2001-2013年自考英语国家概况试卷及答案

2001年英语国家概况试卷及答案

PART ONE
I. Read the following unfinished statements or questions carefully. For each unfinished statement or question, four suggested answers marked [A], [B], [C]and [D] are given. Choose the one which you think best completes the statement or answers the question. Write the letter of the answer [A], [B], [C]or [D] you have chosen in the corresponding space on the answer sheet. (40 points, 1 point for each)

1.On the island of Great Britain, there are ________.
[A]four political divisions-England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
[B]four political divisions-England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland
[C]three political divisions-England, Scotland, and Wales
[D]three political divisions-England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland

2.The largest lake in Britain is ______.
[A]Loch Lomond
[B]the Lough Neagh
[C]Windermere
[D]Ullswater

3.Britain’s climate is influenced by _______ that sweeps up from the equator and flows past the British Isles.
[A]the Gulf Strteam
[B]the Brazil Current
[C]the Labrador Current
[D]the Falkland current

4.Langd enclosure in Ireland and the Scottish Highlands led to mass emigration, particularly to _______.
[A]Africa
[B]Eastern Europe
[C]Asia
[D]the Americas

5.Christianity was first brought to England by ______.
[A]the Romans
[B]the Celts
[C]the Anglo-Saxons
[D]the Danes

6.William, Duke of Normandy, fought King Harold of England at the Battle of Hastings in ______.
[A]1086
[B]1066
[C]1035
[D]1381

7.When Wales was brought under the English Crown, the title of “Prince of Wales” was borne by ______, the eldest son of the reigning monarch.
[A]Richard I
[B]Henry III
[C]Edward I
[D]Edward II

8.The Hundred Years’ War with France was fought _____.
[A]from 1327 to 1453
[B]from 1337 to 1453
[C]from 1347 to 1453
[D]from 1357 to 1453

9.The Black Death, which ravaged England in 1348-49, carried off ______.
[A]three fourths of the population
[B]one fourth of the population
[C]one fifth of the population
[D]one half to one third of the population

10.In England, the most famous of the Catholic conspiracies was ____.
[A]the Cobham’s Plot
[B]the Gunpowder Plot
[C]the murder of Thomas Becket
[D]the execution of Mary Queen of Scots

11.The law, which joined England and Scotland in 1707, was ______.
[A]the Act of Supremacy
[B]the Act of Union
[C]the Reform Act
[D]the Magna Carta

12.In the United Kingdom, free medical care for everyone and financial help for the old, the sick and the unemployed, which have become available since 1948, are the foundation of _______.
[A]the welfare state
[B]the National Health Service
[C]the civil service
[D]the National Insurance Fund

13.The largest state of the United States is ______.
[A]Texas
[B]Alaska
[C]California
[D]Hawaii

14.Recently most of the immigration to the United States has been from _______.
[A]Asian countries
[B]Asian and Hispanic countries
[C]Eastern European countries
[D]former Soviet republics

15.The Bill of rights is the term used for ______ to the Constitution of the United States.
[A]the first ten amendments
[B]the last five amendments
[C]the tenth amendment
[D]the most important amendment

16.The declaration of Independdence was drafted by ______.
[A]Thomas Jefferson
[B]George Washington
[C]Benjamin Franklin
[D]John Adarms

17.American presidents are elected _______.
[A]every two years
[B]every four years
[C]every five years
[D]every six years

18.On Memorial Day, a grand ceremony is held at _______ in Washington D.C.
[A]the Lincoln Memorial
[B]the Washington Monument
[C]the White House Lawn
[D]the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

19.The goal of Roosevelt’s New Deal was _______.
[A]to save the American economic and political system
[B]to change the American economic system
[C]to weaken monopoly interests in America
[D]to nationalize banks and financial institutions in America

20.The American policy towards the Soviet Union after the Second World War was ______.
[A]cooperation
[B]cold war
[C]containment

[D]impartiality

21.McCarthyism refers to the anti-Communist hysteria whipped up by Senator McCarthy _______.
[A]after W W I
[B]in the early 1950s
[C]during W W II
[D]in the 1960s

22.The earliest institution of higher learning set up in America was _______.
[A]Harvard University
[B]Yale University
[C]Harvard College
[D]Chicago University

23.The United States has less than 6% of the world’s population; yet it produces about ______ of the total world output.
[A]20%
[B]25%
[C]30%
[D]35%

24.________ was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954.
[A]Mark Twain
[B]Walt Whitman
[C]T.S. Eliot
[D]Ernest Hemingway

25.With regard to its size, Australia is ________ country in the world.
[A]the third largest
[B]the fourth largest
[C]the fifth largest
[D]the sixth largest

26.It is assumed that the first Europeans who reached Australia’s shores were ______.
[A]the Dutch
[B]the English
[C]the Germans
[D]the Spanish and Portugese

27.Frderalism is a system of government in which ________.
[A]power is given to a central government which deals with all matters of national interest
[B]power is distributed between two tiers of government, each exercising its allotted powers independent of the other
[C]a central government has no real power and it must depend on the other tier of government
[D]one tier of government must depend on the other tier of government

28.In Australia, under ______ the legislation to provide equal pay for men and women doing the same work was passed.
[A]the Fraser government
[B]the Whitlam government
[C]the Haeke government
[D]the Keating government

29.The mainly British nature of Australian society has been challenged since the third wave of migration because _______.
[A]many new migrants are unskilled workers
[B]many new migrants are not used to the Australian way of life
[C]many new migrants come from the non-English-speaking world
[D]many new migrants feel rejected in Australia

30.There is a continuing debate in Australia about ________.
[A]whether Australia should join the EEC (now European Union)
[B]whether Australia should remain a monarchy or become a republic
[C]whether Australia should develop its own manufacturing
[D]whether Australia should build its own defence

31.nearly ______ of the land in Canada has no permanent population.
[A]68%
[B]79%
[C]89%
[D]98%

32.Canada ranks _______ in the production of hydroelectricity in the world.
[A]second
[B]third
[C]fourth
[D]fifth

33.In Canada the Head of State is _______.
[A]the prime minister
[B]the governor-general
[C]Queen Elizabeth II
[D]the leader of the majority party

34.Indigenous peoples make up about 3% of the Canadian people. They are _____.
[A]Indians and Africans
[B]Aborigines and Indians
[C]Eskimos and Aborigines
[D]American Indians and Inuit

35.The most significant feature of Irish landscape is ______.
[A]bogs
[B]streams
[C]islands
[D]ciffs

36.The population of Ireland is predominantly of ______ origin
[A]English
[B]Celtic
[C]Norman
[D]French

37.________is the oldest of all the parties in Ireland.
[A]The Irish Labour Party
[B]The Progressive Democrats
[C]Fianna Fail
[D]Fine Gael

38.the Southern Alps, with Mt Cook in the center, runs almost the whole length of _______.
[A]New Zealand
[B]North Island
[C]south Island
[D]Stewart Island

39.Nearly three-quarters of the population (including more than 95 percent of the Maori) live in ______.
[A]South Island
[B]North Island
[C]Stwart Island
[D]the Chatham Islands

40.What is the New Zealand-made film which won 3 Oscars in the 1993 Academy Awards?
[A]Once Were Warriors
[B]The Piano
[C]Jurassic Park
[D]Babe-the Story of a Sheep Pig

PART TWO
II. Give a one-sentence answer to each of the following questions. Write your answer in the corresponding space on the answer sheet. (30 points, 3 points for each)
41.Why was Britain known as the factory of the world in the mid-19th century?
42.What are the established churches in Britain?
43.What does the British Parliament consist of?
44.What does WASP stand for?
45.Who led the bus boycott in Montgomery?
46.Name two of Theodore Driser’s novels.
47.When did the history of Australia begin?
48.What law made French the official language in Quebec?
49.Who is the most well-known Irish writer of the modern period?
50.How would you describe the climate in New Zealand?

III. Explain each of the following terms in English. Write the statement in the corresponding space on the answer sheet in around 40 words. (20 points 5 points for each)
51.Boston Tea Party
52.The Watergate Scandal
53.The British Commonwealth
54.The White Australia Policy

IV. Write between 100-120 words on the following topic in the corresponding space on the answer sheet. (10 points)
55.What were the consequences of the Norman Conquest?

参考答案及评分标准

I. Read the following unfinished statements or questions carefully. For each unfinished statement or question, four suggested answers marked [A], ,[C]and [D] are given. Choose the one which you think best completes the statement or answers the question. Write the letter of the answer [A], ,[C]or [D] you have chosen in the corresponding space on the answer sheet. (40 points, 1 point for each)

1. C　　　　　2. B　　　　　3. A　　　　　4. D　　　　　5. A
6. B　　　　　7. D　　　　　8. B　　　　　9. D　　　　　10.B
11.B　　　　　12.A　　　　　13.B　　　　　14.B　　　　　15.A
16.A　　　　　17.B　　　　　18.D　　　　　19.A　　　　　20.C
21.B　　　　　22.C　　　　　23.B　　　　　24.D　　　　　25.D
26.D　　　　　27.B　　　　　28.B　　　　　29.C　　　　　30.B
31.C　　　　　32.B　　　　　33.C　　　　　34.D　　　　　35.A
36.B　　　　　37.A　　　　　38.C　　　　　39.B　　　　　40.B

II. Give a one-sentence answer to each of the following questions. Write your answer in the corresponding space on the answer sheet. (30 points, 3 points for each)
41.Because the British economy was among the strongest in the world.
(or) At that time many goods were made in Britain and then sold all over the world.
42.They are the Church of England in England, and the Church of Scotland in Scotland.
43.The British Parliament consists of the Sovereign, the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
44.It stands for White Anglo-Saxon Protestant.
45.Martin Luther King, Jr. led the boycott.
46.Sister Carrie/ An American tragedy/ The Financier/ The Tiran/ The Stoic.
47.It began with the arrival of Aborigines between 50,000 and 100,000 years ago.
48.The “Charter of the French Language in Quebec” made French the official language in Quebec.
49.James Joyce is the most well-known Irish writer of the modern period.
50.The climate of New Zealand is generally temperate, but because the country runs north south, the climate is varied.

[评分标准]
1．每1小题3分。
2．内容为2分，语言为1分。一般拼写错误不扣分。如有重大语法错误或拼写错误引起误解，要扣语言分。
3．提供的答案均供参考，如考生的回答与参考答案的内容一样，应给满分。

III. Explain each of the following terms in English. Write the statement in the corresponding space on the answer sheet in around 40 words. (20 points 5 points for each)
51.In 1773, when ships carrying tea reached Boston, the governor decided to protect the distribution of tea. (2 points) Several dozen Boston residents dressed as Indians, boarded the ships at night and threw the tea into the harbor, This came to be known as the “Boston Tea Party”.(2 points)
52.The Watergate Scandal refers to the arrest of people breaking into Democratic National Committee offices who worked for the re-election of Nixon and the cover-up afterwards with the support of Nixon. (3 points) it led to the resignation of Nixon. (1 point)
53.The Commonwealth (of Nations) is a free association of independent countries that were once colonies of Britain. (1 point) Member nations are joined together economically and have certain trading arrangements. The Commonwealth has no special powers. (2 point) the decision to become a member of the Commonwealth is left to each nation. (1 point)
54.The White Australia Policy refers to the Immigration restriction Act of 1901. (1 point) Under the White Australia Policy, only white Europeans, especially British and Irish, were allowed to migrate to Australia. (2 points) The migration of colored people such as Asians was restricted. (1 point)

[评分标准]
1．每1小题5分。
2．内容为4分，语言为1分。一般拼写错误不扣分。如有重大语法错误或拼写错误引起误解，要扣语言分。
3．提供的答案均供参考，如考生的回答与参考答案的内容一样，应给满分。

IV. Write between 100-120 words on the following topic in the corresponding space on the answer sheet. (10 points)
Main points:
The Norman Conquest of 1066 is perhaps the best-known event in English history, and probably remains so because
England has never been invaded since. (1 point) William the Conqueror confiscated almost all the land and gave it to his Norman followers. (1 point) He replaced the weak Saxon rule with a strong Norman government. So the feudal system was completely established in England. (2 points) Relations with the Continent were opened, and civilization and commerce were extended, (2 points) Norman-French culture, language, manners, and innovations in architecture and methods of warfare were introduced. (1 point) The Church was brought into closer connection with Rome, and the church courts were separated from the civil courts. (1 point)
[评分标准]
1．本题满分10分。
2．内容为8分，如只有答题要点而没有阐述或例证，要酌情扣分。语言为2分。一般拼写错误不扣分。如有重大语法错误或拼写错误引起误解，要扣语言分。
3．提供的答案均供参考，如考生的回答与参考答案的内容一样，而且有一定的阐述或例证，应给满分。

2002年上半年高等教育自学考试全国统一命题考试

Ⅰ.Read the following unfinished statements or questions carefully. For each unfinished statement or question, four suggested answers marked A,B,C and D are given. Choose the one that you think best completes the statement or answers the question. Write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space on the answer sheet. (40 points, 1 point for each)
1.Britain has, for centuries, been slowly tilting with ________.
A.the North-West slowly rising and the South-East slowly sinking
B.the North-East slowly rising and the South-West slowly sinking
C.the South-East slowly rising and the South-West slowly sinking
D.the South-West slowly rising and the North-East slowly sinking
2.Which often following statements is not true about British coal mining?
A.Brition has used up almost all coal deposits.
B.The demand for British coal has declined.
C.Petroleum, water power, and electric power replacing coal for many purposes.
D.The old British mines are narrow and deep, making it difficult to use machines
3.For electoral purposes Britain is divided into 659 constituencies, each of which
returns ________ to the House of Commons.
A.one member B.two members
C.three members D.four members
4.In the 1970s oil was discovered in ________, but the revenue from oil did not create an economic for Britain.
A.the English Channel B.the Irish Sea
C.St. George’s Channel D.the North Sea
5.In Britain, ministers are appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of ________.
A.the Lord Chancellor B.the Prime Minister
C.the Speaker D.the Parliamentary Commissioner
6.Thanks to the militant feminist movement of the suffragettes before the First World War, votes were granted to women over the age of ________ in 1918.
A.18 B.20 C.30 D.35
7.The objective of the Chartist Movement was democratic rights for all men, and it took its name from “________”.
A.The Bill of Rights B.The Agreement of the People
C.The People’s Charter D.The Great Charter
8.In the 1960s pop music underwent a revolution when ________ became world famous and turned their home town of Liverpool into a place of pilgrimage.
A.teh Beach Boys B.the Rolling Stone
C.the Animals D.the Beatles
9.The Tories were the forerunners of ________, which still bears this nickname today.
A.the Labour Party B.the Conservative Party
C.the Liberal Party D.the Social Democratic Party
10.In the United Kingdom, the party which wins the ________ number of seats in the House of Commons becomes the official Opposition.
A.largest B.second largest
C.third largest D.fourth largest
11.In the United Kingdom,police officers are not allowed to join ________ or to go on strike.
A.a trade union B.a choir
C. apolitical party D.a club
12.Agricltural changes in the late 18th and early 19th centuries in England were so great that they were worthy of the term “________”.
A.reform B.evolution
C.revolution D.reformation
13.The Mississippi, which is sometimes called ________, has played a vital role in the history of the United States.
A.“Old Man River” B.“Moon River”
C.“Old Father River” D.“Mother of the United States”
14.The largest and smallest states of the United States are ________.
A.Alaska and Rhode Island B.Texas and Maine
C.Texas and Rhode Island D.Alaska and Maine
15.A trend that occurs at the same time with the movement to the South and the Weast of the United States is ________.
A.the flow of people to sunbelt area
B.the flow of peole from small cities to big cities
C.the growth of small towns
D.the outflow of city residents from the core cities to the suburbs
16.The average life expectancy of the Red Indians is ________.
A.higher than the national average
B.lower than the national average
C.about the same with the national average
D.none of the above
17.The three Puritan traditions are ________.
A.religious tolerance, respect for achievement and respect for learning
B.religious dissent aggressiveness and respect for learning
C.religious intolerance, respect for achievement and respect for learning
D.religious intolerance, aggressiveness, respect for achievement
18.In 1900, the United States ranked first in the world in the production of ________.
A.coal B.electricity C.oil D.wheat
19.During the Second World War, Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill met at ________.
A.Teheran, Yalta and Potsdam
B.Teheran and Yalta
C.Yalta, Potsdam and Berlin
D.Teheran and Potsdam
20.The New Frontier and War on Poverty were put forward respectively by ________.
A.Eisenhower and Kennedy
B.Johnson and Nixon
C.Johnson and Kennedy
D.Kennedy and Johnson
21.The origin of the American party system can be traced to ________.
A.the struggle between the Royalists and revolutionaries in the War of Independence
B.the constitutional debate between the Federalists and the anti–Federalists
C.the struggle between those who upheld slavery and those who opposed slavery
D.none of the above
22.The functions of institutions of higher education in the U.S. are ________.
A.research and teaching
B.teaching and degree awarding
C.professional training, teaching and public service
D.teaching, research and public service
23.In “Song of Myself”, Whitman writes that ________.
A.woman is not worth mentioning
B.woman is not as great as man
C.woman as the mother of human beings is the greatest
D.none of the above
24.The theme of Thanksgiving has always been ________.
A.friendship and happiness B.peace and plenty
C.cooperation and rich reward D.love and happiness
25.Australia is located between ________ and the Indian Ocean.
A.the South Pacific Ocean B.the Atlantic Ocean
C.the North Sea D.the Arctic
26.Australia, which is one of the world’s developed countries, has become rich through ________.
A.manufacturing industries B.farming and mining
C.service industries D.forestry and fishing
27.Australian Aborigines believed in a creative period, usually referred to in English as ________.
A.teh Dreamland B.the Dreaming
C.the Beginning of the World D.the Beginning of the Universe
28.As far as Australian culture is concerned, the history of Australia can be divided into the following phases with the exception of ________.
A.the period of the original culture of Aboriginal people
B.the period of the dominant British culture
C.teh period of Asian culture
D.the period of a multicultural society
29.The Mabo Judgement passed by Australia’s High Court in June 1992 overturned the concept of terra nullius, which means ________.
A.“land belonging to no one” B.“land unknown to everyone”
C.“Wonderland” D.“Dreamtime”
30.During the 1990s many Australians called for their nation to become a republic with ________.
A.a president replacing the British monarch as head of state
B.a prime minister replacing the governor–general as head of government
C.a governor-general replacing the British monarch as head of state
D.a president replacing the governor- general as head of government
31.The longest river in Canada is ________.
A.the Mackenzie B.the St. Lawrence
C.teh Severn D.the Yukon
32.Why were the French troops in Canada defeated by the British during the Seven Years’ War?
A.Because they were not used to the weather in Cananda.
B.Because they did not get support from the local people.
C.Because they did not receive the supplies they needed so badly.
D.Because the British had larger and better settlements in Canada.
33.Which of the following is not true about Canada’s manufacturing today?
A.Manufacturing is the most important economic activity in Canada.
B.Transportation equipment ranks as the nation’s leading manufactured product.
C.Food processing is still important but it is no longer Canada’s chief man ufacturing industry
D.The production of paper and paper related products is no longer important in Canada’s manufacturing.
34.When was the referendum on Quebec’s future status held in Canada?
A.1994.
B.1995.
C.1996.
D.1997
35.Since 1971 the Canadian government has adopted a policy of ________, recognizing that cultural pluralism within a bilingual framework is the essence of the Canadian identity.
A.assimilation B.integration
C.multiculturalism D.gender equality
36.In Canada the federal governments have always been formed by ________.
A.the Liberal Party
B.the Progressive Conservative Party
C.either the Liberal Party or the Progressive Conservative Party
D.both the Liberal Party and the Progressive Conservation Party
37.What is Ireland called in Irish?
A.Irea B.Aire C.Eare D.Eire
38.What are Ireland’s chief exports?
A.Foodstuffs(especially beef), electrical machinery, and chemicals.
B.Wool, dairy products and fruit.
C.Motor vehicles, electrical machinery and petroleum.
D.Coal, mining equipment and textiles.
39.A fault line runs the length of New Zealand, which means that it often has ________.
A.floods B.volcanic eruptions
C.earthquakes D.droughts
40.Which of the following is not true about the political system of New Zealand?
A.New Zealand has a written constitution.
B.New Zealand has a parliamentary government and a constitutional monarchy.
C.New Zealand follows the British parliamentary system with some variations.
D.New Zealand Parliament has only one chamber.
PART TWO
Ⅱ.Give a one-sentence answer to each of the following questions. Write your answer in the corresponding space on the answer sheet.(30 points , 3 points for each)
41. What are the main types of farming in Britain?
42.How are the state-run television channels BBC1 and BBC2 financed?
43.What is the aim of the social security system in the United Kingdom?
44.What kind of economic system does the United States have?
45.What were the two serious weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
46.What is the difference between an academic high school and a technical high school?
47.What are the most common leisure activities in Canada?
48.What does the outback refer to in Australia?
49.What are the two types of farming in Ireland?
50.Why is the population of New Zealand so unevenly distributed?
Ⅲ.Explain each of the following terms in English. Write your answer in the corresponding space on the answer sheet in around 40 words (20 points, 5 points for each)
51.The Civil List
52.Operation Overlord
53.Stagflation
54.Kiwi
Ⅳ.Write between 100—120 words on the following topic in the corresponding space on the answer sheet.(10 points)
55. Give two examples to show the kind of political intolerance in the U.S. after the end of W.W.I.

全国2002年4月高等教育自学考试英语国家概况试题参考答案

Ⅱ.Give a one-sentence answer to each of the following questions. Write your answer in the corresponding space on the answer sheet.(30 points , 3 points for each)
41.They are arable farming, dairy farming, stock farming, mixed farming, hill farming and market gardening.
42.They are financed from the sale of television licences.
43.The aim of the social security is to secure a basic standard of living for people in financial need.
44.The U.S. has a freemarket economy with a dominant private sector.
45.They were:(a)there was no national executive or law-enforcing branch and (b)Congress had no power to raise taxes.
46.An academic high school only aims at preparing students for college while a technical school provides students for a variety of occupations and vocations.
47.They are swimming, tennis, golf and baseball.
48.In Australia, the areas that are far away from towns and cities are called the outback, especially the desert areas in central Australia.
49.They are arable farming and stock farming.
50.Reasons for the uneven distribution are the milder climate in the north, the expansion of North Island industries and the availability of land suitable for specialized farming.

Ⅲ.Explain each of the following terms in English. Write your answer in the corresponding space on the answer sheet in around 40 words (20 points, 5 points for each)

51.The Civil List is an annual grant approved by Parliament. The grant is made to the British Sovereign and members of the royal family. It is used to cover the expense involved in carrying out their public duties.
52.Operation Overlord was the codename for Ally landing on the south of France. It was launched in May, 1944. The decision of launching Operation Overlord was made at the Teheran Conference.
53.Starting from the mid-1970s, the United States suffered from “stagflation”, that is, the occurrence of no or little economic growth and inflation at the same time. By 1974, prices were rising at the rate of 11% and it affected a large section of the middle class.
54. The kiwi is a New Zealand bird with a long beak and hair-like feathers, which cannot fly. The kiwi is the national symbol of New Zealand and New Zealanders refer to themselves as Kiwis.
Ⅳ.Write between 100—120 words on the following topic in the corresponding space on the answer sheet.(10 points)
55.On Nov. 7, 1919 and Jan. 2, 1920, the Justice Department launched two waves of mass arrests. Over 4,000 suspected Communists and radicals were arrested and many were forced to leave the United States.
On April 15, 1920, Sacco and Vanzetti were arrested on the charge of involvement in a murder and robbery case. They were convicted and sentenced to death. But there was little evidence to prove they were guilty. Strong, wide-spread protests did not save them. They were executed in 1927. People said they died for their radicalism.

全国2003年4月高等教育自学考试

英语国家概况试题

课程代码：00522

PART ONE

1.The Lake District, which is well-known for its beautiful scenery, is located in the _______.

A. South of Scotland

B. Northwest of England

C. North of Wales

D. East of England

2.About three million people have migrated to Britain since World War Ⅱ.They are mainly from the West Indies, India and _______.

A. Indonesia

B. Singapore

C. Hong Kong

D. Pakistan

3.As a result of the Black Death, much land was left untended and there was a terrible shortage of _______ in England.

A. grain

B. farm tools

C. houses

D. labour

4.The first steam engine was devised by _______ at the end of the 17^th century, and the Scottish inventor James Watt modified and improved the design.

A. Robert Bakewell

B. Thomas Newcomen

C. Jethro Tull

D. Thomas Coke

5.The British Prime Minister’s official residence is No.10 _______ Street in Landon.

A. Downing

B. Oxford

C. Regent

D. New Bond

6.In the United Kingdom, each member of Parliament represents a _______ , and holds his seat during the life of a parliament.

A. constituency

B. shire

C. borough

D. county

7.The British constitution is made up of the following laws except _______.

A. statute law

B. common law

C. commonwealth law

D. European Community law

8.Under Margaret Thatcher Britain adopted an economic policy of _______.

A. prices and incomes control

B. state intervention

C. high consumption and low investment

D. privatization, deregulation and market liberalization

9.The 1970s saw the growth of _______ in Wales and Scotland.

A. Marxism

B. liberalism

C. nationalism

D. chauvinism

10.Christmas Day, December 25^th, celebrates the _______ of Christ, and is the great est of Christian festivals.

A. birth

B. dreath

C. Crucifixion

D. Resurrection

11.Shakespeare was born at _______ in Warwickshire, England, in 1564.

A. Stoke-on-Trent

B. Stratford-upon-Avon

C. Berwick-upon-Tweed

D. Bradford-on-Avon

12.The most important _______ magazines in Britain are The Economist, New Statesman an and Society, and Spectator.

A. weekly

B. fortnightly

C. monthly

D. quarterly

13._______ are also known as the Continental Divide.

A. The Rocky Mountains

B. The Appalachian Highlands

C. The Coast Mountains

D. The Blue Mountains

14.New Englanders were originally known as _______.

A. Yankees

B. English Puritans

C. German farmers

D. Fishermen from Scandinavia

15.The first English colony was founded at _______.

A. Plymouth

B. the Massachusetts Bay

C. Jamestown

D. New York

16.The United States is the world’s biggest producer of _______.

A. cotton

B. rice

C. tobacco

D. milk

17.In American history, the Americans went to war against the British _______.

A. only once

B. on two occasions

C. for three times

D. for four times

18.The important decision made at the Second Continental Congress was_______.

A. the establishment of a continental army under the command of George Washington

B. the adoption of the Constitution

C. an appeal to the British king

D. A and B

19.The United States has, in its history, _______.

A. one constitution

B. two constitutions

C. three constitutions

D. one constitution with many amendments

20.The political theory underlining the Declaration of Independence came from _____.

A. Thomas Jefferson

B. George Washington

C. British philosopher John Locke

D. American philosopher John Locke

21.In the United States, the Muckrakers at the turn of the 20^th century referred to a group of _______.

A. reform-minded middle-class people

B. journalists who exposed the dark sides of the society

C. upper-class professionals

D. progressive women

22.Which of the following statements is true concerning the district court in the U.S.?

A. Each state has a district court.

B. There is a district court for each state plus one for District of Columbia and one for Puerto Rico.

C. There are altogether 89 district courts.

D. There are altogether 91 district courts.

23.The“new basics” in the report“A Nation At Risk” issued in the U.S.refer to _______.

A. English and mathematics

B. science and social studies

C. computer

D. all of the above

24.Specialized institutions in the U.S.offer _______.

A. degrees up to the doctorate

B. only BA degrees

C. BA and MA degrees

D. no degrees

25.Mount Kosciusko, the highest point in Australia, is located in _______.

A. the Blue Mountains

B. the Australian Alps

C. the Snowy Mountains

D. Ayers Rock

26.Australia’s most famous national park, which used to be known as Ayers Rock, is now called _______ in the Aboriginal language.

A. Uluru

B. Yolngu

C. Anangu

D. Nungga

27.During World War Ⅰ, a special corps of Australian and New Zealand troops called _______ won a reputation for outstanding bravery.

A. Anzacs

B. Anzus

C. Asus

D. Aussies

28.The Australian Constitution deals with the following except _______.

A. the composition of the Australian federal government

B. the powers of the federal government

C. the relationship between the federal government and the governments of the States

D. the powers of the Prime Minister

29.In the Australian Federal Parliament _______ often form a coalition in opposition to _______.

A. the Labor Party and the National party/the Liberal Party

B. the Liberal Party and the Labor party/the National Party

C. the Liberal Party and the National party/the Labor Party

D. the Conservative Party and the Democrats/the Labor Party

30.In 1988, Australia celebrated its _______ anniversary of the founding of the first white settlement there.

A. 100^th

B. 150^th

C. 200^th

D. 250^th

31.The two principal river systems in Canada are the Mackenzie and_______.

A. the Great lakes

B. the St.Lawrence

C. the Hudson River

D. the Saskatchewan River

32.From 1896 to 1911, Canada was ruled by _______ under Sir Wilfred Laurier.

A. the Liberal Party

B. the Conservative Party

C. the Labour Party

D. the Democratic Party

33.Canada ranks _______ in the world in the production of electricity form water power.

A. first

B. second

C. third

D. fourth

34.Canadian Federal Government was assigned powers in all of the following areas except _______.

A. defense

B. customs and border control

C. currency and coinage

D. education

35.What is the law-making assembly called in Canada’s Quebec?

A. Legislative Assembly.

B. National Assembly.

C. House of Assembly.

D. House of Legislation.

36.Which of the following best describes the result of Canadian government’s long -held policy of assimilation?

A. It won a popular support across the country.

B. It proved to be a great success.

C. It failed in achieving the desired effect.

D. It brought disastrous effect to the Canadian society.

37.The creation of Northern Ireland dates from _______ when the Irish Free State was set up.

A. 1916

B. 1921

C. 1937

D. 1994

38.Throughout most of its history, _______ was a major problem that plagued Ireland.

A. emigration

B. population distribution

C. ethnic conflict

D. birth control

39.A New Zealander of European descent is known as a _______.

A. Pakeha

B. Kiwi

C. Pukeko

D. Maori

40.In New Zealand, the seasons are opposite those of the Northern Hemisphere because it lies _______.

A. south of the equator

B. north of the equator

C. east of the equator

D. west of the equator

PART TWO

Ⅱ.Give a one-sentence answer to each of the following questions. Write your answer in the corresponding space on the answer sheet.(30 points, 3 points for each)

41. Which area in Britain is called the “Silicon Glen”?

42. Which sport is the most typically English?

43. What was Puritanism noted for?

44. What is Hawaii’s most important industry?

45. How serious was child labor when the Progressive Movement demanded the banning of it?

46. Who was Bob Dylan?

47. When and where did Australia’s Eureka Stockade take place?

48. What were Canada’s early industries?

49. What is the head of government in Ireland called?

50. What caused the land disputes between the Maoris and the settlers in New Zealand?

Ⅲ.Explain each of the following terms in English. Write your answer in the corresponding space on the answer sheet in around 40 words.(20 points, 5 points for each)

51. The National Health Service

52. Black Thursday of 1929

53. The Flying Doctors

54. The Quebec Act of 1774

Ⅳ.Write between 100-120 words on the following topic in the corresponding space on the answer sheet.(10 points)

55. Why was Britain the first country to industrialize?

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全国2004年4月高等教育自学考试

英语国家概况试题

课程代码：00522

全部题目用英文作答，否则不计分。

PART ONE (40 POINTS)

I. Read the following unfinished statements or questions carefully. For each unfinished statement or question, four suggested answers marked A,B,C and D are given. Choose the one that you think best completes the statement or answers the question. Write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space on the answer sheet.(40 points,1 point for each)

1. British recorded history begins with the _____ invasion.

A. Roman B. Viking

C. Anglo-Saxon D. Norman

2. The Authorized Version of the Bible (published in 1611) was made by _____ command.

A. Edward IV’s B. James I’s

C. Elizabeth I’s D. Henry V III’s

3. In the United Kingdom, succession is founded on the _____ principle. Sons of the Sovereign have precedence over daughters in succeeding to the throne.

A. ethical B. obligation

C. hereditary D. public relations

4. In the United Kingdom, ministers are appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of _____.

A. the Speaker B. the Lord Chancellor

C. the Duke of Edinburgh D. the Prime Minister

5. The most important prehistoric monument of the Iberians was _____.

A. Maiden Castle in Wiltshire B. Stonehenge in Wiltshire

C. Avebury in Wiltshire D. Leeds Castle in Kent

6. The Royal National Eisteddfod is a(n) _____ festival of poetry, music and other arts.

A. English B. Scottish

C. Welsh D. Irish

7. In England no females were allowed to vote in national elections before _____.

A. 1918 B. 1920

C. 1928 D. 1945

8. The English Civil War is generally regarded as the beginning of modern _____ history.

A. European B. Scottish

C. Welsh D. world

9. London’s Metropolitan Police Force is directly under the control of _____.

A. the Home Secretary B. the Lord Chancellor

C. the Prime Minister D. the Attorney General

10. During the 1970s Britain began producing petroleum from wells in _____.

A. the Irish Sea B. the North Sea

C. the Dover Straits D. the Cambrians

11. The two very important crops in Britain are _____.

A. barley and corn B. wheat and rice

C. barley and oats D. wheat and barley

12. In Britain, a _____ is held when a Member of Parliament dies, retires or resigns.

A. civic election B. by-election

C. popular election D. general election

13. What forms a natural boundary between Mexico and the United States?

A. The Rio Grande River.

B. The southern Rocky Mountains.

C. The Colorado River.

D. The Gulf of California.

14. The financial, manufacturing and transportation center of the United States is _____.

A. New York B. Washington D.C.

C. Philadelphia D. Chicago

15. One of the measures taken by the Roosevelt Administration in the New Deal was _____.

A. to close down more banks

B. to further loosen the control of financial institutions

C. to adopt a number of labor laws to raise the role of labor in the relations of production

D. to encourage farm production

16. Most of the colleges and universities in the U.S. are located _____.

A. in only 5 or 6 states along the Atlantic coast

B. in the South

C. in states with a large population

D. along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts

17. Rock’n’ roll in the early 1960s in the United States was music for _____.

A. teenagers B. black audience

C. white adult audience D. people of all ages

18. The major Hispanic groups in the United States are _____.

A. the Mexicans and Haitians

B. the Puerto Ricans and Cubans

C. the Mexicans and the Puerto Ricans

D. the Mexicans, Puerto Ricans and Cubans

19. Today, American people observe Veterans’ Day by _____.

A. keeping two minutes of silence at 11∶00 A.M. on that day

B. holding veterans’ parades in their communities

C. going to public cemeteries to pay tribute to war heroes

D. going to churches for memorial services

20. In the U.S., constitutional amendment can go into effect after it is approved by _____.

A. a two-thirds vote of both houses

B. three-fourths of the states

C. two-thirds of the states

D. half of the states

21. When the president of the U.S. signs an act passed by Congress into law, it still can be cancelled if _____.

A. the lower federal court decides that it goes against previous laws

B. the Supreme Court decides that it goes against previous laws

C. the lower federal court decides it is unconstitutional

D. the Supreme Court decides it is unconstitutional

22. President Nixon decided to resign because he _____.

A. refused to hand over the White House tapes to court

B. was tired of political struggle in Washington D.C.

C. came to see that most probably he would be impeached

D. was deserted by the Republican Party

23. In the United States, the first largest immigration movement took place _____.

A. right after the War of Independence

B. in the mid-1810s

C. at the turn of the 20^th century

D. right after the Civil War

24. 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

25. Although Australia has a large area, _____ of the continent is desert or semi-desert.

A. one –third B. two-thirds

C. half D. more than half

26. The Great Barrier Reef is included on the World Heritage list because it has _____.

A. the most beautiful seascape in the world

B. the greatest number of islands in the world

C. the most diverse and complex marine life in the world

D. the longest coast in the world

27. The first major discoveries, made in _____ in the early 1850s, resulted in gold rushes in Australia.

A. Queensland B. South Australia

C. Victoria and Tasmania D. Victoria and New South Wales

28. In Australia, the role of the Senate is _____.

A. to review bills passed by the House of Representatives

B. to introduce “money bills”

C. to interpret the Constitution

D. to remove the prime minister from office

29. In Australia, the leader of the majority party or the coalition heads the government as _____.

A. premier B. prime minister

C. chief executive D. governor-general

30. Traditionally, Australia has relied heavily on migrants _____.

A. to build up its labor force B. to defend its country

C. to change its way of life D. to improve its living standards

31. In each of the ten Canadian provinces, the Queen is represented by _____.

A. the speaker B. the Lord High Commissioner

C. the Lieutenant-governor D. the Attorney-General

32. By the British North America Act, Canada was made a _____ in 1867.

A. dominion B. sovereign nation

C. colony D. member of the Commonwealth of Nations

33. Who opened the interior of Canada to French fur traders and later colonizers in 1535?

A. Samuel de Champlain. B. Jacques Cartier.

C. John Cabot. D. Henry Hudson.

34. Canada is bounded on the west by _____.

A. the Pacific Ocean B. the Atlantic Ocean

C. the Indian Ocean D. the Arctic Ocean

35. The majority of French-speaking Canadians live in _____.

A. New Brunswick B. Ontario

C. Quebec D. Nova Scotia

36. The Parliament of Canada is made up of all the following EXCEPT _____.

A. the Crown B. the Senate

C. the House of Commons D. the National Assembly

37. The largest river in Ireland is _____.

A. the Liffey River B. the Dodder River

C. the Shannon River D. Lough Derg

38. In Ireland Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are both descended from _____.

A. the Irish Labor Party B. Sinn Fein

C. IRA D. the Progressive Democrats

39. New Zealand’s highest peak is _____ in the mountain range called the central Southern Alps.

A. Mount Ngauruhoe B. Mount Tongariro

C. Mount Cook D. Mount Taranaki

40.Which of the following about New Zealand is true?

A. New Zealand is a republic.

B. Queen Elizabeth II is represented in New Zealand by the Governor-General.

C.New Zealand has a bicameral parliament.

D.New Zealand has three major political parties.

PART TWO (60 POINTS)

II.Give a one-sentence answer to each of the following questions.Write your answer in the corresponding space on the answer sheet.(30 points,3 points for each)

41.What is a “copyright” library in Britain?

42.Why is December 26th called “Boxing Day” in Britain?

43.What happened in London in 1952 when 4,000 people were left dead or dying?

44.Name one of the two major mountain ranges in the United States.

45.What are the causes of success for Asian-Americans?

46.What is The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot considered?

47.Who were the first British settlers in Canada?

48.How do children in remote areas of Australia receive their education?

49.What is largely responsible for the lack of extreme summer heat and winter cold in Ireland?

50.What is New Zealand’s system of government?

III. Explain each of the following terms in English. Write your answer in the corresponding space on the answer sheet in around 40 words.(20 points,5 points for each)

51.The City of London

52.Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

53.Earl Warren

54.Maoritanga

IV.Write between 100-120 words on EITHER of the following topics in the corresponding space on the answer sheet.(10 points)

55.Why is the United States called a nation of immigrants?

56.What is the role of the Monarchy in the British government?

全国2005年4月高等教育自学考试

英语国家概况试题

课程代码：00522

全部题目用英文作答，并将答案写在答题纸的相应位置上，否则不计分。

1.Traditional British farming involved（　　　）, which dated back to the 5^th century.

A. the open field system

B. the system of crop rotation

C. the use of artificial fertilizer

D. the use of new agricultural machinery

2.In Britain, the First Civil War was fought between the Roundheads who were the parliamentary soldiers led by（　　　）, and the Cavaliers who were King Charles’s supporters.

A. John Lilburne B. Oliver Cromwell

C. Prince Rupert D. William Joyce

3.（　　　）radically changed the face of London for the first time since the Great Fire nearly three centuries earlier.

A. The Black Death B. The Civil War

C. The First World War D. The Blitz

4.The objective of the Chartist Movement was democratic rights for all men, and it took its name form“（　　　）”.

A. The Bill of Rights B. The Agreement of the People

C. the People’s Charter D. the Great Charter

5.Today, the Domesday Book is kept in the Public Records Office in（　　　）.

A. Cambridge B. Oxford

C. London D. York

6.In Britain, thanks to the militant feminist movement of the suffragettes before the First World War, votes were granted to women over（　　　）in 1918.

A. 20 B.25

C. 30 D. 35

7.By（　　　）Britain had built up a big empire, “on which the sun never set”.

A. 1900 B. 1910

C. 1920 D. 1930

8.In Britain, the Tories were the forerunners of（　　　）, which still bears the nickname today.

A. the Labor Party B. the Conservative Party

C. the Liberal Party D. the Social Democratic Party

9.The eldest son of Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ——Prince Charles, Prince of（　　　）, is the heir to the throne.

A. England B. Scotland

C. Wales D. Northern Ireland

10.In Britain, a full meeting of（　　　）is called only when a Sovereign dies or announces his or her intention to marry.

A. the Privy Council B. the House of Lords

C. the House of Commons D. the Parliament

11.In Britain, the highest judicial appointments are made by the Queen on the advice of（　　　）.

A. the Lord Chancellor B. the Prime Minister

C. the Speaker D. the Attorney General

12.In Britain, the Speaker is a member who is acceptable to all shades of opinion in （　　　）.

A. the Privy Council B. the House of Lords

C. the Supreme Court D. the House of Commons

13.The British government departments are staffed by members of（　　　）, whose duty is to assist in carrying out laws passed by Parliament.

A. the Civil Service B. the Privy Council

C. the House of Lords D. the House of Commons

14.In the 1970s, oil was discovered in（　　　）, but the revenue from oil did not create an economic miracle for Britain.

A. the English Channel B. the Irish Sea

C. the St. George Sea D. the North Sea

15.Local authorities in Great Britain raise revenue through（　　　）.

A. the income tax B. the council tax

C. the capital receipts D. personal contribution

16.The modern games of tennis originated in（　　　）in the late 19^th century.

A. Scotland B. Ireland

C. England D. Wales

17.America was named after（　　　）.

A. Italian navigator Columbus

B. navigator Amerigo Vespucci

C. some Indian chieftain

D. George Washington, founding father of the United States

18.Between 1860 and 1990, the United States witnessed（　　　）large-scale population movements.

A. 2 B. 3

C. 4 D. 5

19.At the beginning of the Berlin Blockade, President Truman turned down the option of（　　　）.

A. sending supplies through the highways, protected by tanks and troops

B. sending supplies through the waterways

C. starting large-scale airlifting

D. staring limited airlifting to test the Soviets

20.In 1900, the United States ranked first in the production of（　　　）.

A. coal B. electricity

C. oil D. wheat

21.During the War of Independence, America allied with（　　　）.

A. Spain B. France

C. Holland D. Germany

22.The Constitutional Convention in America was attended by（　　　）.

A. all of the 13 states

B. all of the states except Maryland

C. all of the states except Rhode Island

D. all of the states, but later Rhode Island withdrew from the convention

23.President Theodore Roosevelt made use of the Hepburn Act to（　　　）.

A. regulate federal-funded electricity project

B. maintain forest reserves

C. regulate railway price

D. ban corporation merger

24.In the United States, Henry Ford became famous（　　　）.

A. because of his wealth

B. because he set up the Standard Oil Corporation

C. because he was the first to invent cars

D. because of his Model T automobile

25.The attitude of many Americans toward different political views after WWⅡ can be described as（　　　）.

A. following the main trend of view B. intolerant

C. indifferent D. tolerant

26.In the U.S., the Red Scare refers to（　　　）.

A. a senseless hysteria about the danger of communism

B. a fear of Soviet subversion

C. a senseless hate of anything foreign

D. an intolerance of any idea different from the mainstream idea

27.Urbanization was realized in the U.S.（　　　）.

A. in 1900 B. in 1910

C. after WW I D. after WWⅡ

28.In the United States, the“winner-take-all”system applies to（　　　）.

A. all the states B. a majority of the states

C. all states except Maine D. only Maine

29.In “Old Man and Sea”, Hemingway praises the old man’s attitude towards（　　　）.

A. defeat and failure B. the sea

C. his work D. nature

30.In order to remember George Washington（　　　）.

A. a memorial hall was built in his birthplace

B. a memorial hall was built in Washington D.C.

C. a tall white Washington Monument was built in the capital

D. an expensive car was named after him

31.The final breakaway of American foreign policy from isolationism was（　　　）.

A. the bombing of Pearl Harbor

B. the fall of France

C. German attack of the Soviet Union

D. the battle of Britain

32.In the U.S., the fastest growing minority group is（　　　）.

A. the African-American B. the Hispanic-American

C. the Native Indians D. the Asian-American

33.The name “Canada”is believed to be derived from an Indian word“Kanata”, meaning（　　　）.

A. a settlement B. a country

C. a meeting place D. a colony

34.Quebec differs from the provinces of Canada because（　　　）.

A. it has the largest population

B. it was the first European settlement

C. it has a strong French culture

D. it is more highly developed than other parts of Canada

35.Australia’s most common native plants are（　　　）.

A. palms and roses B. willows and sunflowers

C. pines and orchids D. eucalypts and wattles

36.The first white settlement in Australia was set up on January 26,（　　　）.

A. 1778 B. 1788

C. 1878 D. 1888

37.Ireland is called the Emerald Isle because of（　　　）.

A. its shape B. its connection with Britain

C. its abundant natural resources D. its green countryside

38.The central part of Ireland is characterized by many lakes, low ridges and（　　　）.

A. peat bogs B. rapid streams

C. small islands D. high cliffs

39.New Zealand consists of two main islands:（　　　）.

A. North Island and South island

B. Steward Island and Long Island

C. West Island and East Island

D. Victorian island and Tasman Island

40.New Zealand’s climate is generally（　　　）and seasonal differences are not so great.

A. dry and cold B. mild and moist

C. hot and wet D. windy and cold

PART TWO (60 POINTS)

Ⅱ.Give a one-sentence answer to each of the following questions. Write your answer in the corresponding space on the answer sheet. (30 points, 3 points for each)

41.How long was Britain under the Roman occupation?

42.What is the main function of the House of Lords in Britain?

43.What was the peculiar feature of the feudal system of England?

44.Which sport is regarded as typically English?

45.What are the principal functions of American higher education?

46.What is meant by Operation Overlord?

47.Why Americans are always on the move?

48.How will you characterize American foreign policy in the early 1930s?

49.What are the main characteristics of Canadian climate?

50.Geographically, Australia can be divided into three major regions. What are they?

Ⅲ.Explain each of the following terms in English. Write your answer in the corresponding space on the answer sheet in around 40 words.(20 points, 5 points for each)

51.Stonehenge

52.The Metropolitan Police Force

53.Foreclosure

54.Chicano

Ⅳ.Write between 100-120 words on EITHER of the following topics in the corresponding space on the answer sheet.(10 points)

55.What is Thatcherism and what are the major components of Thatcherism?

56.In what sense was the War of 1812 important to the development of the United States?

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全国2005年7月高等教育自学考试

英语国家概况试题

课程代码：00522

Ⅰ.Multiple Choice Questions.(40 points, 1 point for each)

Directions: Read the following unfinished statements or questions carefully. For each unfinished statement or question, four suggested answers marked A, B, C and D are given. Choose the one that you think best completes the statement or answers the question; and then write your answers on the Answer Sheet.

1．The longest river in Britain is（　　　）,which is 338 kilometers long.

A．the Thames River B．the Severn River

C．the Clyde D．the Tweed

2．（　　　）,the great Roman general, invaded Britain for the first time in 55 BC.

A．Julius Caesar B．The Emperor Claudius

C．Boadicea D．Agricola

3．King Alfred made a treaty with Danes allowing them to keep the northern and eastern parts of England, which later became known as （　　　）.

A．Wessex B．Normandy

C．“the Danelaw” D．Sussex

4．William, Duke of Normandy, is now known as （　　　）.

A．William Rufus B．William the Confessor

C．William the Conqueror D．William the Great

5．The spirit of （　　　）was the limitation of the powers of the king.

A．the Provision of Oxford B．the Book of Doom

C．Domesday Book D．Magna Carta

6．Although the Wars of he Roses were fought intermittently for （　　　）years, ordinary people were little affected and went about their business as usual.

A．20 B．30

C．40 D．50

7．In Ireland and the Scottish Highlands （　　　）led to mass emigration, particularly to the New World.

A．the Black Death B．the Civil Wars

C．the Great Famine D．land enclosure

8．In the United Kingdom, free medical care for everyone and financial help for the old, the sick and the unemployed, which have become available since 1948, are the foundation of （　　　）

A．the welfare state B．the National Health Service

C．the civil service D．the National Insurance Fund

9．Margaret Thatcher believed in the following EXCEPT （　　　）.

A．self-reliance B．privatization

C．the strengthening of trade unions D．the use of monetarist policies to control inflation

10．The monarchy is the oldest institution of government, going back to at least （　　　）century.

A．the 8th B．the 9th

C．the 10th D．the 11th

11．All criminal trials are held in open court because the criminal law presumes the （　　　）of the accused until he has been proved guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

A．innocence B．honesty

C．guilt D．impartiality

12．Easter is traditionally associated with the following EXCEPT（　　　）.

A．the Resurrection of Christ B．the eating of Easter eggs

C．the custom of giving presents D．the coming of spring

13．（　　　）is the most popular sport in England and in Europe.

A．Rugby B．Tennis

C．Snooker D．Football

14．Edinburgh International Festival of Music and Drama takes place for a period of 3 to 4 weeks between （　　　）when Edinburgh becomes a center of cultural activity.

A．July and August B．August and September

C．September and October D．October and November

15．Up to the end of WWI, there were （　　　）waves of large-scale immgration to the United States.

A．two B．three

C．four D．five

16．The idea of containment was first brought up by（　　　）.

A．Harry Truman B．Franklin D. Roosevelt

C．Marshall D．George Kennan

17．In the last great population movement in America, a large number of people moved to（　　　）.

A．the Northwest B．the sunbelt areas

C．the South D．the West

18．Who were the first settlers of the New England Region?

A．Hispanic groups. B．English Puritans.

C．German farmers. D．Asian Americans

19．The Bill of Rights is the term used for （　　　）to the Constitution of the United States.

A．the first ten amendments B．the last ten amendments

C．the tenth amendment D．the most important amendment

20．The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by（　　　）during the Civil War.

A．George Washington B．Abraham Lincoln

C．Thomas Jefferson D．Franklin Roosevelt

21．The Supreme Court played a role in approving the lawfulness of anti-Communist activities by（　　　）.

A．upholding the constitutionality of the Smith Act

B．convicting 11 highranking Communist leaders

C．supporting the trial of Alger Hiss

D．supporting President Truman’s executive order

22．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 too strong

C．prevent the government form being separated

D．prevent the government form losing its power

23．In America, the first period of the party system refers to the appearance of （　　　）.

A．the Federalists

B．the Anti-Federalists

C．the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists

D．the Democratic- Republicans and the Anti-Federalists

24．Nathaniel Hawthorne was one of those who （　　　）transcendentalism.

A．supported B．was indifferent to

C．attacked D．had nothing to do with

25．The first uniquely American contribution to architecture was the Skyscraper perfected by the（　　　）architect, Louis Sullivan.

A．New York City B．Chicago

C．Washington D．Detroit

26．Today there are altogether（　　　）departments of the U.S. government.

A．11 B．13

C．15 D．17

27．Which of the following is NOT associated with Halloween?（　　　）

A．“Trick or treat” B．“eating eggs”

C．bonfire D．pumpkin-lanterns

28．The first Thanksgiving Day was celebrated by the Puritans in Plymouth, Massachusetts on（　　　）,1621.

A．January 13 B．April 13

C．October 13 D．December 13

29．About two thirds of Canada’s petroleum and about four fifths of its natural gas come from（　　　）.

A．Alberta B．Montreal

C．Quebec D．Vancouver

30．Under （　　　）,the Upper Canada and Lower Canada were united again and given internal self-government in 1848.

A．the Act of Union

B．the British North America Act

C．the Quebec Act

D．the Statute of Westminister

31．Indigenous people make up about 1.5% of the Canadian population .They are （　　　）.

A．Indians and Africans B．Aborigines and Indians

C．the Eskimo and Aborigines D．American Indians and the Eskimo

32．Since 1971 the Canadian government has adopted a policy of （　　　）,recognizing that cultural pluralism within a bilingual framework is the essence of the Canadian identity.

A．assimilation B．integration

C．multiculturalism D．gender equality

33．The main feature of Australia’s trade is that（　　　）.

A．it is mainly with developing countries and Great Britain

B．there is the decline of manufacturing industries and the high tariffs

C．there is over-reliance on commodity exports

D．it has always involved the exchange of raw materials for finished products

34．The history of Australia began with（　　　）.

A．the arrival of Aborigines

B．the colonization of Australia by the British

C．the founding of the Commonwealth of Australia

D．the First World War

35．Victoria is also known as （　　　）.

A．the garden state B．the premier state

C．the sunshine state D．the state of excitement

36．The Australian Constitution can only be changed by （　　　）.

A．the Parliament B．the Queen

C．the Executive D．referendum

37．Ireland is one of the most （　　　）countries of Europe.

A．Christian B．Catholic

C．Buddhist D．Protestant

38．The population of Ireland is predominantly of （　　　）origin.

A．English B．Celtic

C．Norman D．French

39．In 1893 New Zealand became the first country in the world（　　　）.

A．to adopt the 40-hour working week

B．to introduce old age pensions

C．to introduce the Accident Compensation Act

D．to give women the vote

40．Nearly three –quarters of the population (including more than 50% of the New Zealanders) live in （　　　）.

A．South Island B．North Island

C．Stewart Island D．the Chatham Islands

Ⅱ.Answer the Following Questions Briefly.(30 points,3 points for each)

Directions: Give a one –sentence answer to each of the following questions and then write your answers in the corresponding space on the Answer Sheet.

41.What does the British parliament consist of ?

42.What are the chief purposes of the penal system of Britain?

43.How did Elizabeth I manage to maintain a friendly relationship with France?

44.How many states are there in the United States? Which one is the largest and which one is the smallest in area?

45.What is “winner-take-all”system?

46.Why was Lincoln considered to be a man who lived out the American Dream?

47.Why were the French Troops in Canada defeated by the British during the Seven Years’ War?

48.What does the Red Centre refer to in Australia?

49.When did the first European come to New Zealand and what was his name and nationality?

50.What kind of climate does Ireland have?

Ⅲ.Term Explanation.(20 points,5 points for each)

Directions: Explain each of the following terms in English and then write your answers in the corresponding space on the Answer Sheet in around 40 words.

51.Reuters

52.the Gettysburg Address

53.the Great Lakes

54.the Dreaming

Ⅴ.Essay Questions.(10 points)

Directions: Write between 100-120 words on EITHER of the following topics in the corresponding space on the Answer Sheet.

55.What were the characteristics of the English Renaissance?

56.What were the consequences of the Vietnam War?

2006年4月自考英语国家概况试卷

PART ONE

I. Read the following unfinished statements or questions carefully. For each unf’mished statement or question, four suggested answers marked A, B, C and D are given. Choose the one that you think best completes the statement or answer to the question. Write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space on the answer sheet. (50 points, 1 point for each)

1. Which of the following is true about the British Commonwealth?（）

A. Members of nations are joined together politically.

B. The Commonwealth has special powers.

C. The decision to become a member of the Commonwealth is made by Britain.

D. It is a free association of independent countries that were once colonies of Britain.

2. Under_____, the feudal system in England was completely established.( )

A. King Alfred B. Henry II

C. Edward I D. William the Conqueror

3. The cause of the Hundred Years’ War was____.( )

A. territorial

B. economic

C. partly territorial and partly economic

D. partly territorial and partly religious

4. Which of the following is NOT true about the Anglo-Saxons?( )

A. They were regarded as ferocious people.

B. They established the manorial system.

C. They divided the country into different shires.

D. Their tribes were seldom at war with one another.

5. As a result of the Black Death, _____.( )

A. much land was left untended and there was a shortage of labour

B. landowners tended to change from sheep-farming to arable-farming

C. the government did not show much concern about the labour shortage

D. the government took several measures to raise the peasants’ wages

6. The Norman Conquest in English history happened in _____.( )

A. 1035 B. 1042

C. 1066 D. 1606

7. Which of the following was NOT a consequence of the Wars of the Roses?( )

A. Feudalism received its death-blow.

B. The great medieval nobility was much weakened.

C. The king’s power became supreme.

D. Ordinary people were greatly affected.

8. In terms of press,_____are directed at readers who want full information on a

wide range of public matters.( )

A. quality newspapers B. tabloids

C. popular newspapers D. mid-market newspapers

9.__ was the transitional period between the Middle Ages and Modern Times.( )

A. The Hundred Years’ War B. Renaissance

C. The Wars of the Roses D. The English Civil War

10. The English Civil War is also called_________.( )

A. the Puritan Revolution B. the Chartist Movement

C. the Wars of the Roses D. the Hundred Years’ War

11. In December 1653, by an Instrument of Government,_____ became Lord

Protector of the Commonwealth of England.( )

A. Richard I B. Oliver Cromwell

C. Charles II D. James II

12. Two of the most famous literary works of the late 17th century were ____ .( )

A. Hamlet and Paradise Lost

B. Pilgrim’s Progress and Paradise Lost

C. Paradise Lost and Shepherd’s Calendar

D. Romeo and Juliet and Shepherd’s Calendar

13. The establishment of the British East India Company in 1600 was a case ____.( )

A. economic penetration B. territorial aggression

C. cultural expansion D. military invasion

14. One of the most far-reaching consequences of World War II was that__.( )

A. the British Empire became much stronger

B. the British Empire began to disintegrate

C. the British colonialists stepped up their expansion

D. Britain entered a period of economic and financial prosperity

15. Which of the following is NOT true about the British monarchy?( )

A. It is the oldest institution of government.

B. R goes back to at least the 9th century.

C. It has maintained the continuity over the past thousand years.

D. It seems that it enjoys no real power today.

16. In Britain, a parliament has a maximum duration of_____ years.( )

A. 3 B. 4

C. 5 D. 6

17. British colonial expansion began with_____.( )

A. the establishment of the British East India Company in 1600

B. the settlement of the Dutch East India Company at Cape Town in 1652

C. the occupation of Chinese Hong Kong in 1841

D. the colonization of Newfoundland in 1583

18. Many of Britain’s public schools have gained a reputation for__.( )

A. low academic standards and snobbery

B. exclusiveness and short history

C. average academic standards, exclusiveness, and short history

D. high academic standards, exclusiveness, and snobbery

19. The Universities of Oxford and Cambridge date from_____.( )

A. the 10th and 11th century B. the 12th century

C. the 12th and 13th century D. the 13th century

20. In Britain,____ formally appoints important government ministers, judges,( )

A. the Queen

B. the Prime Minister

C. the Lord President of the Council

D. the Speaker of the House of Commons

21. Which of the following is NOT among the five biggest cities in the United States?( )

A. Chicago. B. New York.

C. Miami. D. Los Angeles.

22.____, which banned slavery, was added to the American Constitution in December, 1865.( )

A. The Bill of Rights B. The Thirteenth Amendment

C. The Civil Rights Act D. The Voting Rights Act

23.___ have made it possible for all sections of the American population to have

higher education.( )

A. The research universities B. The doctoral universities

C. The community colleges D. The liberal arts colleges

24. Colored eggs and bunny are traditional symbols of___.( )

A. Easter B. Christmas

C. Valentine D. New Year’s Day

25. ____is one of the most popular places in the United States to celebrate the New Year’s Day.( )

A. The Disney I.and in Florida

B. The White House Lawn in Washington D.C.

C. Hollywood in California

D. Times Square in New York City

26. The best-known speech made by civil fights leader Martin Luther King is_____.( )

A. “Guess who?”

B. “I have a dream”

C. “United we stand, divided we fall”

D. “First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen”

27. In the 1900s with the development of industry and the extension of railroad

network, there was a___ in the United States.( )

A. fast growth of population

B. rapid growth of military power

C. fast growth of labor unions

D. rapid growth of cities

28. The real American literature began_____.( )

A. before the Civil War B. after the Civil War

C. before the War of Independence D. after the War of Independence

29. Which of the following is NOT true about the Vietnam War?( )

A. Drug-taking was widespread in the American Armed Forces.

B. About sixty thousand young Americans died in the war.

C. American insistence on the continuation of the war drew criticism from its allies.

D. The morale of the American soldiers was running very high.

30. MIT stands for_____.( )

A. the Military Institute of Texas

B. the Macy’s Instigation of Thanksgiving

C. the Miami Institution of Trade

D. the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

31.____was NOT among the first 13 British colonies along the east coast of North America.( )

A. New York B. Pennsylvania

C. Florida D. Maryland

32. At the Constitutional Convention in September 1787, the delegates who argued for a national system called themselves______.( )

A. Republicans B. Democrats

C. Anti-Federalists D. Federalists

33. The Purchase of Louisiana Territory in 1803 from France______.( )

A. increased the American territory by one third

B. increased the American territory by a half

C. almost doubled the size of the United States

D. almost tripled the size of the United States

34. Which of the following pairs is correct?( )

A. Rockefeller_______aeroplane

B. Henry Ford- crude oil refining

C. J.P. Morgan – railroad

D. The Wright Brothers- automobile

35. The United States did not formally take part in World War H until Pearl Harbor because_____.( )

A. isolationists did not want to be dragged into the war

B. the Congress had passed one neutrality law

C. President Roosevelt did not want to offend the Axis Powers

D. All of the above

36. In order to protect Western Europe from possible Soviet expansion after WWII, the United States decided to offer Western European countries economic aid, which later came to be called _____.( )

A. the Fourteen Points

B. the New Freedoms

C. the New Deal

D. the Marshall Plan

37. In view of the problem of poverty in the 1960s, President Kennedy had once

admitted that_____of the American population went to bed hungry.( )

A. about one quarter B. about one third

C. about half D. about two thirds

38. Whenever the American economy is in trouble, the economy of other countries is affected because the United States is_____.( )

A. the greatest debtor in the world

B. the biggest producer of tobacco

C. the largest importer in the world market

D. the only superpower in the world

39. Membership in the House of Representatives is based on_____.( )

A. the number of cities in each state

B. the number of families in each state

C. the size of population in each state

D. the size of cities in each state

40. In the United States, if the parents don’t send their children to school at

certain age,____ .( )

A. the state government will be responsible for it

B. they will educate the children themselves

C. they can save a lot of money

D. they are breaking the law

41. Canada covers about ____of North American continent.( )

A. one quarter B. two-fifths

C. two-thirds D. three-fourths

42. By the Statute of____in 1931 the British Dominions, including Canada,were formally declared to be partner nations with Britain.( )

A. Ontario B. Vancouver

C. Quebec D. Westminster

43. The first British sealers in Canada were American refugees, who called themselves_____, because they refused to fight against the British Army in the War of American Independence.( )

A. Loyalists B. Whigs

C. Liberals D. Separatists

44.____ is Australia’s main watershed where short, swift rivers flow into the Pacific Ocean.( )

A. The Great Western Plateau B. The Great Dividing Range

C. The Central Eastern Lowlands D. The Nullarbor Plain

45. Politically, Australia is divided into__ states and two territories.

A. four B. five

C. six D. seven

46. Among the five Australian cities with a population of over a million only ____lies on the Western coast.( )

A. Sydney B. Brisbane

C. Melbourne D. Perth

47. In Ireland the basic ethnic stock is_____.( )

A. Celtic B. Roman

C. Norman D. English

48. Ireland has four unusual demographic features. Which of the following is NOT true?( )

A. A low birthrate.

B. A late marriage.

C. A high proportion of unmarried people.

D. An excess of females in the population.

49. The first Englishman to visit New Zealand was James Cook, who sailed in his ship________.( )

A. Endurance B. Endecn,or

C. Explorer D. Enquirer

50. Which of the following statements about the climate in New Zealand is NOT true?( )

A. The climate in New Zealand is generally temperate.

B. Seasonal variations are less extreme.

C. Snow usually falls in the far south.

D. Summer is often uncomfortably hot.

PART TWO

II. Give a one-sentence answer to each of the following questions. Write your answer in the corresponding space on the answer sheet. (30 points, 3 points for each)

51. What does the British Parliament consist of?.

52. Why is King Alfred known as “the father of the British navy”?

53. Which party did Margaret Thatcher represent in the 1970’s?

54. How was the 1920s in the United States described by many historians?

55. What does the term “indentured servants” refer to in American history?

56. What was the most important act passed in 1964 to prohibit discrimination

based on color, race, or national origin in places of public accommodation?

57. How many provinces and territories is Canada made up of?.

58. What is Australia also known as in the West?

59. What does IRA stand for?

60. Why is New Zealand considered to be the fast country to get the new day?

III. Explain each of the following terms in English. Write your answer in the corresponding space on the answer sheet in around 40 words. (20 points,5 points for each)

61. Comprehensive schools

62. Whigs (in Britain)

63. The Puritans

64. War Power Act

2006年4月自考英语国家概况答案

1．1．D 2．D 3．C 4．D 5．A 6．C 7．D 8．A 9．B l0．A ll．B l2．B l3．A l4．B l5．C l6．C 17．D l8．D l9．C 20．A 21．C 22．B 23．C 24．A 25．D 26．B 27．D 28．D 29．D 30．D 31．C 32．D 33．C 34．C 35．A 36．D 37．B 38．C 39．C 40．D 41．B 42．D 43．A 44．B 45．C 46．D 47．A 48．D 49．B 50．D

Ⅱ．5 1．It consists of the Sovereign．the House of Lords and the House of Commons．

52．Because he founded a strong fleet which first beat the Danes at sea and then protected the coasts and encouraged trade．

53．She represented the Conservative Party．

54．It was described as a period of material success and spiritual frustration and purposelessness．

55．It refers to the people who had to work for a fixed term for the masters to repay the cross—Atlantic fare and debts．

56．The Civil Rights Act of l964．

57．It is made up of ten provinces and two territories．

58．It iS also known as the Land Down Under．

59．IRA stands for Irish Republican Army．

60．Because it lies just west of the International Date Line and it has one time zone．

Ⅲ．61．Comprehensive schools take pupils without reference to ability or aptitude and provide a wide—ranging secondary education for all or most of the children in a district．

62． The name of Whigs originated with the Glorious Revolution．It was known by the nickname．It was a derogatory name for cattle drivers．Loosely speakin9，the Whigs were those who opposed absolute monarchy and supported the right to religious freedom for Nonconformists．

63．The Puritans were wealthy．well—educated gentlemen．They wanted to purify the Church of England．Dissatisfied with the political corruption in England and threatened with religious persecution，the Puritan leadecs saw the New Werld as the refuge provided by God for those He meant to save．

64．It was an act that limited the President’S power in sending troops abroad and required the President to consult Congress before any such decision．

全国2007年4月高等教育自学考试

英语国家概况试题

课程代码：00522

请将答案填在答题纸相应位置上

本试卷共8页，满分100分，考试时间150分钟。

I．Read the following unfinished statements or questions carefully. For each unfinished statement or question, four suggested answers marked A, B, C and D are given. Choose the one that you think best completes the statement or answers the question. Write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space on the answer sheet. (50 points, 1 point for each)

1．Which of the following is NOT true of Elizabeth I?

A．Her religious reform was a compromise of views.

B．Her religious reform was welcomed by both the Puritans and ardent Catholics.

C．She desired “that there should be outward conformity to the Established religion”.

D．She broke Mary’s ties with Rome and restored her father’s independent Church of England.

2．The Restoration in English history took place in _______.

A．1042 B．1066

C．1606 D．1660

3．Historically, _______ were ferocious people, but they laid the foundations of the English state.

A．the Celts B．the Vikings

C．the Anglo-Saxons D．the Normans

4．William, Duke of Normandy, is now known as _________.

A．William Rufus B．William the Confessor

C．William the Great D．William the Conqueror

5．In Britain, the Tories were the forerunners of _______ which still bears the nickname today.

A．the Social and Democratic Liberal Party

B．the Liberal Party

C．the Labor Party

D．the Conservative Party

6．The person who was responsible for the religious Reformation of England in the 16^th century was _________.

A．Edward VIII B．Henry VIII

C．Elizabeth I D．Edward VI

7．Queen Mary Tudor has been known as “Bloody Mary ”because under her reign ________.

A．a series of bloody wars were fought

B．many Protestants were persecuted and burnt as heretics

C．many rebel peasants were put to death

D．many protesters against her rule were killed

8．The _______ developed later into the Lords and the Commons known as Parliament.

A．Witan B．Privy Council

C．Public Records Office D．Great Council

9．In Britain,________ is the symbol of the whole nation.

A．the Queen B．the Prime Minister

C．the Prince D．the Parliament

10．Easter is the chief Christian festival, which celebrates________.

A．the birth of Jesus Christ B．the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

C．the coming of spring D．the revival of Christianity

11．The English king, who gave up his crown for the sake of a marriage with Wallis Simpson, was _______.

A. Henry Ⅷ B． Edward Ⅷ

C．George Ⅵ D．James Ⅵ

12．Those who tried to destroy the hated machines during the English Industrial Revolution were called ______.

A．Destroyers B．Breakers

C．Unionists D．Luddites

13．The great King of Wessex who fought against the invasion of the Danes in the 9^th century was known as _______.

A．Hengist B．Alfred the Great

C．the Pilgrim D．King of Picts

14．The Seven Year’s War (1756—1763) was fought between Britain and _______ for the colonization in North America.

A．Spain B．Russia

C．Holland D．France

15．In Britain, the national newspapers can be divided into two groups: _______.

A．daily papers and weekly papers

B．daily papers and Sunday papers

C．weekly papers and monthly papers

D．weekly papers and quarterly papers

16．The People’s Charter was drawn up by _______ as their demands.

A．the London Working Men’s Association

B．the British Steel Corporation

C．the activists in the Chartist Movement

D．the Trade Union

17．Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, a Conservative Party leader in the 1980s, believed in the following EXCEPT _______.

A．self-reliance B．privatization

C．the strengthening of the trade unions D．the keeping of law and order

18．The two main tiers of local authority throughout England and Wales are ______.

A．counties and districts B．cities and towns

C．cities and villages D．cities and shires

19．In Britain, official public holidays are also called ______.

A．religious holidays B．saints’ holidays

C．memorial holidays D．bank holidays

20．The English Channel separates the island of Great Britain from ______.

A．Denmark B．Belgium

C．the Netherlands D．France

21．Most of the first Chinese immigrants who came to the United States between 1850—1880 settled down in ______.

A．Florida B．Washington

C．California D．New Jersey

22．In September, 1774 the First Continental Congress was held in ______, which encouraged Americans to refuse to buy British goods.

A．New York B．Boston

C．Philadelphia D．Concord

23．During the American westward movement, Democratic politician John L. O’Sullivan produced the famous theory of ______.

A． “Isolationism” B． “Good Neighbor Policy”

C． “Social Darwinism” D． “Manifest Destiny”

24．The American Constitution was finally adopted in 1789 by a narrow margin on the understanding that ______ after the Constitution came into force.

A．Washington would be president of the U.S.

B．the House of Representatives would be elected by each state

C．a Bill of Rights would be amended

D．each state would be equally represented in the Senate

25．In 1972, U.S. President ______ visited China, which led to the establishment of diplomatic relations with China in January 1979.

A．Ronald Reagan B．Richard Nixon

C．Jimmy Carter D．Gerald Ford

26．Which work praised the idea of equality and democracy and also celebrated the dignity, the self-reliant spirit and the joy of the common man?

A．Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman.

B．Self-reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

C．Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain.

D．Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser.

27．The Constitution requires the President to be a natural-born American citizen at least ______ years of age.

A．30 B．35

C．40 D．45

28．On April 30^th of 1789, George Washington took the oath of office in ______ which housed the first American government.

A．New York B．Washington

C．Philadelphia D．Boston

29．Which of the following may NOT be President Wilson’s achievements in his program of New Freedom?

A．Making loans available to farmers at low rates.

B．Adopting an income tax.

C．Regulating trusts by stating clearly the unfair business practices.

D．Regulating railroad prices and their rebates.

30．In the U.S. the ______ refers to the people born in the period 1946—1964.

A． “lost generation” B． “me generation”

C． “blue-collar generation” D． “baby boom generation”

31．The conference that decided to set up a world organization ——the United Nations was held in ______.

A．Teheran B．Cairo

C．Yalta D．Washington

32．The President of the United States can issue rules, regulations and instructions, which are called ______.

A．legal acts B．standing orders

C．verdicts D．executive orders

33．The political theory of American Revolution came from the well-known philosopher ______.

A．Thomas Jefferson B．Thomas Paine

C．Alexander Hamilton D．John Locke

34．Which statement is NOT true about the Great Depression in the 1930s?

A．Billions of dollars of paper profits were wiped out within a few days.

B．Misery and personal sufferings were widespread.

C．Many lost their land and other properties because of foreclosures.

D．The stock market crash was the beginning of long economic recovery.

35．During the American Civil War, the victory at ______ proved to be the turning point for the Union Army.

A．Harrisburg B．Gettysburg

C．Lexington D．Fort Sumter

36．Which statement is NOT true about the American Indians?

A．Heavy drinking and suicide rates are far above the national averages.

B．The average life expectancy of Indians is around 50 years.

C．All the American Indians are now living in the government reservations.

D．One fourth of the Indian families live below the poverty level.

37．The American Standard Oil Company was founded by ______.

A．John Rockefeller B．du Pont

C．J.P. Morgan D．Andrew Carnegie

38．A typical example of American intolerant nationalism from 1919—1920 was ______ that exaggerated the danger of Communism.

A．McCarthyism B．the Ku Klux Klan

C．the Red Scare D．Desegregation

39．Currently between 80% and 90% of immigrants to the U.S. are from ______ countries.

A．Asian and African B．European and Hispanic

C．Asian and Hispanic D．Scandinavian and Asian

40．______ is the only organization which has the power to interpret the U.S. Constitution.

A．The Supreme Court B．The Department of State

C．The House of Representatives D．The Senate

41．______ is British Columbia’s largest city and the third largest city in Canada.

A．Vancouver B．Toronto

C．Quebec City D．Montreal

42．Almost half the land area of Canada is covered by ______.

A．forests B．deserts

C．swamps D．bogs

43．During World War II, Canada fought as an ally of ______ with nearly one million people serving in the armed forces.

A．Germany B．Swiss

C．Italy D．Britain

44．In Australia ______ has the country’s richest farmland and best grazing land.

A．the Great Western Plateau B．the Eastern Highlands

C．the Central Eastern Lowlands D．the Outback

45．In recent years Australian governments have encouraged people with different ethnic backgrounds to keep their own cultures. This policy is called ______.

A．assimilation B．integration

C．multiculturalism D．alienation

46．Which of the following statements about Australia is NOT true?

A．It lies south of the equator.

B．It is the world’s smallest continent.

C．It is the flattest and lowest continent.

D．It is the continent that contains more than one country.

47．The first European to visit New Zealand was a/an ______, Abel Tasman.

A．Englishman B．Dutchman

C．Frenchman D．German

48．______ is the capital of New Zealand.

A．Auckland B．Wellington

C．Toronto D．Montreal

49．Which statement is NOT true about Ireland?

A．Ireland is divided into two political units.

B．Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom.

C．The Republic of Ireland is an independent country.

D．Ireland is called the Emerald Isle because of its rich deposit of emeralds.

50．The largest river in Ireland is the ______, which provides electric power for much of the Republic.

A．Missouri River B．Shannon River

C．Severn River D．Thames River

II. Give a one-sentence answer to each of the following questions. Write your answer in the corresponding space on the answer sheet. (30 points, 3 points for each)

51. What is the official name of Great Britain?

52. What does “Oxbridge” refer to in Great Britain?

53. What are the responsibilities of British government education departments?

54. What does SAT stand for?

55. What are the two most important acts passed in the 1960s that helped to improve the political equality of the black people?

56. What is known as the “winner-take-all” system?

57. What does ACT stand for in Australian political division?

58. Why does New Zealand remain green all the year round?

59. What are the three main groups of settlers living north of 55 degree north latitude in Canada?

60. What is the most significant feature of Irish landscape, which covers all the mountains and large areas of lowlands?

III. Explain each of the following terms in English. Write your answer in the corresponding space on the answer sheet in around 40 words. (20 points, 5 points for each)

61. the Industrial Revolution

62. the Commonwealth

63. checks and balances

64. Electoral College

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全国2008年4月历年自考英语国家概况真题

课程代码：00522

请将答案填在答题纸相应位置上

1．About a hundred years ago, as a result of its imperialist expansion, Britain ruled an empire that had one fourth of the world’s people and ______ of the world’s land area.（　　　）

A．half B．one third

C．one fourth D．one fifth

2．Which of the following statements about the Celts is NOT true?（　　　）

A．They were ironworkers.

B．They were practiced farmers.

C．They spoke Anglo-Saxon English.

D．They drained much of the marshlands and built houses.

3．The spirit of the ______ was the limitation of the powers of the king.（　　　）

A．Book of Concord B．Magna Carta

C．Domesday Book D．common law

4．______ was above all responsible for the religious reform in England.（　　　）

A．Alfred the Great B．EdwardⅠ

C．HenryⅧ D．William the Conqueror

5．The name Wars of the Roses was, in fact, coined by the great 19th century novelist ______.

（　　　）

A．Sir Thomas Browne B．Sir Max Beerbohm

C．Sir Walter Scott D．Sir Norman Angell

6．Elizabeth’s relationship with Parliament was often ______.（　　　）

A．peaceful B．turbulent

C．cooperative D．harmonious

7．______ was generally considered the transitional period between the Middle Ages and modern

times,covering the years c.1350-c.1650.（　　　）

A．The Reformation B．The Renaissance

C．The Restoration D．The Glorious Revolution

8．Loosely speaking, ______ were those who opposed absolute monarchy and supported the right to religious freedom for Nonconformists.（　　　）

A．the Whigs B．the Tories

C．the members of the Labor Party D．the members of the Conservative Party

9．As a result of the agriculture enclosure in England in the late 18^th century, ______.（　　　）

A．diet became less varied

B．the English tenants got benefits

C．farms became smaller and smaller

D．peasant farmers had to look for work in towns

10．One of the most far-reaching consequences of the Second World War is that ______.（　　　）

A．it improved British economy

B．it strengthened the British Empire

C．it hastened the end of the British Empire

D．it hastened the end of the British Commonwealth

11．The Prime Minister of Britain was ______.（　　　）

A．appointed by the Queen

B．elected by the Parliament

C．voted directly by the people of the country

D．selected from the members of the Parliament

12．Apart from Britain, the Queen is also the head of state of the following countries EXCEPT ______.（　　　）

A．Australia B．Canada

C．New Zealand D．South Africa

13．In the U.K., the public are admitted to ______ in the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

（　　　）

A．the Stranger’s Galleries B．the Tate Gallery

C．the National Gallery D．the State Galleries

14．In Britain, the position of ______ is traditionally held by the Prime Minister.（　　　）

A．Minister of Defense B．First Lord of the Treasury

C．Lord Chancellor D．Minister of Education

15．______ is NOT the function of the British Parliament.（　　　）

A．Examining and making laws

B．Examining the actions of the government

C．Authorizing taxation and public expenditure

D．Maintaining the supreme authority of the Sovereign

16．No.10 Downing Street in London is ______.（　　　）

A．the official residence of the Queen

B．the office building of Lord Chancellor

C．the meeting place of the British Parliament

D．the official residence of British Prime Minister

17．There are two established Churches in Britain, that is, ______.（　　　）

A．the Church of Wales and the Church of Ireland

B．the Church of England and the Church of Wales

C．the Church of Scotland and the Church of Ireland

D．the Church of England and the Church of Scotland

18．______ is a public holiday in Britain.（　　　）

A．The National Day B．Guy Fawkes Day

C．Boxing Day D．April Fools’ Day

19．______ newspapers are directed at readers who want full information on a wide range

of public matters.（　　　）

A．Quality B．Popular

C．“Mid-market” D．Tabloid

20．The Privy Council includes ______.（　　　）

A．all Cabinet ministers B．all the Archbishops in Britain

C．all members of the House of Lords D．all members of the House of Commons

21．______ of New York used to be an important immigration reception spot.（　　　）

A．Ellis Island B．Manhattan

C．Brooklyn D．Long Island

22．______ to the Constitution, as the foundation of the American constitutional system, were

called the Bill of Rights.（　　　）

A．The first three amendments B．The first five amendments

C．The first ten amendments D．The first twelve amendments

23．After much debate, the Compromise of 1850 was passed, which allowed ______ to be

accepted as a free state.（　　　）

A．Utah B．California

C．Louisiana D．New Mexico

24．The Articles of Confederation in 1781 was unusual because it provided for ______.（　　　）

A．no king B．a strong central government

C．civil rights D．taxation powers

25．The Federalist Papers are regarded as the best explanation of the ______.（　　　）

A．19^th Amendment B．Articles of Confederation

C．Bill of Rights D．U.S. Constitution

26．After the Civil War, ______ became a strong trend in American economy.（　　　）

A．disappearance of private business B．increase in capital investment

C．monopoly by big business D．nationalization of enterprises

27．The Peace Conference in 1919 was dominated by the Big Four, that is, ______.（　　　）

A．the United States, Britain, Spain and Italy

B．the United States, Japan, France and Italy

C．the United States, Britain, France and Italy

D．the United States, Britain, France and Russia

28．The Great Depression in 1929 was caused by all the following BUT______.（　　　）

A．stock market speculation

B．over-expansion of credit

C．too much investment in companies

D．lack of stability in the banking system

29．In his inaugural speech,______ said that“the only thing we have to fear is fear itself”.

