1.求20條有關(guān)英語國家的知識題目
1. List the top 5 countries where English is used by most people?A. United Kingdom (Britain), US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland (any of those 5 would be fine)2. Who's the head of state of Australia?A. Queen Elizebeth !!3. Which are the major parts of the United Kingdom?A. England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland4. How is the British prime minister elected?A. The leader of the majority party in the House of the Commons.5. What's the usual orientation of maps in Australia?A. North at top, South at bottom, East on the left, West on the right.6. What's biggest river system in Australia?A. Murray-Darling7. What are the only egg-laying mammal in the world? Where can you find them?A. platypus, Australia8. What's the biggest mountain range in New Zealand?A. South Alps9. How is the US president elected?A. In general election held every 4 years.10. Theoretically, how many years can a US president stay in office at most?A. 10 years (2 full terms plus less than half of a full term)11. Which 4 presidents' head can be found in Mount Rushmore National Monument?A. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt12. How many states are there in US? Which is the biggest in size?A. 50, Alaska13. The 5 big lakes in North America is also known as the North American Mediterranean. Give their names.A. Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, Ontario14. Why the weather in Britain is warmer in the winter compared to other places with similar latitude?A. The Mexican Gulf Stream brings warm water.15. Which party controls the Senate and the House in US?A. Democratic controlling the Senate, Republican the House, 16. How many members are there in the Senate and the House respectively? How are they distributed among the states?A. Senate: 100, 2 from each state House: 435, based on population17. How did US get Alaska?A. bought from Russia18. Which is the city at the mouth of the Mississippi? What happened to it several years ago?A. New Orleans, flooded by the famous hurricane Katrina.19. What's the 2nd biggest city in US?A. Los Angeles20. Who was the previous governor of California?A. Arnold Schwarzenegger。
2.根據(jù)相關(guān)的文化背景知識,選擇正確答案
小題1:D小題2:A小題3:B小題4:B小題5:D小題6:C 試題分析:小題1:根據(jù)常識可知MP3播放器是1998年韓國發(fā)明的,故選D,MP3播放器。
小題2:根據(jù)常識可知2014世界杯在俄羅斯舉行,故選A,俄羅斯。小題3:根據(jù)常識可知在瑞典,準時非常重要。
故選B,準時。小題4:根據(jù)常識可知電子郵件英語是為了節(jié)省時間,故選B,節(jié)省時間。
小題5:根據(jù)常識可知埃菲爾鐵塔是法國的一個有趣的地方,故選D,埃菲爾鐵塔。小題6:根據(jù)常識可知黃河漁夫是導演洪韜最新的一部電影,故選C,洪韜的。
點評:英語常識的考察也是英語考試的一個重點。在英語中有許多與漢語不同的表達習慣,用語特點等。
我們除了學一些比較固定的語法規(guī)則外,平時應注意積累各種習慣用語,了解英美文化的區(qū)別,尤其注意不能以中式思維思考英語問題。平時應加強英語閱讀,增強語感,多了解一些英語文化方面的知識。
本題的考查也適用于排除法來完成,如最后一小題,我們對成龍,李連杰和李小龍比較熟悉,黃河漁夫這部電影沒有與他們相關(guān)的信息,故可以推斷出選C。 。
3.【英語文化背景知識
最后一句After all,if they don't ,they won't be British,will they?的意思是:最后,如果他們不是這樣做(做指的是“英國人中的四分之三左右的人都是子承父業(yè),他們在學校里努力學習,最后找各種類型的工作,在二十剛出頭就結(jié)婚生子,他們與父母親相處融洽,非常喜歡家庭生活.”),他們就不是英國人了,對不對?當然包含英國人的文化背景.英國人是一個比較保守的民族,他們非常講究禮節(jié),他們按照英國人的傳統(tǒng)生活方式生活,例如前面提到的:英國人中的四分之三左右的人都是子承父業(yè),他們在學校里努力學習,最后找各種類型的工作,在二十剛出頭就結(jié)婚生子,他們與父母親相處融洽,非常喜歡家庭生活.與其他的國家有所不同,例如美國人比較開放,喜歡我行我素。
4.英語文化小知識
or it to be made up entirely from within the continent, the Americans among others had argued that Africa does not have enough trained soldiers to make up a credible and effective force. Here's David Bamford. Mr. Konare's comments, following talks with President Omar al-Bashir in Sudan, are likely to raise eyebrows on the UN Security Council, which has been battling with the Sudanese leader for months on a compromise resolution that would specifically allow non-African peacekeepers to join the revamped Darfur force. There is already an African Union force in Darfur, but it's poorly trained, ill-equipped and only 7,000 in number. The UN is talking about something much more robust, able to stand up to the Janjaweed and rebel militias in Darfur. A foreign man who had been kidnapped in the oil producing region of southern Nigeria has died shortly after being set free. Officials said the man was released by the hostage takers near the town of Yenagoa. Election observers in Sierra Leone have said Saturday's presidential and parliamentary elections were free, fair and credible. They said the ballot went smoothly and the presence of police had given confidence to voters. The European Union's Chief Election Observer Marie-Anne Isler Beguin said she was satisfied with how the election was conducted. "Of course we have a good view now, a good picture of what happened yesterday and we at this moment can be satisfied of the global participation and the global organization." It was Sierra Leone's first election since the departure of the United Nations' peacekeepers who had steered its recovery from years of civil war. The Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has called on leaders of the main parliamentary factions to hold talks within the next two days to try to resolve a political crisis. Two factions have recently withdrawn from the national unity cabinet saying it had failed to end sectarianism. The cabinet is now narrowly based on Shiite Muslim religious parties and Kurdish groups and it has almost no Sunni Arab members. United Nations Children's Fund is making an urgent appeal for women in Iraq to breastfeed their children rather than use infant formula milk. Infant formula needs to be mixed with water and UNICEF says diarrhea caused by water contamination is one of the biggest killers of Iraqi children. A senior Afghan official says he now expects two South Koreans being held by Taliban militants will be released within the next 24 hours. A Taliban spokesman said on Saturday the two Korean women who are said to be unwell had already been released, but this was not confirmed. The authorities in Guatemala say they've rescued 46 more children and babies they think may have been taken from their parents for illegal adoption by foreigners. Police say the infants were found at a house in the city of Antigua after neighbors reported seeing foreigners collecting children there every day. Daniel Schweimler reports. The authority is now investigating whether the children were stolen or their parents were coerced into giving them up. The attorney general's office said that few of the children had the necessary paperwork and the house did not have permission to operate as an adoption center. Last year couples in the United States adopted more than 4,000 infants from Guatemala where it can take half the time and cost considerably less than it does elsewhere. International diplomats leading the latest talks on the future of Kosovo say the partition of the province which is still technically part of Serbia might be possible if both Serbs and Albanians agree. The comments appeared to mark a change in policy. Until now, the international community had insisted that the province stay as one. Nick Thorpe reports. The United States, Russia and the European Union have the unenviable task of trying to broker a deal for Kosovo acceptable to all sides after all other efforts have failed. Wolfgang Ischinger, the EU envoy, told reporters that all options were open to resolve the deadlock, which has reined since the aerial bombing campaign by NATO forced the Serb police and army out of the province eight years ago. A court in China has given a one-year prison sentence and a fine about 130 dollars to a television journalist Zi Beijia who made up a recent report about street vendors in Beijing selling meat buns stuffed with chemicals and cardboard. