本教材根据《高职高专教育英语课程教学基本要求》编写，在编写过程中力图符合英语教师及学生的实际需要和实际水平，做到语言通俗易懂、内容新颖、趣味性强。

本教材分为两大部分：英国部分和美国部分。每部分各分为八章，介绍了英、美两国的历史、政治、经济、教育、宗教及文学艺术等方面的基本知识，有助于学习者了解英美的价值观念及生活方式，加深对语言和文化的理解，增强对文化差异的敏感性，达到扩大知识面、巩固和提高英语水平的目的。

Part One The United Kingdom

Chapter 1 Brief Introduction to the United Kingdom  3

Brief Introduction  3

Location and Area  4

Climate  4

Topography

Rivers and Lakes  7

Mountains and Hills  8

Population  9

Languages  10

Notes  11

New Words  12

Exercises  15

Chapter 2 History of the United Kingdom  18

Early Settlers  18

The Roman Invasion of Britain  18

Anglo-Saxon Conquests  19

Viking Challenge and the Rise of Wesx  20

Norman Conquest  20

Tudor England （ 1485 - 1603）  22

The House of Smarts （ 1603 - 1714）  23

The Hanovarians （ 18th - 19th Century）  25

Two World Wars （ 1918 - 1945 ）  26

21st Century  28

Notes  29

New Words  32

Exercises  33

Chapter 3 British Politics  36

General Introduction  36

The Monarchy  36

The Parliament  37

The British Government  39

The General Election  43

Political Parties  44

The Judicial System  46

Notes  49

New Words  50

Exercises  50

Chapter 4 Economy  53

General Introduction  53

Economic Sectors  56

Global Financial Crisis Impacts upon the UK and the World Economy  60

Notes  62

New Words  63

Exercises  66

Chapter 5 Military  68

Overview  68

History  68

Structure  71

Equipment  73

Uniforms  74

Recruitment  75

Notes  77

New Words  77

Exercises  79

Chapter 6 Culture and Education  81

Introduction  81

Culture  81

Education  86

Notes  92

New Words  93

Exercises  94

Chapter 7 Religion  96

General Introduction  96

Role in History and Modem Society  97

Christianity  98

Other Religions  101

Religious Views about Social Issues  104

Notes  106

New Words  107

Exercises  109

Chapter 8 Literature and Arts  112

Literature  112

Arts  120

Notes  124

New Words  125

Exercises  126

Part Two The United States

Chapter 1 Brief Introduction to the United States of America  133

Brief Introduction  133

Location and Area  134

Climate  135

Topography  136

Rivers and Lakes  137

Mountains and Hills  138

Population  139

Languages  140

Notes  141

New Words  143

Exercises  146

Chapter 2 History of the United States  149

The Discovery of the New World  149

The Colonial Period （ 1600 - 1763 ）  149

The Independence War of America （ 1763 - 1783）  152

Territory Expansion and the Westward Movement （1789 -1849）  152

The Civil War  153

The US Imperialism and World War I  155

World War 1] （ 1939 - 1945）  156

Post-World War 11  157

Toward the 21st Century  158

The 21st Century  158

Notes  160

New Words  162

Exercises  163

Chapter 3 American Politics  165

Why Government  165

The United States Constitution  165

Federalism  167

The United States Congress  167

The Executive Branch  169

The Federal Judiciary  170

The Legislative Process  171

Voting in America  171

Political Parties  173

Notes  175

New Words  126

Exercises  177

Chapter 4 Economy  179

Introduction  179

Economic Sectors  183

Notes  189

New Words  190

Exercises  192

Chapter 5 Military  194

Overview  194

History  195

Structure of US Army  199

Personnel  200

Equipment  200

Recruitment  201

Notes  202

New Words  203

Exercises  205

Chapter 6 Culture and Education  207

Introduction  207

Culture  207

Education  212

Notes  219

New Words  220

Exercises  221

Chapter 7 Religion  223

General Introduction  223

The Principal American Religions  223

Characteristics of American Religion  228

Religion in Today's America  231

Religious Views about Social Issues  232

Notes  233

New Words  234

Exercises  235

Chapter 8 Literature and Arts  239

Literature  239

Arts  249

Notes  252

New Words  254

Exercises  255

Appendix I: Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom  257

Appendix II: Presidents of the United States  263

References  271