英语国家社会与文化入门课后题答案

澳大利亚上册15单元

1. What are the unique features of the Australian continent?

答：Isolated from other major land masses, Australia‘s distinctive flora and fauna evolved through its long period as an island continent.

2 Discuss the social and cultural values embodied in the Dreaming.讨论社会和文化价值在做梦中的体现

Membership in a particular language group was of great social and cultural significance. Traditionally, languages belong to tracts of country which, in the belief system of the Dreaming, have been put in their places by Dreamtime creator figures.

3. Why does the author say that ?In most of the languages there is no distinction between the words for ―belief‖,‖law‖ and ―knowledge‖? Do you think it‘s true in your own language?

The sacred creation stories are not only explanations about how the country came to be formed, they also provide principles of how people should live and interact with others, especially with whom they may or may not intermarry.

4. (1)What do you know about Zheng He‘s voyages in the 15th century?

(2)Do you think his fleet got to the northern part of Australia?

(3)Why?

答：(1)Yes. (2)Yes.

(3) In 1405, Zhu Di the Ming emperor commissioned his admiral ZhengHe to take 317 of his ships to the Middle East and Eastern Africa .Between 1405 and 1433 ZhengHe made seven trips routinely passing through what we now call Southeast and South Asia .I am sure that ZhengHe had gone there ,because there is evidence that several ships from that armada landed on the Aru Islands to the north of Arnhem Land.

5. What is the impact of the assimilation policy on the indigenous people? 同化政策对本土人民的影响是什么？

答：The missionaries on the ―protected reserves‖ set out destroy the culture of the Dreaming and to replace it with Christianity. As the children grew to adulthood many of them had lost both their families and their culture. They were employed as domestic servants or on cattle stations .Young Aboriginal women were continually at risk of rape. Aboriginal people were excluded from the social ,the political ,the education ,the health services and other aspects. Racism was an entrenched part of Australian culture until the 1960s and operated at the personal and institutional level.

Unit 18

1. Do you think the Australia government system is a democratic one? Why? Australia has what has been called a ―Wash minster‖ form of polity. In other words it is a mixture of the US, Washington system of government and the British, Westminster system: the political structure is based on a Federation of States and has a three-tier system of government but the chief executive is a Prime Minister not a President.

2. Why do you think Australia adopted the ―Wash minister‖ form of polity? Do you think it reflects the advantages of both systems?

The political structure of Australia is based on a Federation of State and has a three-tier system of government, but the chief executive is a Prime Minister not a President. Yes. Although Australia has a three-tier system of government, the Prime Minister and his Cabinet at federal level is the acknowledged centre of Australia parliamentary power.

3. Do you think the pluralist form of government is ideal? What are its drawbacks? Yes. Citizens can choose the government and exert their power. This system secures transparency and thus accountability. Pluralism provides for a ready made alternative government. The Australian government system is a democratic one. Australians understand and conduct life upon a basic commitment to different.

4. Do you think the government can improve the efficiency of the social welfare and social security services by contracting them out to private sector?

Yes. It is being encouraged to focus on producing program as marketable commodities to reduce its dependence upon government funding.

5. Is the loss of social capital a necess ary cost in maintaining a country‘s strong economy? Why?

Yes. Both the Labor and Coalition Parties have been instrumental in deregulating the economy. The Coalition is associated with the most stringent forms, and the Labor Party is aligned with a political program.

As citizens, Australians today are debating whether the loss of ―social capital‖---the cut-backs of public spending on education, health and the public broadcaster---is a necessary cost in maintaining Australia‘s position as one of the ―strong‖ economies in global league tables. However, the Coalition is associated with the most stringent forms of economic rationalism especially with making a balanced budget the programmer focusing more on the balance between social and economic aspects of Australian life. Unit 20

1. Why do you think there was strong racism against Chinese and Pacific Islanders in Australia in the late 19th century?

The Chinese constituted the third largest group and were subjected to racism at many levels. They were the target of physical attacks. Pacific Islanders were kidnapped by the ―Blackbirder‘s‖.

2. Do you think Multiculturalism enables migrants from other countries to have equality? Why?

Yes. Multiculturalism was identified as comprising three areas of policy: Cultural Identity, Social Justice, Economic Efficiency.

3. Do you think the aboriginal people achieved equality after Mabo and Wik decisions? Why?

No. There are still many social issues of equity that need to be addressed.

4. Why does the author say―History, culture and politics, the? way we see‘ and ?the ways we act‘, are intertwined‖?

The documentation of the wrongs is now a recognized part of the history of Australia. It forms part of the curriculum in schools.

5. Why do you think there are different interpretations of history?

Those historians and politicians who want to ―disremember‖ and those who want to reveal the racism that has been part of the construction of modern Australian society

加拿大unit16

1. Discuss the similarities and differences in the government systems between the United kingdom, the United States and Canada.

——Like Britain, Canada is a monarchy. Canada‘s system of government is parliamentary democracy as well as the British system. The biggest differences between Canada and the UK are that Canada is a federation, which is the biggest similarity

between the United States and Canada.

2. What are some of the characteristics of the Canadian party system? ——Throughout most of the 20th century ,federal political power has been held by either the liberal or by the progressive conservatives. Then, regional parties began to arise. And in the last decades the political landscape has altered, with regional parties thriving and national parties failing.

3 What are some of the things that make Canada a unique and interesting country? Pierre Trudeau introduced vigorous programs to promote the use French throughout Canada . His efforts to unite the country were successful to a degree in that many Canadians became familiar with, and committed to French heritage and saw his element as one of the things that made Canada unique and interesting.

4 Who do you think the author says that Canada has avoided the worst excesses of intolerance and prejudice?

——What Canada policy-makers have tried to do is to find peaceful and fair means to resolve complicated political issues which in so many regions of the world have led to war, bloodshed and injustice . Boring or not, Canada has avoided the worst excesses of intolerance and prejudice that have characterizes many nations

Unit18

1 Comment (评论)on the sentence ―As is the case in other industrialized（工业化的）countries, more Canadians now provide services than make things‖.

Canada has seen the export of services as being important to the world economy, and has actively pursued the liberalization(自由)of trade in services through forums（讨论区）like GATT(关贸总协定) and the Free Trade Agreement 。However, the potential for Canada to export services is not very strong and the sector continues to be dominated by US firms.

2. Do you think the Canadian government should subsidize (资助)the inefficient（效率低的）Canadian farmers or import foodstuff from neighboring American states?

In the past ,agricultural exports(出口) have been very important to the Canadian economy ；before World War I ,50% of Canada‘s ex ports were agricultural; this fell to 40% after World War II .But in recent years there has been a dramatic (剧烈的)drop and now they comprise (由组成) less than 10%of Canada‘s total exports. Furthermore, it has become cheaper in many cases to import foodstuffs rather than to produce such items domestically (国内的).

3. how do you view the future of freer (给予自由)trade among nations in the world? Will this result in diminishing （减少）national identity （民族认同）and sovereignty （主权）?

Whatever its political implications ,the idea of a free trade agreement made good economic sense: Canadian industries had been hurt by the American use of non-tariff barriers to trade and a refusal to regard Canada as a ―special case ‖and waive such measures.

Controversial was the provision of a guarantee that the us would retain also access to Canadian energy supplies in case of emergency or changes in world supplies , which some critics said was a loss of Canadian sovereignty.

4. What do you think of the FTA ? is it beneficial to Canada as it is to the United States ?

overall ,the FTA has been called an ―imperfect ‖ agreement for Canada ,and given the

dominance and strength of the United States ,it could hardly be otherwise .Optimists say that Canada, by embracing free trade not just with the United States ,but with other countries ,will benefit in the long run as the world becomes more economically interdependent and more tolerant of the free trade principles envisioned by the GATT.

下册美国UNIT 4

1 Why did the Articles of Confederation fail? Was it necessary to change the Articles of Confederation and write a new constitution for the new nation of the United States at the time?

The Articles of Confederation failed because the states did not cooperate with the Congress or with each other. When the Congress needed money to pay the national army or to pay debts owed to France and other nations, some states refused to contribute. The Congress had been given no authority to force any state to do anything. It could not tax any citizen. Only the state in which a citizen lived could do that.

2. What is a federal system? What are some of the major differences between a federal system and a confederation?

The Constitution set up a federal system with a strong central government. A federal system is one in which power is shared between a central authority and its constituent parts, with some rights reserved to each. The Constitution also called for the election of a national leader, or president. It provided that federal laws would be made only by a Congress made up of representatives elected by the people. It also provided for a national court system headed by a Supreme Court.

3. What are some of the major powers of each of the three branches of the U.S. government? How are the three branches supposed to check and balance each other?

If Congress proposes a law that the president thinks is unwise, the president can veto it. That means the proposal does not become law. Congress can enact the law despite the president's views only if two-thirds of the members of both houses vote in favor of it.

If Congress passes a law which is then challenged in the courts as unconstitutional, the Supreme Court has the power to declare the law unconstitutional and therefore no longer in effect.