（　　　）

A．Lyndon Johnson B．Theodore Roosevelt

C．John F. Kennedy D．Franklin Roosevelt

30．The Second World War came to an end in ______.（　　　）

A．1945 B．1946

C．1947 D．1949

31．In 1947 the Truman Administration decided to provide aid for ______ to prevent these two

countries from falling into the hands of the Soviet Union.（　　　）

A．Poland and Romania B．Germany and Italy

C．the U.K. and France D．Greece and Turkey

32．Since 1945 the United States had entered a twenty-five-year period of economic boom, but

its ______ industry did not experience great development.（　　　）

A．automobile B．aerospace

C．housing D．defense

33．The ______ turned out to be America’s longest war it had ever fought.（　　　）

A．First World War B．Second World War

C．Korean War D．Vietnam War

34．The U.S. Constitution allows the President to give ______ and pardons in federal criminal

cases.（　　　）

A．absolutions B．reprieves

C．testimonies D．amnesties

35．In the U.S. each local school district has a governing board which is usually ______.

（　　　）

A．elected by the voters

B．chosen from the teaching staff

C．selected from the local community

D．appointed by the county magistrate

36．In America, the Constitution provides that ______ shall be President of the Senate.（　　　）

A．the Speaker of the House B．the Secretary of State

C．the Chief Justice D．the Vice President

37．Higher education in the United States began with the founding of ______ in 1636.（　　　）

A．MIT B．Yale University

C．Harvard College D．Princeton University

38．Theodore Dreiser was the literary representative of American______.（　　　）

A．Romanticists B．Transcendentalists

C．Modernists D．Naturalists

39．In his Old Man and the Sea, Hemingway praises the old fisherman’s ______.（　　　）

A．courage to accept misery in life B．attitude towards defeat and failure

C．courage to fight monsters in the sea D．attitude towards the risks of high seas

40．One of the goals set by President Bush in his plan“America 2000”is ______.（　　　）

A．increasing the adult literacy rate

B．eliminating drugs and violence at school

C．bettering all the students’ foreign languages

D．improving the high-school graduation rate to 80%

41．Quebec differs from other Canadian provinces because ______.（　　　）

A．it is very rich in oil

B．it is ideal for wheat growing

C．it has a strong French culture

D．its tourist trade is very important to the economy

42．In 1885,Canada was linked from coast to coast because ______.（　　　）

A．a canal was constructed

B．many expressways were built

C．a national highway was finished

D．the Canadian Pacific Railway was completed

43．______, the second largest city of Canada, is located in Quebec（　　　）

A．Montreal B．Vancouver

C．Toronto D．Ottawa

44．Adelaide is internationally well-known ______.（　　　）

A．for its arts festival

B．for its leading role in lumbering

C．for its most prosperous agriculture

D．for its production of half of the world’s opals

45．Sydney, the largest city in Australia, is the capital of ______.（　　　）

A．Victoria B．Queensland

C．South Australia D．New South Wales

46．Most of the land in Australia’s rural areas is used ______.（　　　）

A．for grazing sheep and cattle

B．for dams and farm buildings

C．for growing vegetables and sugar canes

D．for growing crops like wheat and other grains

47．According to the Waitangi Treaty, if the Maoris want to sell land, only ______ will have

the right to buy.（　　　）

A．the Maoris themselves B．the Crown

C．the British citizens D．the local government

48．The natural disasters in New Zealand may include ______.（　　　）

A．earthquakes, volcanoes and flooding

B．volcanoes, flooding and heavy snows

C．earthquakes, flooding, and heavy snows

D．volcanoes, heavy snows and earthquakes

49．During the 19^th century, ______ was a most important reason for a century-long population

decline in Ireland.（　　　）

A．war B．flood

C．famine D．earthquake

50．Today 93% of the Irish population are ______.（　　　）

A．Puritans B．Roman Catholics

C．Anglicans D．Christians

II.Give a one-sentence answer to each of the following questions. Write your answer in the corresponding space on the answer sheet.(30 points, 3 points for each)

51.When did the recorded history of Britain begin?

52.What was the military significance of the destruction of the Spanish Armada for Britain?

53.How many Members of Parliament does the House of Commons in the U.K. consist of?

54.Please write any three of the 13 colonies the British established along the east coast of North America between 1607 and 1733.

55.What are the three branches in the U.S. federal government?

56.What dose IBM stand for?

57.On which side did Canada fight during WWⅡ?

58.What kinds of vegetation are suitable for the hot dry climate in Australia?

59.What is partly the reason for New Zealand to have changeable weather and to be often windy?

60.What was the result of growing Irish nationalism in the early decades of the 20^th century?

III. Explain each of the following terms in English. Write your answer in the corresponding space on the answer sheet in around 40 words.(20 points, 5 points for each)

61.bank holidays

62.constitutional monarchy

63.“No taxation without representation”

64.the U.S. Federal system

全国2008年4月自考英语国家概况试题答案

课程代码：00522

请将答案填在答题纸相应位置上

1．C 2．C 3．B 4．C 5．C 6．B 7．B 8．A 9． D 10．C

11．A 12．D 13．A 14．B 15．D 16．D 17．D 18．C 19．A 20．A

21．A 22．C 23．B 24．A 25．D 26．C 27．C 28．C 29．D 30．A

31．D 32．B 33．D 34．B 35．A 36．D 37．C 38．D 39．B 40．B

41．C 42．D 43．A 44．A 45．D 46．A 47．B 48．A 49．C 50．B

II. Give a one-sentence answer to each of the following questions. Write your answer in the corresponding space on the answer sheet.(30 points, 3 points for each)

51. Roman invasion

52. The destruction of the Spanish Armada showed England’s superiority as a naval power.

53. 651

54.Virginia, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Georgia.（写任意三个就行）

55. The legislative; the executive and the judicial

56. International Business Machines

57. as an ally of Britain

58. Small plants such as grasses and shrubs

59. Partly because it is an island in southern latitudes

60. An Irish Republic was proclaimed.

III. Explain each of the following terms in English. Write your answer in the corresponding space on the answer sheet in around 40 words.(20 points, 5 points for each)

61. Official public holidays are also called “bank holidays”. The term “Bank Holiday” goes back to the Bank Holidays act of 1871, which owes its name to the fact that banks are closed on the days specified.

62. It is a form of government in which the monarch’s power is limited by Parliament. The UnitedKingdom is a constitutional monarchy: the head of State is a king or a queen. In practice, the Sovereign reigns, but does not rule. The United Kingdom is governed, in the name of the Sovereign, by His or Her majesty’s Government.

63. This was the slogan of the people in the colonies before the War of Independence. They opposed the British policies toward the colonies. By the slogan they declared that, without their representatives taking part in decision-making, they had no obligation to pay taxes.

64. It is a system of government in which has two layers of rule. There is central or federal government for the nation which alone has the power to answer questions that affect the nation as a whole. There are also state and local governments. Each layer of government has separate and distinct powers laid down in the Constitution.

全国2009年4月自学考试英语国家概况试题

课程代码：00522

I. Read the following unfinished statements or questions carefully. For each unfinished statement or question, four suggested answers marked A, B, C and D are given. Choose the one that you think best completes the statement or answers the question. Write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space on the answer sheet. (50 points, 1 point for each)

1. Strictly speaking, “the British Isles” refers to_______.

A. Great Britain B. Ireland

C. the United Kingdom D. Great Britain and Ireland

2. Which of the following kings was responsible for the complete establishment of the feudal system in England?

A. Edward I B. Henry II

C. Alfred the Great D. William the Conqueror

3. The spirit of the Great Charter was ______.

A. a limitation of the powers of the king B. a guarantee of the freedom of the serfs

C. a limitation of the powers of the Church D. a declaration of equality among all people

4. Which of the following is NOT true about the result of the Black Death?

A. Much land was left untended.

B. There was a terrible shortage of labour.

C. The surviving peasants had lost their power of bargaining.

D. Landowners tended to change from arable to sheep-farming.

5. The War of Roses that took place from 1455 to 1485 was fought between ______.

A. Britain and France B. the Parliament and the Crown

C. the working people and the aristocrats D. two branches of the Plantagenet family

6. The English Renaissance was largely literary, and it achieved its finest expression in the so-called ______.

A. Romantic poetry B. Romantic fiction

C. Elizabethan poetry D. Elizabethan drama

7. British constitutional monarchy is a system under which the powers of the ______ are limited by Parliament or the constitution.

A. church B. king or queen

C. government ministers D. Bishop’s court

8. The Tories in Britain were the forerunners of ______, which still bears this nickname today.

A. the Labor Party B. the Liberal Party

C. the Conservative Party D. the Social Democratic Party

9. Which of the following was NOT included in the six-point demand of the Chartist Movement?

A. Equal electoral districts B. Voting by secret ballot

C. The vote for all adult males D. The vote for all adult females

10. During the First World War, Britain was allied with ______.

A. Turkey B. the Central Powers

C. France and Russia D. Germany and Austria-Hungary

11. Who was the man that led Britain in the crisis of the Second World War?

A. George VI B. Theodore Roosevelt

C. Neville Chamberlain D. Sir Winston Churchill

12. The new policies adopted by Mrs. Thatcher and Conservative Government after the 1979 election was known as ______.

A. Thatcherism B. the New Deal

C. New Frontier D. Keynesianism

13. Over the past one thousand years, the British ______ has been broken only once between 1649 and 1660.

A. Cabinet B. Parliament

C. Monarchy D. Privy Council

14. Who has the power to appoint the Prime Minister in Britain?

A. The Queen B. The Parliament

C. The House of Lords D. The Church of England

15. In Britain, a full meeting of ______ is called only when a Sovereign dies or announces his or her intention to marry.

A. the Privy Council B. the Parliament

C. the House of Commons D. the House of Lords

16. Which of the following is NOT involved in the British judicial responsibilities?

A. Attorney General B. Ministry of Justice

C. The Lord Chancellor D. The Home Secretary

17. Bank holidays in Britain refer to ______.

A. official public holidays B. holidays for the banks only

C. public holidays except for the banks D. holidays for the financial institutions only

18. Which statement about the British universities is NOT true?

A. They enjoy academic freedom.

B. They cannot appoint their own staff.

C. They are governed by royal charters.

D. They provide their own courses and award their own degrees.

19. ______, the most popular sport in England as well as in Europe, has its traditional home in England where it was developed in the 19^th century.

A. Basketball B. Tennis

C. Football D. Baseball

20. London’s Metropolitan Police Force is directly under the control of _______.

A. the Prime Minister B. the Lord Chancellor

C. the Home Secretary D. the Attorney General

21. Which statement about the Puritans is NOT true?

A. The Puritans did not allow religious dissent.

B. The Puritans were poor artisans and unskilled peasants.

C. They were dissatisfied with the political corruption in England.

D. They went to the United States to establish what they considered the true church.

22. The largest racial and ethnic minority in the U.S. is the ______, which accounts over 12.1% of the population.

A. blacks B. Asians

C. Indians D. Hispanics

23. The three well-known authors who penned the Federalist Papers are ______.

A. Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and John Jay

B. George Washington, James Madison and John Jay

C. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay

D. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Adams

24. When Abraham Lincoln was elected president, the southern states broke away and formed a new nation called ______.

A. the Southern States of America B. the Federalist States of America

C. the Confederate States of America D. the Anti-confederate States of America

25. With the development of industry and extension of railroad network in the early 20^th century in the U.S.A., there appeared ______.

A. a rapid growth of cities B. an influx of foreign goods

C. an increase of urban ghettos D. a great increase in the number of farms

26. In the early 19^th century, ______ actively used the Sherman Antitrust Act to stop monopolistic business mergers in the United States.

A. J.P. Morgan B. Woodrow Wilson

C. Henry Rockefeller D. Theodore Roosevelt

27. The Red Scare in 1919 and 1920 was a typical example of American ______.

A. religious intolerance B. intolerant nationalism

C. Progressive Movement D. deregulation of big trusts

28. In the early 1930s, the American foreign policy was isolationist, but the ______ suddenly changed the whole situation, which propelled the U.S. into the Second World War.

A. Pearl Harbor attack B. bombing of Guam island

C. seizing of American merchant ships D. sinking of American passenger ships

29. In 1962, President ______ finally decided on the use of naval force to prevent military material and arms from entering Cuba and demanded Soviet removal of the missiles there.

A. Nixon B. Truman

C. Johnson D. Kennedy

30. In 1853, in the ______, another 30,000 square miles of Mexican land were added to the territory of the U.S.A.

A. Atlantic Purchase B. Mexican Purchase

C. Gadsden Purchase D. Louisiana Purchase

31. The four problems that face the economy of the United States are______.

A. unemployment, inflation, financial crisis and trade deficit

B. unemployment, inflation, financial deficit and trade deficit

C. mortgage losses, inflation, financial deficit and trade deficit

D. unemployment, market failures, financial deficit and trade deficit

32. Which statement about the U.S. Constitution is NOT true?

A. It is the supreme law of the land.

B. It is the oldest written constitution in the world.

C. It was adopted in 1781 at the Second Continental Congress.

D. It provides the basis for political stability, economic growth and social progress.

33. The American President usually takes an oath of office, administered by the ______ of the United States in January.

A. Chief Justice B. House Speaker

C. Secretary of State D. Senate Majority Leader

34. The U.S. Constitution provides that the ______ shall be President of the Senate.

A. Vice President B. Secretary of State

C. Senate Majority Leader D. Senate Minority Leader

35. Which one of the following is NOT government-run at the U.S. federal level?

A. Motor vehicle B. The road system

C. National defense D. The postal service

36. It is generally agreed that U.S. higher education began with the______.

A. Civil War B. Independence War

C. founding of Harvard College D. founding of Princeton University

37. Formal education in the United States consists of ______.

A. kindergarten, junior and senior education

B. junior, elementary and secondary education

C. elementary, secondary and higher education

D. kindergarten, secondary and higher education

38. In his Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway ______.

A. expresses the idea of facing defeat courageously

B. shows the basic goodness and wisdom of ordinary people

C. praises the ideas of equality and democracy and the joy of common people

D. describes the sharp contrast of wealth and poverty in Chicago and New York

39. In the early part of the 19^th century, ______ was the center of American writing.

A. Boston B. Detroit

C. New York City D. Philadelphia

40. The most important patriotic holiday in the U.S. is ______.

A. Halloween B. Veterans’ Day

C. Thanksgiving Day D. Independence Day

41. The capital city of Ireland is ______.

A. Cork B. Dublin

C. Galway D. Waterford

42. Historically, Ireland has been free of ethnic conflicts because of its ______.

A. racial unity B. racial homogeneity

C. multi-culturalism D. high rate of emigration

43. Ireland has the following demographic features EXCEPT ______.

A. a late marriage age

B. an excess of females in the population

C. a high proportion of bachelors and spinsters of all ages

D. a low birthrate compounded by a century of emigration

44. Which of the following is a typical bilingual city in Canada?

A. Ottawa B. Calgary

C. Toronto D. Vancouver

45. Which of the following statements about immigration in Canada is NOT true?

A. It is estimated that one-third of Canadians were born in other countries.

B. Immigration has always been an important source of its population growth.

C. Immigration has played an important role in the development of its economy.

D. in the past Britain and Western Europe were the principal sources of Canadian immigration.

46. In terms of land area, Canada is the ______ largest country in the world.

A. second B. third

C. fourth D. fifth

47. The head of state of Australia is ______.

A. the Governor B. the President

C. the Prime Minister D. the Queen of England

48. ______ is the only city on the western coast of Australia with a population of over one million.

A. Perth B. Sydney

C. Brisbane D. Melbourne

49. A ______, where two parts of the earth’s crust meet, runs the length of New Zealand.

A. fault line B. built area

C. dormant volcano D. geothermal area

50. The Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 was an agreement between ______.

A. the Maori whalers and the British Crown

B. the Maori people and the British missionaries

C. the Maori traders and the British missionaries

D. the chiefs of the Maori people and the British Crown

II. Give a one-sentence answer to each of the following questions. Write your answer in the corresponding space on the answer sheet. (30 points, 3 points for each)

51. What are the main functions of the British Parliament?

52. What were the two countries Elizabeth I successfully played off against each other for nearly 30 years?

53. What was the outcome of the English Civil War?

54. What are the three main Christian festivals in the U.K.?

55. What were the three cornerstones of American postwar economic boom?

56. What was the most important document produced between China and the United States when President Nixon visited China in 1972?

57. What is the most central function of the U.S. Congress?

58. What are the two major parties that dominate American politics at the federal, state and local levels?

59. What are the two official languages used in Ireland?

60. Who are the native people living in Australia?

III. Explain each of the following terms in English. Write your answer in the corresponding space on the answer sheet in around 40 words. (20 points, 5 points for each)

61. Open University

62. The Speaker (of the House of Commons in Britain)

63. Muckrakers

64. The stock market crash of 1929

全国2009年4月英语国家概况试题答案

课程代码：00522

I. Read the following unfinishedstatements or questions carefully. For each unfinished statement orquestion, four suggested answers marked A, B, C and D are given. Choosethe one that you think best completes the statement or answers thequestion. Write the letter of the answer you have chosen in thecorresponding space on the answer sheet. (50 points, 1 point for each)

1. Strictly speaking, “the British Isles” refers to_______.

A. Great Britain B. Ireland

C. the United Kingdom D. Great Britain and Ireland

正确答案:C,D为错误答案,A为geographical name ,因为 the Brithish Isles 包含了Great Britain andIreland,as well as hundreds of small ones.所以正确答案是C the United Kingdom(联合王国).

2. Which of the following kings was responsible for the complete establishment of the feudal system in England?

A. Edward I B. Henry II

C. Alfred the Great D. William the Conqueror

正确答案:D 此题答案在书中P27.

3. The spirit of the Great Charter was ______.

A. a limitation of the powers of the king B. a guarantee of the freedom of the serfs

C. a limitation of the powers of the Church D. a declaration of equality among all people

正确答案:A,本题答案在书中P33.

4. Which of the following is NOT true about the result of the Black Death?

A. Much land was left untended.

B. There was a terrible shortage of labour.

C. The surviving peasants had lost their power of bargaining.

D. Landowners tended to change from arable to sheep-farming.

正确答案:C,本题答案在书中P37.

5. The War of Roses that took place from 1455 to 1485 was fought between ______.

A. Britain and France B. the Parliament and the Crown

C. the working people and the aristocrats D. two branches of the Plantagenet family

正确答案:D,本题答案在中中P40.

6. The English Renaissance was largely literary, and it achieved its finest expression in the so-called ______.

A. Romantic poetry B. Romantic fiction

C. Elizabethan poetry D. Elizabethan drama

正确答案:D,本题答案在书中P49.

7. British constitutional monarchy is a system under which the powersof the ______ are limited by Parliament or the constitution.

A. church B. king or queen

C. government ministers D. Bishop’s court

正确答案:B,本题答案在书中P60.

8. The Tories in Britain were the forerunners of ______, which still bears this nickname today.

A. the Labor Party B. the Liberal Party

C. the Conservative Party D. the Social Democratic Party

正确答案:C,本题答案在书中P62.

9. Which of the following was NOT included in the six-point demand of the Chartist Movement?

A. Equal electoral districts B. Voting by secret ballot

C. The vote for all adult males D. The vote for all adult females

正确答案:D,这里考关于People’s Charter,正确答案应该是the vote for all adult males.

10. During the First World War, Britain was allied with ______.

A. Turkey B. the Central Powers

C. France and Russia D. Germany and Austria-Hungary

正确答案:C,BD是一个意思the Central Powers=Germany and Austria-Hungary,A是错误答案.记不起来的话用排除法就可以做对.

