshed, so it is “glorious”, After that a constitutional monarchy in England was established.

Blood Mary血腥玛丽

It is the nickname given to Mary I, the English Queen who succeeded to the throne after Henry VIII. She was a devout Catholic and had so many Protestants burnt to death that she is remembered less by her official title Mary I by her nickname Blood Mary.

The Bill of Rights

In 1689,William and Mary accepted the Bill of Rights to be crowned jointly.The bill excluded any Roman Catholic from the succession,confirmed the principle of parliamentary supremacy and guaranteed free speech within both the two Houses.Thus the age of constitutional monarchy began.

English Renaissance

Renaissance was the revival of classical literature and artistic styles in European history.In England the Renaissance was usually thought of as beginning with the accession of the House of Tudor to the throne in 1485.The English Renaissance was largely literary.

Chapter 5. The Rise and Fall of the British Empire

1. Whigs and Tories

　　The Whigs was one of the two main political parties originating with the Glorious Revolution. The Whigs opposed absolute monarchy and supported the right to religious freedom for Nonconformists. In 19th century the Whigs became known as the Liberal party. The Tories was one of the two main political parties in the period of the Glorious Revolution. The Tories supported hereditary monarchy and were reluctant to remove kings. The Tories were the forerunners of the Conservative Party.

2.The Industrial Revolution

It refers to the mechanization of industry and the consequent changes in social and economic organization in Britain in the late 18th and early 19tj centuries.Britain was the first country to industrialize.

2. Thatcherism:　　Mrs. Thatcher's policies were usually called Thatcherism. It included the return to private ownership of state-owned industries， the　use of monetarist policies to control inflation， the weakening of trade　　unions， the strengthening of the role of market forces in the economy，　　and an emphasis on law and order.

3 the people’s Charter of 1838 :In 1838 ,the Chartists led by William Lovett drew up a charter of political demands ,known as the People’s Charter .It has six points.the 6points were achieved gradually although the 6th has never been practical.

4 Winston Churchill :Prime Minister of Britain during the Second World War.He took over Chamberlain in 1940 and received massive popular support.He led his country to final victory in 1945.He was defeated in the general election of 1945 ,but returned to power in 1951.

第七章

1. Constitutional Monarchy

　　答：The British monarchy is known as constitutional monarchy. It means the monarchy's powers are limited by law and Parliament. The monarchy actually has no real power. Constitutional monarchy began after the Glorious Revolution in 1688.

　2. the Privy Council

　　答：The Privy Council was formerly the chief source of executive power in the United Kingdom. It's origins can be traced back to the King's Council， which in the 13th century gave the Sovereign advice on the government of the country. After the Glorious Revolution of 1688， it Gradually lost its importance. Much of its work was taken over by the Cabinet until the 18th century. Today it's role is largely formal， advising the Sovereign to approve certain government decrees， and issuing royal proclamations.

　　3. Social Security System

　　答：Social Security System is a part of welfare system which is designed to secure a basic standard of living for people in financial need， providing financial help for those who are elderly， sick， disabled， unemployed， widowed， bringing up children or on very low incomes.

4 the British Constitution: There is no written constitution in the United Kingdom.The Brithish Constitution is not set out in any single document,but made up of statute law ,common law and conventions.The Judiciary determines common law and interpret statutes.

5Queen Elizabeth II The present Sovereign,born in 1926,came to the throne in 1952 and was crowned in 1953.The Queen is the symbol of the whole nation,the centre of many national ceremonies and the leader of society.

6 an annual allowance,approved by parliament,made to the sovereign and members of the royal family for the expense involved in carrying out their public duties. 议会每年一次的津贴补助对君主和皇家成员在行使公共职务时的花费。

7The Parliament: The United Kingdom is a unitary ,not a federal,State.The term”Parliament “ originally meant a meeting for parley or discussion,it consists of the Sovereign,the House of Lords and the House of Commons.the main functions of Parliament are:1.to pass laws 2.to provide ,by voting for taxation ,the means of carryng on the work of government 3.to examine government policy and administration including proposals for expenditure;4.to debate the major issues of the day.

8 The prime Minister:is appointed by the Queen.He is also by tradition,First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service .By modern convention ,the Prime Minister always sits in the House of Commons.The Prime Minister receives 78,292(英镑) a year,and his official residence is No.10Downing Street in London.

Chapter 9

1 Boxing Day :it was formerly the custom to give”Christmas boxes”,or gifts of money ,to servants and tradesmen on this day.Today many people still give an annual Christmas gift to regular callers such as dustmen and paperboys.

2 Church of England :The most important established church in Britain .it is legally recognized as official church of the state .it is uniquely related to the Grown in the Sovereign must be a member of that Church and must promise to uphold it .It has two provinces :Canterbury and York

3 Christmas :December 25th ,the greatest of Christian festivals to celebrate the birth of Christ.it’s also a time for the family to get together :to talk ,to eat,to sing and to exchange gifts and cards

4. Easter :The chief Christian festival ,which celebrates the Resurrection of Christ ,on the first Sunday after the first full moon,It is traditionally associated with the eating of Easter eggs.

5.Remembrance Sunday :Also called Armistice Day .It’s the important patriotic festival and on the Sunday nearest to November 11.on this Sunday ,the dead of both world wars are remembered in special church services and civil ceremonies .The royal members and many important statesmen would lay wreathes to them

5 Bank Holidays :Also called official public holidays.The term goes back to the Bank Holidays act of 1871,which owes its name to the fact that banks are closed on the days specified.Bank Holidays include New Year’s day ,Christmas Day ,Boxing Day and Bank Holidays.