The president has the power to make treaties with other nations and to make all appointments to federal positions, including the position of Supreme Court justice. The Senate, however, must approve all treaties and confirm all appointments before they become official. In this way the Congress can prevent the president from making unwise appointments

4．What is the Bill of Rights? Do you think that it was necessary to write the Bill of Rights explicitly into the U.S. Constitution?

The Bill of Rights: the first 10 amendments, collectively known as the Bill of Rights, were added within two years of the adoption of the U.S. Constitution. These amendments remain intact today, as they were written two centuries ago. The first guarantees freedom of worship, speech and press, the right of peaceful assembly, and the right to petition the government to correct wrongs. The Bill of Rights and subsequent constitutional amendments guarantee the American people the fullest possible opportunity to enjoy fundamental human rights.

5 What are the two political parties in the United States? Do you think they are

fundamentally different?

the United States has two major political parties. One is the Democratic Party, which evolved out of Thomas Jefferson's party, formed before 1800. The symbol of the party is the donkey. The other is the Republican Party, which was formed in the 1850s, by people in the states of the North and West, such as Abraham Lincoln, who wanted the government to prevent the expansion of slavery into new states then being admitted to the union. The symbol of the Republican Party is the elephant.

UNIT 5

1. Do you agree that cultivators of the earth are most valuable citizen?

Yes, I do agree the point that ―cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens‖. My reasons for my agreement can be illustrated as follows:

Firstly, though outward forms have changed, the vital importance of agriculture has not. Agriculture provides the sustenance that meets people‘s most basic needs. Agriculture and its related industries serve as the foundation of American economic life, accounting for a larger portion of the U nited States‘ GNP than any other endeavor. Besides, agriculture represents a bond of continuity between present and past. Therefore, cultivators of the earth who contribute a lot to agriculture are important and valuable. Secondly, cultivators of the earth are the most vigorous, the most independent, the most virtuous. They have shown a spirit of individualism and egalitarianism that the rest of society has admired. To a large extent, agricultural values have been adopted and celebrated by the society as a whole.

Thirdly, American agriculture is big business. It provides the rest world with lots of food. So as the main body of agriculture, cultivators of the earth contributes a lot to American‘s economic.

2. It is known to all that buying and selling stocks is a risky business. Why do you think there are still so many people involved in it?

In order to invest, individuals do not have to have a great deal of money: they can buy just a small portion of a business—called a share. The business of buying and selling shares in enterprises has become so big that offices have had to be set up where the selling of shares, or stock , can take place. These places, located in many cities in the United States and around the world, are called stock exchanges. The best-known is perhaps the New York Stock Exchange, located in the Wall Street area of New York City, the nation's largest city and a major business center.

3. Give examples of industries which are declining, and industries which are fast developing in the US.

Generally speaking, declining industries would be industries where labor cost is high and its growth potential is limited. The Auto industry is in a declining state but of course if they reinvent their automobiles things could pick up for them. Developing industries would be the hi tech sector. Especially in companies that are developing new types of technology to help our environment by developing new types of technology in many areas. Especially energy conservation technology and new types of alternative energies. Also, new types of technology where we would be using fewer resources for our daily usage.

From 1922 to 1929, the economic of America is prosperous, the car industry, the electrical industry and construction, developing rapidly and become a national industry. In 1920s the economic boomed and wealth is just possessed by a few people, the gap

between rich and poor continued to expand. At first, the construction industry became in recession, and then the steel industry and the automobile get into trouble.

Roosevelt defeated Hoover in the 1932 election. during the march of the president of the United States, the "new policy" is carried on, the intervention of the state finance, agriculture, industry and social relief, the project and financial aspects became more and more, which made the United States government undertake to ensure economic stability and development of responsibility. Social security system is established initially.

After World War II, the US economy enters a period of rapid growth. On the one hand, the United States began to develop world's advanced scientific and technological achievements. It caused a new industrial technology revolution, with the atom, computers and the extensive application of space technology for the main, involving information technology, new energy technology, new materials technology, biotechnology and space technology and the marine technology.

The tertiary industry is booming

UNIT 8 Educations

1. What is the goal of education in the United States? Discuss the similarities and differences in Great Britain, the United States and China concerning the goals of education.

The goal is—and has been since the early decades of the republic—to achieve universal literacy and to provide individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote both their own individual welfare as well as that of the general public. Though this goal has not yet been fully achieved, it remains an ideal toward which the American educational system is directed. The progress which has been made is notable both for its scope and for the educational methods which have been developed in the process of achieving it.

2. How did American education begin to develop?

In 1634, they opened a ―lateen grammar‖ school, a school for those who wanted to prepare for college.

In 1636, Harvard College was founded for the training of religious ministers.

In 1634 and 1638, the Puritans passed laws declaring that all property could be taxed for the common good, which included the support of school.