11. Who was the man that led Britain in the crisis of the Second World War?

A. George VI B. Theodore Roosevelt

C. Neville Chamberlain D. Sir Winston Churchill

正确答案:D,答案在书中P83.

12. The new policies adopted by Mrs. Thatcher and Conservative Government after the 1979 election was known as ______.

A. Thatcherism B. the New Deal

C. New Frontier D. Keynesianism

正确答案:A,这题比较容易的,只要知道关于撒切尔主义就能做出来.

13. Over the past one thousand years, the British ______ has been broken only once between 1649 and 1660.

A. Cabinet B. Parliament

C. Monarchy D. Privy Council

正确答案:C,本题考关于君主政体,原文在书中P106.

14. Who has the power to appoint the Prime Minister in Britain?

A. The Queen B. The Parliament

C. The House of Lords D. The Church of England

正确答案:A,正确答案在书中第7章,关于统治者的职能.

15. In Britain, a full meeting of ______ is called only when a Sovereign dies or announces his or her intention to marry.

A. the Privy Council B. the Parliament

C. the House of Commons D. the House of Lords

正确答案:A,原文见教材P117.

16. Which of the following is NOT involved in the British judicial responsibilities?

A. Attorney General B. Ministry of Justice

C. The Lord Chancellor D. The Home Secretary

正确答案:B,本题没有准确的原文要靠自己用排除法判断,参考答案在教材P129,about thejudiciary in the U.k,”There is no ministry of justice in the UnitedKingdom.Central responsibility lies with the Lord Chancellor,the HomeSecretary and the Attorney General”.

17. Bank holidays in Britain refer to ______.

A. official public holidays B. holidays for the banks only

C. public holidays except for the banks D. holidays for the financial institutions only

正确答案:A,答案原文在教材P153.

18. Which statement about the British universities is NOT true?

A. They enjoy academic freedom.

B. They cannot appoint their own staff.

C. They are governed by royal charters.

D. They provide their own courses and award their own degrees.

正确答案:B,原文见教材P158.

19. ______, the most popular sport in England as well as in Europe, hasits traditional home in England where it was developed in the 19thcentury.

A. Basketball B. Tennis

C. Football D. Baseball

正确答案:C,原文见教材P166.

20. London’s Metropolitan Police Force is directly under the control of _______.

A. the Prime Minister B. the Lord Chancellor

C. the Home Secretary D. the Attorney General

正确答案:C,原文见教材P130.

21. Which statement about the Puritans is NOT true?

A. The Puritans did not allow religious dissent.

B. The Puritans were poor artisans and unskilled peasants.

C. They were dissatisfied with the political corruption in England.

D. They went to the United States to establish what they considered the true church.

正确答案:B,原文见教材P273.

22. The largest racial and ethnic minority in the U.S. is the ______, which accounts over 12.1% of the population.

A. blacks B. Asians

C. Indians D. Hispanics

正确答案:A,见教材P228.

23. The three well-known authors who penned the Federalist Papers are ______.

A. Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and John Jay

B. George Washington, James Madison and John Jay

C. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay

D. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Adams

正确答案:C,见教材P242.

24. When Abraham Lincoln was elected president, the southern states broke away and formed a new nation called ______.

A. the Southern States of America B. the Federalist States of America

C. the Confederate States of America D. the Anti-confederate States of America

正确答案:C,见教材P248.

25. With the development of industry and extension of railroad networkin the early 20th century in the U.S.A., there appeared ______.

A. a rapid growth of cities B. an influx of foreign goods

C. an increase of urban ghettos D. a great increase in the number of farms

正确答案:A,见教材P252.

26. In the early 19th century, ______ actively used the ShermanAntitrust Act to stop monopolistic business mergers in the UnitedStates.

A. J.P. Morgan B. Woodrow Wilson

C. Henry Rockefeller D. Theodore Roosevelt

正确答案:D,原文见教材P254.

27. The Red Scare in 1919 and 1920 was a typical example of American ______.

A. religious intolerance B. intolerant nationalism

C. Progressive Movement D. deregulation of big trusts

正确答案:B,原文见P257.

28. In the early 1930s, the American foreign policy was isolationist,but the ______ suddenly changed the whole situation, which propelledthe U.S. into the Second World War.

A. Pearl Harbor attack B. bombing of Guam island

C. seizing of American merchant ships D. sinking of American passenger ships

正确答案:A,原文见教材P261.

29. In 1962, President ______ finally decided on the use of naval forceto prevent military material and arms from entering Cuba and demandedSoviet removal of the missiles there.

A. Nixon B. Truman

C. Johnson D. Kennedy

正确答案:D,原文见教材P273.

30. In 1853, in the ______, another 30,000 square miles of Mexican land were added to the territory of the U.S.A.

A. Atlantic Purchase B. Mexican Purchase

C. Gadsden Purchase D. Louisiana Purchase

正确答案:C,原文见教材P246.

31. The four problems that face the economy of the United States are______.

A. unemployment, inflation, financial crisis and trade deficit

B. unemployment, inflation, financial deficit and trade deficit

C. mortgage losses, inflation, financial deficit and trade deficit

D. unemployment, market failures, financial deficit and trade deficit

正确答案:B,原文见教材P297.

32. Which statement about the U.S. Constitution is NOT true?

A. It is the supreme law of the land.

B. It is the oldest written constitution in the world.

C. It was adopted in 1781 at the Second Continental Congress.

D. It provides the basis for political stability, economic growth and social progress.

正确答案:C,正确答案应该是It was adopted in 1787 at the Second ….

33. The American President usually takes an oath of office, administered by the ______ of the United States in January.

A. Chief Justice B. House Speaker

C. Secretary of State D. Senate Majority Leader

正确答案:A,原文见教材P303.

34. The U.S. Constitution provides that the ______ shall be President of the Senate.

A. Vice President B. Secretary of State

C. Senate Majority Leader D. Senate Minority Leader

正确答案:A,原文见教材the executive branch部分.

35. Which one of the following is NOT government-run at the U.S. federal level?

A. Motor vehicle B. The road system

C. National defense D. The postal service

正确答案:A,因为BCD是国营的所以正确答案是A.

36. It is generally agreed that U.S. higher education began with the______.

A. Civil War B. Independence War

C. founding of Harvard College D. founding of Princeton University

正确答案:C,原文见教材P320.

37. Formal education in the United States consists of ______.

A. kindergarten, junior and senior education

B. junior, elementary and secondary education

C. elementary, secondary and higher education

D. kindergarten, secondary and higher education

正确答案:C,原文见教材P316.

38. In his Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway ______.

A. expresses the idea of facing defeat courageously

B. shows the basic goodness and wisdom of ordinary people

C. praises the ideas of equality and democracy and the joy of common people

D. describes the sharp contrast of wealth and poverty in Chicago and New York

正确答案:A,原文见P341.

39. In the early part of the 19th century, ______ was the center of American writing.

A. Boston B. Detroit

C. New York City D. Philadelphia

正确答案:C,原文见教材P332.

40. The most important patriotic holiday in the U.S. is ______.

A. Halloween B. Veterans’ Day

C. Thanksgiving Day D. Independence Day

正确答案:D,原文见教材P355.

41. The capital city of Ireland is ______.

A. Cork B. Dublin

C. Galway D. Waterford

正确答案:B,ABC三选项,在爱尔兰部分没提到过.

42. Historically, Ireland has been free of ethnic conflicts because of its ______.

A. racial unity B. racial homogeneity

C. multi-culturalism D. high rate of emigration

正确答案:B,原文见教材P186.

43. Ireland has the following demographic features EXCEPT ______.

A. a late marriage age

B. an excess of females in the population

C. a high proportion of bachelors and spinsters of all ages

D. a low birthrate compounded by a century of emigration

正确答案:B,females应该改为males.

44. Which of the following is a typical bilingual city in Canada?

A. Ottawa B. Calgary

C. Toronto D. Vancouver

正确答案:A,这道题目要自己根据自己了解课本情况分析,教材P367有关于屋太华部分是这样写的”Ottawa,the capital of Canada,is in the …speaking”.说法语和英语各占一般,因此是最典型的双语城市.

45. Which of the following statements about immigration in Canada is NOT true?

A. It is estimated that one-third of Canadians were born in other countries.

B. Immigration has always been an important source of its population growth.

C. Immigration has played an important role in the development of its economy.

D. in the past Britain and Western Europe were the principal sources of Canadian immigration.

正确答案:A,数字不是1/3,而是1/6.

46. In terms of land area, Canada is the ______ largest country in the world.

A. second B. third

C. fourth D. fifth

正确答案:A,这是常识,在世界版图上面积名第二在俄罗斯后面.

47. The head of state of Australia is ______.

A. the Governor B. the President

C. the Prime Minister D. the Queen of England

正确答案:D,因为澳大利亚是英联邦的一部分,以女王的名义,由总督来管理,因为真正的同志者还是英国国君,如果熟悉教材第7章,自然就能推理出来.

48. ______ is the only city on the western coast of Australia with a population of over one million.

A. Perth B. Sydney

C. Brisbane D. Melbourne

正确答案:A,原文见教材P424.

49. A ______, where two parts of the earth’s crust meet, runs the length of New Zealand.

A. fault line B. built area

C. dormant volcano D. geothermal area

正确答案:A,原文见教材P511.

50. The Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 was an agreement between ______.

A. the Maori whalers and the British Crown

B. the Maori people and the British missionaries

C. the Maori traders and the British missionaries

D. the chiefs of the Maori people and the British Crown

正确答案:D,原文见教材P515.

II. Give a one-sentence answer to each of the following questions.Write your answer in the corresponding space on the answer sheet. (30points, 3 points for each)

51. What are the main functions of the British Parliament?

there are law-making,authorizing taxation and public expenditures,eamining the actions of the government.

52. What were the two countries Elizabeth I successfully played off against each other for nearly 30 years?

France and Spain

53. What was the outcome of the English Civil War?

King Charles was defeated,a Commonwealth was declared by Oliver Cromwell,and he became the Lord Protector.(本仅供参考)

54. What are the three main Christian festivals in the U.K.?

They are Christmas,Easter and Whit Sunday.

55. What were the three cornerstones of American postwar economic boom?

They are the automobile,housing and defense industries.

56. What was the most important document produced between China and theUnited States when President Nixon visited China in 1972?

It was the Shanghai Communique.

57. What is the most central function of the U.S. Congress?

It is the pass of the law.

58. What are the two major parties that dominate American politics at the federal, state and local levels?

The Democratic Party and the Republican Party.

59. What are the two official languages used in Ireland?

Irish (or the Gaelic) and English.

60. Who are the native people living in Australia?

The Aboriginals.

III. Explain each of the following terms in English. Write your answerin the corresponding space on the answer sheet in around 40 words. (20points, 5 points for each)

61. Open University

The Open University is a non-residential university.It is so namedbecause it is open to all to become students.The University was foundedin 1969 and began its first courses in 1970.The University offersdegree and other courses for adult students of all ages in Britain andthe other member countries of the European Union.It uses a combinationof specially produced printed texts,correspondence tuition,televisionand radio broadcasts and audio/video cassettes.

62. The Speaker (of the House of Commons in Britain)

The Speaker is a member who is acceptable to all shades of opinion inthe House.In carrying out his or her duties the Speaker is required tobe impartial;he or she cannot debate or,as a general rule,vote on ameasure,and it it his or her duty to see that all points of views havea fair hearing.

63. Muckrakers

At the turn of the 20th century,there emerged a group of reform-mindedjournalists,who made investigations and exposed various dark sides ofthe seemingly prosperous society.President Theodore Roosevelt calledthem Muckrakers.

64. The stock market crash of 1929

On October 24,1929,the New York stock market crashed.It was calledBlack Thursday,because it was the beginning of a long economicdepression.the Great Depression had far-reaching consequences.It sweptthrough the globe quickly.The rate of unemployment increased rapidly.Agreat deal of companies and businesses closed and went into bankruptcy.American economy didn’t recover untill the New Deal was put forward.

全国2010年4月自学考试英语国家概况试题

课程代码：00522

请将答案填在答题纸相应位置上

I. Read the following unfinished statements or questions carefully. For each unfinished statement or question，four suggested answers marked A，B，C and D are given. Choose the one that you think best completes the statement or answers the question. Write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space on the answer sheet.(50 points，1 point for each)

1.___________of 1066 is perhaps the best-known event in English history, in which William，

the Conqueror confiscated almost all the land and gave it to his followers.

A. The Roman Conquest B. The Anglo-Saxon Conquest

C. The Norman Conquest D. The Celt Conquest

2.As a result of the Black Death，___________.

A. all land was left untended B. no labor was required any longer

C. 1and owners tended to change from arable to sheep-farming

D. surviving peasants were not able to bargain about their wages

3.Which of the following statements about Elizabeth I(1 55 8-1 603)is true?

A. Elizabeth was 35 when she came to the throne.

B. Elizabeth remained single.

C. Elizabeth was not able to work with Parliament.

D. Her reign was a time of diminishing English nationalism.

4. ___________ was not in the“Allies” in the First World War.

A. Britain B. France

C. Russia D. Turkey

5.The English Civil War is also called ___________ .

A. the Revolutionary War B. the Puritan Revolution

C. the Reformation D. the Renaissance

6.The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy. The head of State is a king or a queen .In practice，___________.

A. Parliament rules the country

B. the Sovereign reigns but does not rule

C. the Sovereign rules but does not reign

D. the Prime Minister rules and reigns

7.In January,1973，Britain finally became a full member of the___________，which was established by the Treaty of Rome in 1957.

A. Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development

B. Organization of European Development

C. European Economic Community

D. European Union

8.The___________refers to the mechanization of industry and the consequent changes in social economic organization in Britain in the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries.

A. Urbanization B. Economic Boom

C. Glorious Revolution D. Industrial Revolution

9.The major Christian festivals in Britain are___________ .

A. Christmas, Easter and Mother’s Day

B. Christmas, Easter and Whit Sunday

C. Christmas，Guy Fawkes Day and St. Patrick’s Day

D. Christmas，Whit Sunday and St. George’s Day

10.The Commonwealth of Nations is a free association of independent countries that were once colonies of Britain. At present there are ___________ countries within the Commonwealth (1991).

A. 30 B. 40

C. 50 D. 60

11.Among the three tribes of the Celts coming to Britain, the most industrious and vigorous of the Celtic tribes was the ___________ .

A. Gaels B. Brythons

C. Belgae D. Vikings

12.Political change in England came mainly through___________.

A. gradual reform B. revolution

C. people’s uprisings D. working class movement

13.The two parties that have held power in Britain since 1945 are ___________ .

A. the Democratic Party and the Republican Party

B. the Conservative Party and the Labor Party

C. the Labor Party and the Social Democratic Party

D. the Labor Party and the Democratic Party

14.___________’s reign was a time of confident English nationalism and of great achievements in literature and other arts. in exploration and in battle.

A. Mary B. Henry VIII

C. E1izabeth I D. Charles II

15.After the Restoration，Parliament passed a series of severe laws called ____________against the Puritans，now known as Nonconformists.

A. Agreement of the People B. the Petition of the Right

C. the Clarendon Code D. the Act of Supremacy

16.Which statement about the“Wars of Roses”is NOT true?

A. The king’s power now became supreme.

B. Ordinary people were seriously affected.

C. The wars were waged intermittently for 30 years.

D. From these wars feudalism received its death blow.

1 7.The finest exponents of Elizabethan drama in the English Renaissance were ___________ .

A. Ben Johnson，Christopher Marlowe and Charles Dickens

B. Edmund Spenser, Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare

C. William Shakespeare, Ben Johnson and Charles Dickens

D. William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe and Ben Johnson

18.The Chartist movement was the first nationwide ___________ movement.

A. working class B. lower middle class

C. upper middle class D. upper class

19.______________led the U.K. to final victory in the Second World War.

A. Winston Churchill B. Neville Chamberlain

C. Tony Blair D. William Gladstone

20.Which statement about the religion in Britain is true?

A. Every person in Britain may change his religion，but with difficulty.

B. Every person may not manifest his faith in teaching，worship and observance.

C. Every person has the right to religious freedom without interference from the community or the State.

D. Churches and religious societies of any kind cannot own property and propagate their beliefs in speeches and writing.

21.In the late 15^th century, Christopher Columbus，a(n)___________navigator, led his men to sail across the vast ocean and reached some small islands in the now West Indies.

A. French B. Spanish

C. Italian D. English

22.American troops defeated the British at___________ in Northern New York. This was a great turning point of the American War of Independence，leading directly to an alliance between the U.S. and France.

A. Saratoga B. Trenton

C. Lexington D. Yorktown

23.In 1787，delegates from the states held a meeting in Philadelphia to make the Articles of Confederation adequate. The meeting came to be called the ___________ .

A. First Continental Congress B. Second Continental Congress

C. Constitutional Convention D. Independent Convention

24.Which of the following is NOT among President Theodore Roosevelt’s contributions?

A. The implementation of the Sherman Anti-trust Act.

B. The initiation of large-scale irrigation projects.

C. The adoption of the Hepburn Act of 1906.

D. The passage of the Federal Reserve Act.

25.___________Was the beginning of a long economic depression in the U.S. in 1929.

A. Business bankruptcy B. Serious unemployment

C. The stock market crash D. Foreclosures

26.During the Second World War, American wartime objectives were the total destruction of___________ powers and the establishment of a world order.

A. Axis B. Asian

C. Allied D. European

27.In 1932，in the depth of the depression，the American people chose ___________ as their next president who promised to get the U.S. out of the depression.

A. Theodore Roosevelt B. Franklin D. Roosevelt

C. Woodrow Wilson D. Herbert C. Hoover

28.Education was made a function of the state under the ___________Amendment to the US Constitution.

A. Tenth B. Eleventh

C. Twelfth D. Thirteenth

29.McCarthyism was a full-scale ___________hysteria in the United States in the 1950s.

A. pro-Nazi B. anti-Fascist

C. pro-Communist D. anti-Communist

30.On June 5，1947，___________suggested that the US should offer economic aid to Western Europe so as to protect the region from Soviet expansion.

A. George Kennan B. George Marshall

C. Dwight Eisenhower D. James F. Byrnes

31.A decision to set up a world organization，the United Nations，was made at___________.

A. Yalta Conference B. Potsdam Conference

C. Teheran Conference D. Paris Conference

32.The safeguards against abuse of powers in the United States come in the form of___________.

A. separation of powers B. executive orders

C. presidential elections D. judicial reviews

33.___________Was meant to guarantee the blacks and others the right to vote.

A. Emancipation Proclamation in 1863

B. The Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution in 1865

C. The Civil Rights Act of 1964

D. The Voting Rights Act of 1965

34.Woman obtained voting right from the___________ Amendment to the Constitution.

A. 17^th B. 18^th

C. 19^th D. 20^th

35.Of the four kinds of high schools，___________ones only aim to prepare students for college.

A. comprehensive B. academic

C. vocational D. technical

36.There have been__________ periods in the development of American political parties in

the United States.

A. two B. three

C. four D. five

37.The 1920s in the United States has been described by many historians as a period of

___________.

A. material failure B. spiritual frustration

C. political setbacks D. welfare reform

38.___________is the largest single source of goods imported by the U.S.，accounting for nearly

30％of the total.

A. Canada B. Mexico

C. Japan D. European Union

39.Mark Twain’s masterwork was ___________ .

A. The Scarlet Letter B. Leaves of Grass

C. The Sketch Book D. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

40.In the early part of the 19th century，___________was the center of American writing.

A. Boston B. Philadelphia

C. Chicago D. New York City

41.Tourist trade is important in economy in ___________with rich green mountains and valleys.

A. British Columbia B. Atlantic provinces

C. the Canadian-Shield D. St. Lawrence-Great Lakes provinces

42.Which of the following about Canada in World War I is NOT true?

A. It founded its navy to enter World War I.

B. It took a seat as a member of the League of Nations.

C. It won the right to sign the Peace Treaty of 1919 in its own name.

D. It has found its place among the nations of the world since World War I.

43.Generally speaking，Canada can be divided into___________ geographical regions.

A. three B. four

C. five D. six

44.Which of the following statements about Australia is true?

A. It is the world’s fifth largest country and is surrounded by sea.

B. It is the smallest and the only continent that contains only one country.

C. It is a continent that contains only Australia and New Zealand.

D. It is the world’s smallest continent and the world’s fourth largest country.

45.The first Australian colony, established by Britain in 1788 and called the premier state，is ___________ .