6 NHS(The National Health Service):it provides for every resident ,regardless of income,a full range of medical services ,The service was established in the U.Kin 1948.The NHS is based upon the principle that there should be a full range of publicly services designed to help the individual stay healthy

Lesson ten

1 GM schools—self-governing grant-maintained schools （由拨款维持的自治学校）; There is no LEA involvement. These technology colleges teach the National Curriculum, but with an emphasis on mathematics, technology and science. Some 15% secondary schools are GM self-governing schools.

2 The Open University: a non-residential university based in the new town of Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. It is so named because it is open to all to become students. Founded in 1969and began its first courses in 1970.The University offers degree and other courses for adult students of all ages in Britain and the other member countries of the European Union. It uses a combination of specially produced printed texts, correspondence tuition, television and radio broadcasts and audio/video cassettes.

美国部分

Lesson 14

.Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s: the Civil Rights Act of 1964 added protections for the right to vote, to use public facilities and to enjoy the same education as white people. It also contained provisions guaranteeing equal employment opportunities. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was meant to guarantee the blacks and others the right to vote.

Lesson 15

1. The “Great Compromise”: Great Compromise of July 16 1787,giving each state an equal vote in the Senate but making representation in the House reflect the size of each state’s population.

2.The Constitutional Convention, 1787, all states except Rhode Island; contradictions between the bigger states and the smaller states, between the industrial-commercial interests and landed interests

3.The Federalist Papers—the best explanation of the constitution; 85 letters written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay in the name of Publius

4.The Bill of Rights—first introduced by James Madison, ratified in 1791; the first ten amendments to the constitution. The foundation of the American constitutional system was completed.

5.“Manifest Destiny”—by a Democratic politician John L. O’Sullivan; its implications are three-fold: 1）, the inevitability of the founding of the United States of America; 2）, the legitimacy of the expansion of American territory; 3）, the spread of American democracy being the task of American people who were chosen to do the Lord’s work.

6.The Compromise of 1850: allowed California to be accepted as a free state, New Mexico and Utah to be organized as territories without legislation either for or against slavery and a more efficient machinery to be set up for returning runaway slaves

7. .“no taxation without representation”: This was the slogan of the people in the colonies before the War of Independence.without their （Americans’） representatives taking part in decision-making, they had no obligation to pay taxes.

Lesson 16

　　5.Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s: the Civil Rights Act of 1964 added protections for the right to vote, to use public facilities and to enjoy the same education as white people. It also contained provisions guaranteeing equal employment opportunities. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was meant to guarantee the blacks and others the right to vote.

1.The Articles of Confederation （《邦联条例》）, unusual in many ways: no king, a republic; a central government in form of a Congress, emphasis on state power; a written constitution

　　3.The Constitutional Convention, 1787, all states except Rhode Island; contradictions between the bigger states and the smaller states, between the industrial-commercial interests and landed interests.

　　4.The “Great Compromise”: giving each state an equal vote in the Senate but making representation in the House reflect the size of each state’s population. （1787，july 16）

　　8.The Federalist Papers—the best explanation of the constitution; 85 letters written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay in the name of Publius.

　　10.The Bill of Rights—first introduced by James Madison, ratified in 1791; the first ten amendments to the constitution. The foundation of the American constitutional system was completed.

7.“Manifest Destiny”—by a Democratic politician John L. O’Sullivan; its implications are three-fold: 1）, the inevitability of the founding of the United States of America; 2）, the legitimacy of the expansion of American territory; 3）, the spread of American democracy being the task of American people who were chosen to do the Lord’s work.

　　2.The Compromise of 1850: allowed California to be accepted as a free state, New Mexico and Utah to be organized as territories without legislation either for or against slavery and a more efficient machinery to be set up for returning runaway slaves.

　　1.The Muckrakers—a group of reform-minded journalists, made investigations and exposed various dark sides of the seemingly prosperous society.

2.The Progressive Movement—a movement demanding government regulation of the economy and social conditions; not an organized campaign with clearly defined goals; a number of diverse efforts at political, social and economic reforms.

4.The Paris Peace Conference: a conference of division of colonies of Germany, Austro-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire and the grabbing of as much as possible from the defeated nations.

　　3. Containment policy—George Kennan, a high-ranking official in the American embassy to Moscow, February 1946, a long telegram to the State Department; it became the official policy towards the Soviet Union until 1989.

　　1. In February, Britain, would end financial support of Greece and Turkey, which might fall into the hands of the Soviet Union. America decided to provide aid.

　　2. The Truman Doctrine: President Truman's speech, March 12, 1949: the US government would support any country which said it was fighting against Communism.

　　4. The Marshall Plan: in order to protect Western Europe from possible Soviet expansion, the United States decided to offer Western European countries economic aid; announced by Secretary of State George Marshall, on June 5, 1947; from 1947 to 1952, 13 billion USD.

5 provisions for adendment:(修宪条款）their solution was to devise a dual process by which the constitution could be changed .the amendments must have the approval of three-fourths of the states before they enter into force

　　3. “winner-take-all”（赢者通吃） system: the presidential candidate with the highest number of votes in each state wins all the electoral votes of that state; except Maine

　　4. Electoral College （选举人团）: the electors of 50 states and the District of Columbia comprise what is known as the Electoral College; the number of presidential electors is equal to the number of Senators and Representatives each state has in Congress, a total of 538 persons.

　　2.the “Knickerbockers era” （“纽约人时代”） of the American literature—the period from 1810 to 1840; New York City was the center of American writing; “Knickerbockers”.

4.The Transcendentalist （先验超验主义） movement: in 1830s and 1840s, a movement among American young intellectuals, emphasizing man's potentiality for goodness, creativity, and self-development.

　　14.The Lost Generation: young intellectuals who became disappointed and bitter after World War I.

　　1.Harlem Renaissance.: In the 1920s, black literature developed into an upsurge which has come to be known as the Harlem Renaissance.

英语名词解释