In 1642 and 1647, the Bay Colony passed laws requiring all parents to provide reading educating for their children.

At the end of the 18th century, elementary education throughout the United States was in local hands.

3. What are the major characteristics of education in America?

(1)Different education laws for different states.

(2)Several levels of schooling：Elementary Schooling，Secondary Schooling and High Schooling.

(3)curricula for students: there is no national curriculum in the United States.

(3)Compulsory education for all students.

(4)Equal education opportunities for minority groups.

(5)Strong demand for higher education.

(6)The complex system of higher education.

Some states play a strong role in the selection of learning material for their students. Schools were asked not only to teach this new information, but to help students ask their

own questions about it. The ―inquiry‖ method of learning , focusing on solving problems rather than memorizing facts, became popular.

1. What kind of institution is the House of Lords? What role does it play in British government?

The House of Lords consists of the Lords Spiritual, who are the Archbishops and most prominent bishops of the Church of England; and the Lords Temporal, which refers to those lords who either have inherited the seat from their forefathers or they have been appointed. The lords mainly represent themselves instead of the interests of the public.

6.What kind of institution is the House of Lords? What role does it play in British government?

The House of Lords consists of the Lords Spiritual,who are the Archbishops and most prominent bishops of the Church of England; and the Lords Temporal,which refers to those lords who either have inherited the seat from their forefathers or they have been appointed. The lords mainly represent themselves instead of the interests of the public. Unit5

3.What are the three main areas in national economies? Describe the development of each of the three areas in the UK economy?

The UK national economy can be divided into 3 main areas: primary industries, such as agriculture, fishing and mining; second industries which manufacture complex goods from those primary products; and tertiary (or service) industries such as banking, insurance, tourism and the retailing.

Agricultural sector is small but efficient, producing 58% of the UK's food needs with only 2% of its workforce. The fishing industry provides 55% of the UK demand for fish. Energy production is an important part of the UK economy, accounting for 5% of the national wealth. In the secondary sector of the economy, manufacturing industry remains important, producing 22% of national wealth. The tertiary or service industries produce 65% of national wealth.

7单元

1. (1)What are the purposes of the British education system?

(2)Please comment on these purposes.

(3)What are the main purposes of the Chinese education system?

(4)Are there any differences or similarities in the education of the two nations?

答：(1)The purpose of the British education system is to teach children practical skills and socialize them.

(2)Children learn practical skills, and the rules and values they need to become good citizens, to participate in the community, and to contribute to the economic prosperity of an advanced industrial economy.

(3)The purpose of the Chinese education is to provide children with literacy and the other basic skills they will need to become active members of society.

(4) In china, people think school is just about teaching children what are often called‖ the three R‘s---―reading, writing and ?arithmetic‖(reading, writing and arithmetic).

2. How does the British education reflect social class?

British education reflect the deeper divisions in British society in which social class is still very important: class inequality can be erased or continued according to education policy.

What‘s more, the enduring feature of British education is the continuing debate over how ―equal‖ educational opportunity shoul d be. In British, the accent you speak with, the clothes you wear, and the schools you attend are all markers that identify your social class.

The school (or college)tie is a clear marker of social class. Even on informal occasions you will sometimes see men wearing their school ties as belts to hold up their trousers –proudly displaying their attendance at a certain school. In Britain, where you are educated is very important to you future.

3 what are the major changes that have taken place since World war 2? Is British education moving towards more progress or more equality? Pick up some examples from the text to illustrate your points.

Other major changes to the British education system were caused by world war Ⅱ。

This time, the new system would emphasize equality.

The result was the 1944 Education Act which made entry to secondary schools and universities‖ meritocratic‖. Children would be abilities they displayed. All children were given the right to a free secondary education and the main concern was to make sure more children had access to a good education.

In the 1960s,comprehensive schools were introduced all over the country, which ended the division between grammar schools----where the most academically capable pupils were sent to be prepared for university----and vocational school where less successful pupils were sent to learn allowed to let children "compete" for places.

4. Why does the author say that universities in Britain have been rather elitist?

答：Most students were from the middle classes, attended good schools, performed well in their A-levels and received a fully-funded place in a university. In recent years, great efforts have been made to increase the numbers of and kinds of people that pursue higher education. Access for mature students and students without traditional A-level qualifications is widening.

5. (1) what is the Open University in Britain?

(2)What do you think of this system?

(1)The Open University offers a non-traditional route for people to take university level courses and receive a university degree. People can follow university courses through textbooks, TV and radio broadcasts, correspondence, videos, residential schools and a network of study centre.

(2)It was the Open University which provided the inspiration for the founding of China‘s TV and Radio University.