A. Victoria B. Tasmania

C. Queensland D. New South Wales

46.The Australian political division borders are drawn___________.

A. along straight lines of latitude and longitude

B. along rivers and forests

C. along mountain ranges

D. along natural features

47.The only native mammals in New Zealand are___________.

A. rabbits B. bats

C. opossums D. goats

48.A chain of mountains runs almost the whole length of South Island in New Zealand. The highest peak is___________.

A. Mt Ruapehu B. Mt Cook

C. Mt Ngaurohoe D. Mt Tongariro

49.One of the four unusual demographic features of Ireland is___________.

A. an early marriage age

B. an excess of males in the population

C. a low proportion of bachelors and spinsters of all ages

D. a high birthrate compounded by a century of emigration

50.Migration in Ireland declined sharply___________.

A. during WWI

B. in recent years

C. in the early decades of the 20th century

D. after the establishment of the Irish Free State

II.Give a one-sentence answer to each of the following questions.Write your answer in the corresponding space on the answer sheet.(30 points，3 points for each)

51.What is the Magna Carta also known as?

52.Who has the power to declare war and make peace in the U.K.?

53.What are the three political divisions on the island of Great Britain?

54.When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

55.What foreign policy did the American government pursue in the early 1930s?

56.What are Conglomerates in the USA?

57.Where is the name“Canada”believed to have come from?

58.Why does Great Britain have the greatest influence upon Australia?

59.What is Maoritanga?

60.What was the consequence of the the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921?

III.Explain each of the following terms in English. Write your answer in the corresponding space on the answer sheet in around 40 words.(20 points，5 points for each)

61.the House of Commons

62.English feudal system

63.the U.S. two-party system

64.the New Deal

2010年4月全国自考英语国家概况参考答案

全国2011年4月自学考试英语国家概况试题

课程代码：00522

I. Read the following unfinished statements or questions carefully. For each unfinished statement or question, four suggested answers marked A, B, C and D are given. Choose the one that you think best completes the statement or answers the question. Write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space on the answer sheet. (50 points, 1 point for each)

1._______ is NOT a political division on the island of Great Britain.

A. Ireland B. Wales

C. England D. Scotland

2._______ , King of Wessex, is known as “the father of British Navy” who founded a strong fleet which first beat the Danes at sea.

A. Alfred B. Henry

C. Edward D. William

3. The _______ Conquest in 1066 is perhaps the best known event in English history.

A. Roman B. Viking

C. Anglo-Saxon D. Norman

4. _______was the modern name given to the deadly bubonic plague, an epidemic disease spread by rat fleas in the 14th century.

A. Cholera B. Malaria

C. Black Death D. Yellow Fever

5. The name Wars of Roses was, in fact, coined by the great 19th century novelist_______.

A. Walter Scott B. Ben Johnson

C. Francis Bacon D. Edmund Spenser

6. Winston Churchill was heavily defeated at the general election of 1945 because _______.

A. he did not act as a great war leader

B. he failed to lead his country to victory

C. people wanted Britain to return to the politics of the 1920s and 30s

D. the Conservative Party’s traditional principles seemed old-fashioned

7._______ overthrew the feudal system in England and is generally regarded as the beginning of modern world history.

A. Puritan Revolution B. The War of Roses

C. The English Civil War D. The Glorious Revolution

8. The British Monarchy has been in existence for more than 1,000 years going back to at least the _______ century.

A. 8th B. 9th

C. 10th D. 11th

9. In the line of succession to the throne, _______ have precedence over other candidates (heirs).

A. the monarch’s sons B. the queen’s sisters

C. the monarch’s brothers D. the queen’s daughters

10._______ is NOT a constitutional part of the British Parliament.

A. The Cabinet B. The Sovereign

C. The House of Lords D. The House of Commons

11. Each session of the British Parliament usually lasts for_______.

A. one year B. two years

C. four years D. half a year

12. In the general election, an MP candidate must deposit 500 pounds, which is returned if he or she receives _______ or more of the vote cast.

A. 5% B. 10%

C. 15% D. 20%

13. Only in _______ are police officers allowed to carry firearms for personal protection and for duty purposes.

A. Wales B. England

C. Scotland D. Northern Ireland

14. In Great Britain, almost _______of medical prescription items are supplied free.

A. 50% B. 60%

C. 70% D. 80%

15. The two established churches in Britain are_______.

A. Church of England and Church of Wales

B. Church of Ireland and Church of England

C. Church of Ireland and Church of Scotland

D. Church of England and Church of Scotland

16. Full time first-degree university courses usually last _______ in England.

A. 2 years B. 3 years

C. 4 years D. 5 years

17. _______ is a “quality” newspaper in Britain.

A. The Sun B. The Times

C. The Daily Star D. The Daily Mirror

18. The home of golf is_______.

A. Wales B. England

C. Scotland D. Northern Ireland

19. In the United Kingdom, ministers are appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of_______.

A. the Prime Minister

B. the Lord Chancellor

C. the Duke of Edinburgh

D. the Speaker of the House of Commons

20. _______was the British Prime Minister who adopted appeasement policy to Nazi Germany during the Second World War.

A. Tony Blair B. Margaret Thatcher

C. Winston Churchill D. Neville Chamberlain

21. The percentage of immigrants in the United States varies greatly from region to region with the _______United States accounting for 14.8% of foreign-born population in the 1980s.

A. Southern B. Northern

C. Western D. Eastern

22. In the U.S. the high birth rate during the “baby boom” mainly refers to the period _______.

A. 1920—1930 B. 1946—1964

C. 1972—1982 D. 1980—1990

23. In 1607 the first English colony in America was founded at Jamestown,_______.

A. Maine B. Virginia

C. Massachusetts D. New Hampshire

24. After the United States bought the _______ for only $15 million, its territory almost doubled.

A. Ohio Territory B. Gadsden Territory

C. Louisiana Territory D. New Mexico Territory

25. When Abraham Lincoln was elected president, the southern states broke away and formed a new nation called_______.

A. the Confederate Unions

B. the Federal States of America

C. the Federal Union of America

D. the Confederate States of America

26. The Civil War ended with the passing of the _______to the Constitution, which banned slavery in the United States.

A. Tenth Amendment B. Eleventh Amendment

C. Twelfth Amendment D. Thirteenth Amendment

27. Which of the following statements is NOT a reason to explain the rapid growth of capitalism after the Civil War?

A. The U.S. federal government put low taxes on foreign imports.

B. There was enough labor supply for the development of American industries.

C. Science and invention played a key role in accelerating America’s industrial development.

D. With the war over, both foreign and domestic capital became available for investment.

28. The Peace Conference after World War I in 1918 was dominated by the Big Four, that is _______.

A. the United States, Britain, Japan and Italy

B. the United States, Russia, France and Italy

C. the United States, Britain, France and Italy

D. the United States, Britain, France and China

29. Which of the following statements about Franklin Roosevelt is NOT true?

A. He was a great communicator.

B. He had a sure sense of what seemed practical or possible.

C. He called out the army to drive out the World War I veterans.

D. His fireside chats over the radio were listened to by millions of people.

30. The incident that made the United States formally declare war against the Axis Powers was _______.

A. the Great Depression

B. the attack on the Soviet Union

C. the Japanese invasion of China

D. the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941

31. During the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, President _______finally decided to use naval force to prevent military material and arms from going into Cuba.

A. Nixon B. Johnson

C. Kennedy D. Eisenhower

32. After the Geneva Conference on Indochina in 1954, the United States replaced _______as the main force in providing aid for South Vietnam.

A. Japan B. Britain

C. France D. Turkey

33. In the United States, amendments must have the approval of _______of the states before they enter into force.

A. one-third B. two-thirds

C. two-fifths D. three-fourths

34. The U.S. Constitution provides that the _______shall be President of Senate.

A. President B. Chief Justice

C. Vice President D. Attorney General

35. In the United States, _______period of the party system arose in the last years of the 18th century over the debate on the ratification of the Constitution.

A. the first B. the second

C. the third D. the fourth

36. Under the Constitution, _______is the federal official primarily responsible for the relations with foreign nations.

A. the president B. the federal chief justice

C. the Speaker of the House D. the Senate Majority Leader

37. In the U.S., the revenues for public schools primarily come from_______.

A. states and localities B. religious communities

C. state boards of education D. federal government and states

38. American higher education began with the founding of _______in 1636.

A. Yale University B. Harvard College

C. University of Virginia D. Princeton University

39. Rip Van Winkle is a character from the famous book _______written by Washington Irving.

A. The Sketch Book B. The Scarlet Letter

C. A History of New York D. Poor Richard’s Almanac

40. Which of the following statements about New Year’s Day is NOT true?

A. In the U.S. it is a nationally observed holiday.

B. It is thought of as a good time to make the New Year decisions.

C. Most people like to hold big parties and make pumpkin lanterns on that day.

D. The celebration of this holiday begins the night before—on New Year’s Eve.

41. The Irish lowland _______.

A. is a rocky area

B. has many high mountains

C. is covered by green forests

D. has different landscapes from place to place

42. Which of the following statements about the weather of Ireland is true?

A. It has a lot of rainfall.

B. It often snows in winter.

C. It is a country of sunshine.

D. It is quite windy throughout the year.

43. Today, Ireland is _______.

A. a colony of Great Britain

B. a free state within Great Britain

C. an independent and sovereign state

D. a member of the British commonwealth

44. The city that has an ice-free harbor as Canada’s major outlet to the Pacific Ocean is_______.

A. Ottawa B. Quebec

C. Toronto D. Vancouver

45. Nowadays, _______are the natives in Canada.

A. French-speaking people

B. English-speaking people

C. the Canadian Indians and Inuit

D. the early immigrants from Europe

46. Politically Australia is divided into six states and Sydney is the capital of_______.

A. Victoria B. Queensland

C. South Australia D. New South Wales

47. In Australia, about a quarter of the national income is from the _______ of Western Australia.

A. lumbering B. agriculture

C. shipbuilding D. mineral export

48. Earthquakes in New Zealand do not cause many deaths because of _______.

A. the dormant volcanoes

B. the concrete building materials

C. the small population in many areas

D. the mild magnitude of the earthquakes

49. New Zealand remains green all year round because_______.

A. there is enough bushes

B. the trees are deciduous

C. its native trees are evergreen

D. the trees can receive enough sunshine

50. The reason why Maori workers moved to the cities to make a living after World War II is that_______.

A. they lost their land

B. they learned skills during the war

C. they lost their social and cultural links

D. they regained their identity as the native people

II. Give a one-sentence answer to each of the following questions. Write your answer in the corresponding space on the answer sheet. (30 points, 3 points for each)

51. On which day does Easter fall?

52. What are the four Scottish universities established in the 14th and 15th centuries?

53. What kinds of courses require five-year study in British universities?

54. What was King Edward (1042-1066) known as?

55. Give an example to illustrate the highly aggressive and intolerant nationalism in 1919 and 1920 in the United States.

56. What was the key problem that affected the progress in U.S.-China relations from 1972 to 1979?

57. What are the most memorable words Lincoln said in a short speech on the occasion of dedicating the national cemetery at Gettysburg in 1863?

58. What is the American tradition of laissez faire?

59. What explains the absence of large forests in Australia?

60. Who is the head of the Australian government?

III. Explain each of the following terms in English. Write your answer in the corresponding space on the answer sheet in around 40 words. (20 points, 5 points for each)

61. Industrial Revolution

62. Bank Holiday

63. Amerigo Vespucci

64. Research universities

2011年4月全国自考英语国家概况参考答案

全国2011年7月自学考试英语国家概况试题

课程代码：00522

I. Multiple Choice Questions. (50 points, 1 point for each)

Directions: In this part of the test, there are 50 unfinished statements or questions. For each

of the unfinished statements or questions, four suggested answers marked A, B, C and D are

given. Choose the one that you think best completes the statement or answers the question.

Write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space on your Answer

Sheet.

1. Which of the following statement is NOT true?

A. Great Britain and England are geographical names.

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

C. At present there are 50 member countries within the Commonwealth (1991).

D. Wales is in the west of Great Britain.

2. ____ built the Hadrian’s Wall and the Antonine Wall to keep ____ out of the area they had conquered.

A. The Romans; the Picts B. The Beaker Folk; the Picts

C. The Anglo-Saxons; the Romans D. The Danes; the Anglo-Saxons

3. Who were the ancestors of the English and the founders of England?

A.The Anglo-Saxons B. The Normans

C.The Vikings D. The Romans

4. The spirit of ____ was the limitation of the powers of the king, keeping them within the bounds of the feudal law of the land.

A. the Provision of Oxford B. the Constitutions of Clarendon

C. Domesday Book D. Magna Carta

5. When Mary Tudor became Queen, at least 300 ____ were burnt as heretics.

A. Protestants B. Catholics

C. Puritans D. Muslims

6. The chief demand of the peasants during the Peasant Uprising of 1381 was ____.

A. the abolition of villeinage

B. the punishment of the King’s ministers

C. the increase of wages

D. the reform of the church

7. The significance of the Wars of the Roses was all the following EXCEPT that ____.

A. feudalism received its death blow

B. the great medieval nobility was much weakened

C. the king’s power now became supreme

D. it dealt a death blow to villeinage

8. ____ is one of the comedies of Shakespeare.

A. Othello B. Richard III

C. The Tempest D. Julius Caesar

9. In the Glorious Revolution the Catholic king, ____ was driven out of England.

A. James I B. James II

C. Charles I D. Charles II

10. ____, excluding any Roman Catholic from the succession, confirmed the principle of parliamentary supremacy and guaranteed free speech within both the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

A. The Bill of Rights B. The Disabling Act

C. The Test Act D. Instrument of Government

11. As a result of the Industrial Revolution, Britain became the ____.

A. “shop of the world” B. “workshop of the world”

C. “centre of the world” D. “leader of the world”

12. Which of the following is NOT considered a characteristic of farming in the late 18th and the early 19th centuries?

A. Cultivation of fodder crops

B. Invention of seed drill

C. Selective breeding of domestic animals

D. “Open-field” system

13. In Britain, ____ abolished “rotten boroughs”.

A. the People’s Charter B. the Combination Acts

C. the New Power Law D. the Reform Act of 1832

14. The present British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in ____.

A. 1926 B. 1947

C. 1952 D. 1953

15. ____ has the ultimate authority for law-making in Britain.

A. The Monarch B. The Parliament

C. The Prime Minister D. The Cabinet

16. In the House of Commons, all speeches are addressed to ____ who is elected at the beginning of each new Parliament to preside over the House and enforce the rules of order.

A. the Prime Minister B. the Monarch

C. the Speaker D. the Lord Chancellor

17. About ____ daily and Sunday newspapers are published nationwide in Britain.

A. 100 B. 110

C. 120 D. 130

18. In Britain, ____ is directly responsible for the NHS.

A. a local government B. the central government

C. a voluntary organization D. a certain society

19. The day following Christmas Day is known as ___, for on this day gifts are given to servants and tradesmen.

A. New Year’s Day B. Easter Day

C. Labor Day D. Boxing Day

20. Of the following four sports, ____ has the longest history in Britain.

A. cricket B. golf

C. football D. rugby

21. The three states that have seen the fastest growth in population in the past 20 years are ____.

A. California, Arizona and New Mexico

B. California, Florida and Nevada

C. New York, Texas and Florida

D. Arizona, Nevada and Florida

22. In American history, ____ refer to those who came to Plymouth on board of Mayflower.

A. the English nobles B. the Puritans

C. the Pilgrims D. the English adventurers

23. After President Jefferson bought the ____ Territory from France, the territory owned by the United States almost doubled.

A. Arizona B. Texas

C. Louisiana D. California

24. President Abraham Lincoln issued the ____, because he realized that he could win support for the Union at home and abroad by making the war a just war against slavery.

A. Bill of Rights B. Emancipation of Proclamation

C. Declaration of Independence D. Civil Right Act

25. The features of the early colonists which have strong influence on the formation of American character are all the following EXCEPT ____.

A. religious intolerance

B. respect of individual rights

C. representative form of government

D. a strong spirit of individual enterprise

26. Rushed by the Progressive Movement, ____ put forward his program of New Freedom.

A. Woodrow Wilson B. Theodore Roosevelt

C. Franklin D.Roosevelt D. George Washington

27. The Paris Conference which began on Jan 18, 1919 was dominated by the Big Four including ____.

A. the United States, the Soviet Union, China and Britain

B. the United States, Britain, France, and Italy

C. the United States, Britain, Germany, and Japan

D. the United States, Britain, France, and the Soviet Union

28. In his inaugural speech, ____ said that “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

A. Abraham Lincoln B. Theodore Roosevelt

C. Franklin D.Roosevelt D. George Washington

29. As a result of American economic aid under the Marshall Plan, ____ recovered and began to show signs of development.

A. Turkey B. Greece

C. Western Europe D. Eastern Europe

30. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, the two superpowers stared at each other, with the possibility of ____ looming large.

A. a nuclear war B. a chemical war

C. the Vietnam War D. the Korean War

31. ____ visit to China ended twenty-three years of hostility and led to the establishment of diplomatic relations in January ____.

A. President Nixon’s; 1972 B. Jimmy Carter’s; 1978

C. President Nixon’s; 1979 D. George Bush’s; 1989

32. After long and difficult negotiations in Paris, the U. S. and ____ signed a cease-fire agreement on January 27, 1973.

A. South Vietnam B. North Vietnam

C. the Soviet Union D. Korea

33. Which of the following is NOT true of U.S. foreign trade?

A. Canada is the largest single source of goods imported by the United States.

B. Outside of North America, Asia is the largest source of imports.

C. The U.S. share of world trade has decreased in recent years.

D. Whenever the American economy is in trouble, the economy of other countries is affected.

34. When the delegates met at Philadelphia in 1787, their task was ____.

A. to write a new constitution

B. to adopt the Articles of Confederation

C. to establish a new form of government

D. to revise the Articles of Confederation

35. Abraham Lincoln was elected President as the candidate of ____ in 1860.

A. the Democratic Party B. the Republican Party

C. the Whig Party D. the Conservative Party

36. According to the U.S. Constitution, education is mainly a function of ____.

A. the federal government B. the city government

C. the county government D. the state government

37. Which of the following is NOT true about the reasons for the rapid growth of community colleges?

A. Their open admission policies B. Their cheap tuition and fees

C. Their fixed curriculum structures D. Their convenient locations

38. The Waste Land, written by ____, is considered the manifesto of the “Lost Generation”.

A. T. S. Eliot B. Walt Whitman

C. Emily Dickinson D. Theodore Dreiser

39. In the 1920s, Black literature developed into an upsurge, which has come to be known as ____.

A. the Literature Renaissance

B. the Harlem Renaissance

C. the Literature Revival

D. the “knickerbockers era” of American literature

40. Easter Sunday is the most important religious holiday for commemorating ____.

A. the death of Jesus Christ B. the birth of Jesus Christ

C. the crucifixion of Jesus Christ D. the resurrection of Jesus Christ

41. The Republic of Ireland is bounded by all the following EXCEPT ____.

A. the English Channel B. the Irish Sea

C. St. George Channel D. the Atlantic Ocean

42. Ireland is one of the most ____ countries of Europe.

A. Protestant B. Catholic

C. Puritan D. Christian

43. In Canada, nearly ____ of the land has no permanent population.

A. 87% B. 88%

C. 89% D. 90%

44. 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

45. All services provided by the Canadian federal government are available in ____.

A. French and Spanish B. English and Italian

C. Spanish and English D. French and English

46. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people constitute ____ of Australia’s population.

A. 1% B. 1.5%

C. 2% D. 2.5%

47. Why has Australia always been a continent with few people?

A. Because Australia is too far away from Europe.

B. Because Australia is the least mountainous and most level of the world’s continents.

C. Because Australia is separated from the rest of the world by seas.

D. Because most of the continent is hot and dry.

48. As far as Australian culture is concerned, the history of Australia can be divided into the following phases EXCEPT ____.

A. the period of Australia’s original culture

B. the period of the dominant British culture

C. the period of Asian culture

D. the period of a multicultural society

49. In New Zealand, the highest peak is in the centre of the mountain range, which is called ____.

A. the Southern Alps B. the Northern Alps

C. the New Zealand Alps D. the South Island Alps

50. ____ is described as a “living fossil”.

