《英语国家概况》考试真题及参考答案(2009-2005)
《英语国家概况》考试真题及参考答案（2009-2005）
全国2009年4月高等教育自学考试
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?
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 19th 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 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
26. In the early 19th 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 19th 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
2009年试题参考答案
I.
1. C
2. D
3. A
4. C
5. D
6. D
7. B
8. C
9. D 10. C
11. D 12. A 13. C 14. A 15. A 16. B 17. A 18. B 19. C 20. C
21. B 22. A 23. C 24. C 25. A 26. D 27. B 28. A 29. D 30. C
31. B 32. C 33. A 34. A 35. A 36. C 37. C 38. A 39. C 40. D
41. B 42. B 43. B 44. A 45. A 46. A 47. D 48. A 49. A 50. D
II.
51. They are law-making, authorizing taxation and public expenditures, and examining the actions of the government.
52. France and Spain.
53. King Charles I was defeated and executed. Then a Commonwealth was declared by Oliver Cromwell and he became the Lord Protector.
54. They are Christmas, Easter, and Whit Sunday.
55. They are the automobile, housing, and defense industries.
56. It was the Shanghai Communiqué.
57. It is the pass of the law.
58. They are the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.
59. They are Irish (or the Gaelic) and English.
60. They are the Aboriginals.
III.
61. Open University: The Open University is a non-residential university. It is so named because it is open to all to become students. The University was founded in 1969 and began its first courses in 1970. The University offers degree and other courses for adult students of all ages in Britain and the other member countries of the European Union. It uses a combination of specially produced printed texts, correspondence tuition, television and radio broadcasts and audio/video cassettes.
62. The Speaker (of the House of Commons in Britain): The Speaker is a member who
is acceptable to all shades of opinion in the House. In carrying out his or her duties the Speaker is required to be impartial; he or she cannot debate or, as a general rule, vote on a measure, and it is his or her duty to see that all points of views have a fair hearing.
63. Muckrakers: Muckrakers refer to a group of reform-minded journalists at the turn of the 20th century, who made investigations and exposed various dark sides of the seemingly prosperous society.
64. The stock market crash of 1929: On October 24, 1929, the New York stock market crashed. It was called Black Thursday because it was the beginning of a long economic depression. The Great Depression had far-reaching consequences. It swept through the globe quickly. The rate of unemployment increased rapidly. A great deal of companies and businesses closed and went into bankruptcy. American economy didn't recover until the New Deal was put forward.
全国2008年4月高等教育自学考试
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．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．HenryⅧD．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 18th 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．19th 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 opa ls
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 19th 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 does 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 20th 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
2008年试题参考答案
Ⅰ.
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.
51. British recorded history began with the Roman invasion around 55 BC.
52. It showed England's superiority as a naval power.
53. It consists of 651 Members of Parliament.
54. Virginia, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Georgia. (Any three names of the above are acceptable.)
55. They are the legislative, the executive and the judicial branches.
56. It stands for International Business Machines.
57. Canada fought as an ally of Britain (1939-1945).
58. Small plants such as grasses and shrubs rather than forests are suitable for the hot dry climate in Australia.
59. Because New Zealand is an island in southern latitudes, it has changeable weather and it is often windy.
60. Irish nationalism became stronger and even more violent in the early decades of the 20th century and climaxed in the Eastern Uprising of 1916 in which an Irish Republic was proclaimed.
III.
61. Bank holidays are also called official public 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. A constitutional monarchy is a country in which the head of the state is a king or a queen. In practice, the Sovereign reigns but does not rule.
63. The people in the British colonies opposed the unfair treatment by the British government. They declared, "No taxation without representation", that is, without their representatives taking part in decision-making, they had no obligation to pay taxes to Britain.
64. The U.S. Constitution sets up a federal system of government 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
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 CeltsB．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 16th 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 C hrist
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 ⅧB．Edward ⅧC．George ⅥD．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 9th 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 30th 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 kn own 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
2007年试题参考答案
Ⅰ.
1. B
2. D
3. C
4. D
5. D
6. B
7. B
8. D
9. A 10. B
11. B 12. D 13. B 14. D 15. B 16. A 17. C 18. A 19. D 20. D
21. C 22. C 23. D 24. C 25. B 26. A 27. B 28. A 29. D 30. D
31. C 32. D 33. D 34. D 35. B 36. C 37. A 38. C 39. C 40. A
41. A 42. A 43. D 44. C 45. C 46. D 47. B 48. B 49. D 50. B
II.
51. The official name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
52. It refers to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
53. They formulate education policies and are also responsible for the supply and training of teachers.
54. It stands fo r Scholastic Aptitude Test, a test taken in the U. S. to measure students’ abilities before their entry into college.
55. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the V oting Rights Act of 1965.
56. The presidential candidate with the highest number of votes in each state wins all the electoral votes of that state.
57. It stands for Australian Capital Territory.
58. New Zealand native trees are evergreens, so the country remains green all the year round.
59. There are fur trappers, fishers and miners.
60. Bogs remain the most significant feature of Irish landscape.
Ⅲ.
61. The Industrial Revolution: It refers to the mechanization of industry and the consequent changes in social and economic organization in Britain in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Britain was the first country to industrialize in Europe.
62. The Commonwealth: It is a free association of 50 independent countries that were once colonies of Britain. Member nations are joined together economically and have certain trading arrangements. The Commonwealth has no special powers. The decision to become a member of the Commonwealth is left to each nation. At present there are 50 members within the Commonwealth (1991).
63. Checks and balances: The American government is divided into three branches, the legislative, the executive and the judicial. Each has part of the powers but not all the power. And each branch of government can check, or block, the actions of the other branches. The three branches are thus in balance. This is called “checks and balances”.
64. Electoral College: The electors of all 50 states and the District of Columbia-a total of 538 persons---comprise what is known as the Electoral College. To be successful, a candidate for the Presidency must receive 270 votes.
全国2006年4月高等教育自学考试
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 answer to the question. Write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space on the answer sheet. (50 points, I point for each)
I. Which of the following is true about the British Commonwealth?
A. Members of nations arc joined together politically.
B. The Commonwealth has special powers.
C. The decision to become a member of the Commonwealth is made by Brian.
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