A. Moa B. Kiwi

C. Tuatara D. Bellbird

II. Answer the Questions. (30 points, 3 points for each)

Directions: Give a one-sentence answer to each of the following questions. Write your answers in the corresponding space on the Answer Sheet.

51. How many political divisions are there in Britain? What are they?

52. What questions did Elizabeth I treat as personal and private?

53. What were the two events in the world which most alarmed the British ruling classes in the closing decades of the 18th century?

54. Which are the five biggest cities in terms of population in the United States?

55. What are the three branches of the American government?

56. What does Mark Twain want to put across in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn?

57. When was the name of the country officially changed to Ireland?

58. Who are easy to immigrate to Canada now?

59. In terms of land area and population, which is the biggest state and which is the smallest state in Australia?

60. What are the two active volcanoes in New Zealand?

III. Term Explanation. (20 points, 5 points for each)

Directions: Explain each of the following terms in English. Write your answers in the corresponding space on the Answer Sheet in around 40 words.

61. the Chartist Movement

62. Constitutional Monarchy

63. the Bill of Rights of America

64. the Federal System of America

全国2012年4月自考英语国家概况试题

课程代码：00522

I. Read the following unfinished statements or questions carefully. For each unfinished statement or question, four suggested answers marked A, B, C and D are given. Choose the one that you think best completes the statement or answers the question. Write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space on the answer sheet. (50 points, 1 point for each)

1. About a hundred years ago, Britain ruled an empire that had colonies in ______.

A. Europe, Africa and Asia

B. Australia, Africa and Europe

C. Asia, Africa and North America

D. Europe, Africa and North America

2. The ______ tribes are ancestors of the highland Scots, the Irish and the Welsh.

A. Danish B. Celtic

C. Anglo-Saxon D. Viking

3. Which of the following statements about Roman Britain is true?

A. The Romans remained in control of Britain for over 500 years.

B. The Romans never treated the Britons as a subject people of slave class.

C. During the four centuries, Romans and Britons had a lot of intermarriages.

D. The Romans had no impact on the language or culture of ordinary Britons.

4. Under ______, the feudal system in England was completely established.

A. Edward I B. Henry II

C. King Alfred D. William the Conqueror

5. _______ was, above all, responsible for the religious reform of the Church in the 16th century.

A. Henry VII B. Henry VIII

C. Edward IV D. Edward VI

6. Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, was Elizabeth I’s ______.

A. sister B. daughter

C. cousin D. half-sister

7. The English Renaissance was largely ______.

A. literary B. political

C. religious D. philosophical

8. Loosely speaking, ______ opposed absolute monarchy and supported the right to religious freedom for Nonconformists.

A. the Whigs B. the Tories

C. the House of Lords D. the House of Commons

9. Which of the following statements about World War II is true?

A. Britain lost about 250,000 lives during the war.

B. Britain became a powerful empire after the war.

C. Britain only devoted part of its entire strength to the war.

D. Britain suffered far more military casualties in World War II than in World War I.

10. The Industrial Revolution refers to the ______ and the consequent changes in social and economic organizations in Britain in the 18th and 19th centuries.

A. urbanization of Britain B. reformation of the Church

C. mechanization of industry D. mechanization of agriculture

11. The oldest institution of government in the U.K. is ______, which goes back to at least the 9th century.

A. the Monarchy B. the Parliament

C. the Privy Council D. the Metropolitan Police

12. The maximum duration of a Parliament in the U.K. is ______.

A. two years B. four years

C. five years D. six years

13. The husband of Queen Elizabeth II is ______.

A. Prince Andrew B. Prince Philip

C. Prince Charles D. Prince William

14. The Lords Temporal in Britain’s House of Lords consists of all the following EXCEPT _____.

A. life peers

B. hereditary peers

C. Lords of appeal of “law lords”

D. the Archbishops of Canterbury and York

15. The House of Commons in the U.K. had its first woman speaker in ______.

A. 1990 B. 1991

C. 1992 D. 1993

16. In England and Wales, lay magistrates (“justice of the peace” or JPs) are appointed by ______.

A. the Monarch B. the Parliament

C. the Prime Minister D. the Lord Chancellor

17. The ______ is the largest single employer of labor in the U.K.

A. British Airways B. British Petroleum

C. National Health Service D. British Telecommunications

18. _____ was founded in 1969, and began its first course in 1970.

A. Glasgow University B. Aberdeen University

C. The Open University D. St Andrews University

19.______ is the most typical English sport in England.

A. Golf B. Cricket

C. Tennis D. Football

20. ______ is a contemporary British musical composer.

A. David Hare B. Tom Stoppard

C. Harold Pinter D. Lloyd Webber

21. The United States of America, with a population of 255.5 million in 1992, was the ______ most populous country in the world.

A. second B. third

C. fourth D. fifth

22. Statistically ______ have been the fastest growing states in population for the last 20 years.

A. Arizona, Nevada and Florida

B. California, Nevada and Florida

C. Arizona, New Jersey and Nevada

D. Arizona, New Mexico and Florida

23. The war at ______ in Northern New York proved to be a great turning point of the War of Independence.

A. Lexington B. Concord

C. Yorktown D. Saratoga

24. The Federalist Papers written under the name of Publius were co-authored by ______.

A. Alexander Hamilton, John Locke and John Jay .

B. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay

C. Andrew Jackson, James Madison and Thomas Jefferson

D. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and Thomas Jefferson

25. The American expansionist movement produced a theory called ______.

A. New Frontier B. New Darwinism

C. Manifest Destiny D. Roosevelt Corollary

26. Which of the following statements is NOT considered the valid reason for the disappearance of black slavery in the American North in the early 1800s?

A. The price of slaves was too high.

B. Slavery was simply illegal in the North.

C. The Africans could not stand cold winters in the North.

D. As the North turned toward industry, mechanics and not farmhands were needed.

27. In the political area, the Progressive Movement demanded ______.

A. the banning of child labor

B. improve living conditions

C. industrial accident insurance

D. reforming the city and state governments

28. The 19th Amendment of voting right for women was adopted during the ______

Administration.

A. J.F.Kennedy’s B. Woodrow Wilson’s

C. Franklin Roosevelt’s D. Theodore Roosevelt’s

29. As a result of the Great Depression, many people lost their land and other properties because of ______.

A. bankruptcy B. foreclosure

C. speculation D. profiteering

30. The aim of measures in the New Deal, as President Roosevelt put it, was to _______.

A. “save American democracy”

B. “regulate and reform the banking system”

C. “strengthen government intervention in business”

D. “raise the role of labor in the relations of production”

31. The first summit between the United States, the Soviet Union and Britain during World War II was held in ______ in November 1943.

A. Yalta B. Cairo

C. Tehran D. Potsdam

32. The open declaration of the containment policy was made by U.S. President ______ on March 12, 1949.

A, Hoover B. Truman

C. Roosevelt D. Eisenhower

33. Since 1945 the United States entered a 25-year economic boom, and the cornerstones were the ______.

A. automobile, housing and shipping

B. farming, housing and defense industries

C. automobile, housing and defense industries

D. automobile, shipping and defense industries

34. ______ turned out to be the longest war the United States ever fought (1950-1975) as a result of its policy of containment of Communism.

A. The Civil War B. The Korean War

C. The Vietnam War D. World War II

35. Which statement about the Watergate Scandal is NOT true?

A. After the scandal American disillusions grew.

B. Nixon was the second president to resign in U.S. history.

C. Nixon finally handed over the complete tapes, which would condemn him.

D. By the early 1980s far fewer Americans still clung to the belief that their system was the most powerful.

36. The U.S. President can veto any bill passed by Congress unless overridden by ______ vote in each house.

A. one-third B. two-thirds

C. two-fifths D. three-fourths

37. When a bill emerges from the Senate and the House, it is usually referred to a ______ composed of equal number of members from each house to resolve the differences.

A. revenue committee B. standing committee

C. permanent committee D. conference committee

38. The fourth party period began with ______ and lasted till the ______ with the Democratic Party dominant.

A. Jimmy Carter, 1990s B. Herbert Hoover, 1920s

C. Franklin Roosevelt, 1980s D. Theodore Roosevelt, 1900s

39. Which statement about American education is NOT true?

A. Elementary and secondary education is free and noncompulsory.

B. There are more public elementary and secondary schools than private ones.

C. Public schools are financially supported and governed by states or communities.

D. Public and private schools refer to the way in which these institutions are funded and controlled.

40. In his masterpiece Leaves of Grass, ______ praised the ideas of equality and democracy and celebrated the dignity and the self-reliant spirit of the common man.

A- T. S. Eliot B. Mark Twain

C. Walt Whitman D. Emily Dickson

41. Ireland kept out of World War II _______.

A. to declare itself a republic

B. to make a new constitution

C. to vote itself out of the Commonwealth

D. to demonstrate its continued displeasure with the British

42. The most popular religious belief in Ireland is ______.

A. Methodism B. Christianity

C. Catholicism D. Protestantism

43. In Canada, it is difficult to do farming in Atlantic provinces because _______.

A. the region is too hilly

B. dairying is more popular than farming

C. the weather is too extreme in those provinces

D. the growing season is short and the soil is poor

44. The Inuit and Indians in northern Canada ______.

A. have stopped hunting

B. have moved from tents to houses in towns

C. have experienced much change in their life styles

D. have totally got used to the non-native Canadian way of life

45. As a result of World War II, Canada ______.

A. established the Canadian Navy

B. experienced a rapid growth in its territory

C. increased the control over its foreign relations

D. found its place among the nations of the world

46. Established in 1788, ______ is the oldest state of Australia.

A. Victoria B. Queensland

C. South Australia D. New South Wales

47. Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, is world famous for its ______.

A. agriculture B. arts festival

C. shipbuilding D. valuable minerals

48. Taupo is ______ in New Zealand.

A. the biggest lake B. the longest river

C. the largest plain D. the highest mountain

49. Most animals in New Zealand are ______.

A. native to the land

B. brought from England

C. introduced from North America only

D. ill adapted to New Zealand conditions

50. According to the Treaty of Waitangi, ______ is entitled to make laws in New Zealand.

A. the Maori people B. the British settlers

C. the Queen of England D. the New Zealand government

II. Give a one-sentence answer to each of the following questions. Write your answer in the corresponding space on the answer sheet. (30 points, 3 points for each)

51. Was the religious reform of Elizabeth I radical?

52. Who is the head of state of the U.K.?

53. What is the House of Lords made up of?

54. What is the major reason for many early settlers to come to the English colonies in North America?

55. What are the three kinds of the American high schools?

56. What are the three branches of government in the United States?

57. Besides being the capital city of Canada, what is special about the city of Ottawa in terms of language?

58. How does the hot and dry weather in Australia affect the vegetation?

59. How do the New Zealanders usually refer themselves to?

60. In which way is Ireland unique among the European countries in terms of its national population?

III. Explain each of the following terms in English. Write your answer in the corresponding space on the answer sheet. (20 points, 5 points for each)

61. Cabinet (U.K.)

62. Quality Papers (U.K.)

63. Muckrakers (U.S.)

64. Marshall Plan

全国2012年7月高等教育自学考试英语国家概况试题

课程代码:00522

全部题目用英文作答，请将答案填在答题纸相应位置上

I. Multiple Choice Questions. (50 points, 1 point for each)

Directions: In this part of the test, there are 50 unfinished statements or questions. For each of the unfinished statements or questions, four suggested answers, marked A. B, C and D are given. Choose the one that you think best completes the statement or answers the question. Write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space on your Answer Sheet.

1. Which of the following is NOT a geographical name of Britain?

A. The United Kingdom B. Great Britain

C. England D. The British Isles

2. The Romans remained in control of Britain for nearly _____ years.

A. 600 B. 500

C. 400 D. 200

3. Which of the following statements is NOT true about Alfred?

A. Alfred the Great started the English navy.

B. Alfred the Great reorganized the Saxon army, making it more efficient.

C. Alfred the Great established schools and formulated a legal system.

D. Alfred the Great imposed a tax, called the Danegeld, on the Saxons.

4. After the Glorious Revolution came the Age of the _____, a monarchy with powers limited by Parliament.

A. Commonwealth B. Constitutional Monarchy

C. English colonial expansion D. Hereditary Monarchy

5. According to Magna Carta no tax should be made without the approval of _____.

A. the House of Lords B. the King

C. the Grand Council D. the House of Commons

6. _____, a dramatist and poet, is generally regarded as the greatest writer in the English language.

A. Charles Dickens B. Christopher Marlowe

C. William Shakespeare D. Charlotte Bronte

7. After the Restoration, British Parliament passed a series of severe laws called the Clarendon Code against the _____, now known as Nonconformists.

A. Christians B. Protestants

C. Puritans D. Catholics

8. Elizabeth I reigned England, Wales and Ireland for _____ years and remained single.

A. 25 B. 30

C. 40 D. 45

9. After the Wars of the Roses the rule of _____ began.

A. the Plantagenet B. the Yorkists

C. the Stuarts D. the Tudors

10. _____ was the forerunner of the Conservative Party.

A. The Liberal Party B. The Whigs

C. The Tories D. The Labor Party

11. The First World War was fought between two European power blocs: the “Central Powers” and the “Allies”. The “Allies” include the following EXCEPT _____.

A. Britain B. France

C. Russia D. Austria-Hungary

12. In 1982, the Falkland Islands War broke out between Britain and _____.

A. Argentina B. Brazil

C. Peru D. Chile

13. Which of the following about UK’s monarchy is NOT true?

A. The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy.

B. There is no written constitution in the United Kingdom.

C. Today the Queen holds the real power in UK.

D. The continuity of the monarchy has been broken only once.

14. In the United Kingdom, the party which wins the second largest number of seat in the House of Commons becomes _____.

A. the official Opposition B. the leading party

C. the predominant party D. the “shadow cabinet”

15. The Sovereign’s coronation takes place at _____ in London.

A. Westminster Abbey B. Canterbury Abbey

C. York Abbey D. Northanger Abbey

16. The _____ is made up of statute law, common law and conventions.

A. British Constitution B. American Constitution

C. Commonwealth law D. European Community law

17. There is no Ministry of Justice in the United Kingdom. General responsibility lies with the following EXCEPT _____.

A. the Lord Chancellor B. the Home Secretary

C. the Attorney General D. the Prime Minister

18. _____ provides for every resident, regardless of income, a full range of medical services. It has become available in Britain since 1948.

A. The Social Security Benefits B. The National Health Service

C. The Civil Service D. The National Insurance Fund

19. In summer there are open-air theatres, including one in London’s Regent’s Park, where _____ are performed.

A. William Shakespeare’s plays B. Christopher Marlowe’s plays

C. Ben Johnson’s plays D. George Bernard Shaw’s plays

20. Snooker is thought to have been invented by _____

A. Sir Winston Churchill B. Sir Neville Chamberlain

C. Sir Charlie Chamberlain D. Sir John Churchill

21. The largest of the racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S. is_____.

A. the Indians B. the Japanese

C. the Chinese D. the Blacks

22. The place where Christopher Columbus landed was _____ .

A. India B. the islands in Asia

C. the current territory of America D. the islands in the now West Indies

23. The great international influence of _____is that the colonies in Spanish America rose up one after another to overthrow Spanish colonial rule.

A. the American Civil War

B. the Vietnam War

C. the American War of Independence

D. the Korean War

24.In the early 1850s with the Westward Movement, the _____ issue became a serious political issue because it might tip the balance of power in the Senate.

A. slavery B. immigration

C. territory D. Indian

25. Which of the following is NOT the main cause for the American government to declare war on Germany in the World War I?

A. Germany refused to give up its submarine warfare.

B. Germany tried to get Mexico into the war against the United States.

C. Germany promised Mexico the return of lost territory of Texas.

D. Japan launched the bombing of the Pearl Harbor.

26. In 1932, in the depth of the depression, the American people chose _____as their next president who promised a “new deal” to get America out of the depression.

A. Theodore Roosevelt B. Franklin D. Roosevelt

C. Woodrow Wilson D. Herbert C. Hoover

27. In the Second World War American diplomacy largely was American diplomacy towards _____.

A. Germany and Italy B. Germany and Japan

C. Britain and the Soviet Union D. Britain and France

28. The real purpose of the Marshal Plan is_____.

A. to prevent Greece and Turkey from falling into the hands of the Soviet Union

B. to support any country which said it was fighting against Communism

C. to help Western Europe recover from the Great Depression

D. to prevent Western Europe from possible Soviet expansion

29. _____ was a full-scale, anti-Communist hysteria in the United States in the1950s.

A. Free Speech Movement B. The Progressive Movement

C. The Civil Rights Movement D. McCarthyism

30. Which war turned out to be the longest war the U.S. fought?

A. The Korean War B. The World War II

C. The World War I D. The Vietnam War

31. After the Vietnam War, the contradiction between Congress and the Executive resulted in the passage of ______.

A. the Smith Act B. the War Power Act

C. the Civil Rights Act D. the Voting Rights Act

32. On April 30 1789, George Washington took the oath of office in ______ which housed the first American government.

A. New York B. Washington

C. Philadelphia D. Boston

33. The American policy towards the Soviet Union after the Second World War was ______ .

A. cooperation B. neutrality

C. containment D. impartiality

34. The writers of the Constitution worked out ______ in order to prevent the government from misusing its power.

A. the Declaration of Independence B. the Bill of Rights

C. the “winner-take-all” system D. checks and balances

35. The presidential term in the U.S. is four years beginning on ______.

A. November 20 B. November 12

C. January 12 D. January 20

36. On Independence Day, some people bring their children to visit the birth place of the

nation——________

A. Washington D.C. B. New York City

C. Philadelphia D. Boston

37. According to the U.S News & World Report and other journals’ evaluation, ______on

the west coast are the best research universities.

A. Harvard and Yale B. Princeton and Columbia

C. California and MIT D. Stanford and Berkley

38. _____ is the largest single source of goods imported by the United States.

A. Canada B. Australia

C. Asia D. Latin America

39. Theodore Dreiser was the literary representative of American ______ .

A. Romanticists B. Transcendentalists

C. Modernists D. Naturalists

40. _____was the first American writer who gained international fame.

A. Washington Irving B. Benjamin Franklin

C. Nathaniel Hawthorne D. Mark Twain

41. The most significant feature of Irish landscape is ______.

A. lakes B. bogs

C. low ridges D. rivers

42. Who was the first English king to bring all Ireland under English control?

A. Henry II B. Henry III

C. Henry VIII D. James II

43. From east to west ten provinces and two territories in Canada can be divided into ______ geographical regions.

A. four B. five

C. six D. seven

44. Which of the following is NOT one of the Prairie Provinces in Canada?

A. Manitoba B. British Columbia

C. Saskatchewan D. Alberta

45. It was _____ who established the first French settlement in Quebec City in 1608.

A. Henry Hudson B. John Cabot

C. Jacques Cartier D. Samuel de Champlain

46. Although Australia has a large area, _____ of the continent is hot and dry.

A. one third B. two thirds

C. half D. more than half

47. _____ is famous for its art festival.

A. Sydney B. Melbourne

C. Adelaide D. Brisbane

48. Which of the following states in Australia is known as the garden state?

A. Queensland B. New South Wales

C. Tasmania D. Victoria

49. The first European to visit New Zealand was ______.

A. Abel Tasman B. Captain James Cook

C. Christopher Columbus D. Amerigo Vespucci

50. The _______ is a national symbol in New Zealand.

A. kiwi B. native owl

C. tuatara D. lizard

II. Answer the Questions. (30 points, 3 points for each)

Directions: Give a one-sentence answer to each of the following questions. Write your answers in the corresponding space on the Answer Sheet.

51. What is the difference between the ancestors of the English and Scots, Welsh and Irish?

52. What was the impact of the Wars of the Roses on feudalism in England?

53. What is the main function of the House of Lords?

54. What are the major racial and ethnic minorities in the United States?

55. What is Emerson’s view of man and nature?

56. What kind of system is the American economy based on?

57. Why did the population of Ireland decrease from the 1840s until about 1970?

58. What are the two most important provinces in Canada?

59. Which is Australia’s largest lake?

60. What is partly the reason for New Zealand to have changeable weather and to

be often windy?

III. Term Explanation. (20 points, 5 points for each)

Directions: Explain each of the following terms in English. Write your answers in the corresponding space on the Answer Sheet in around 40 words.

61. Domesday Book

62. Thatcherism

63. “Great Compromise” of 1787

64. Halloween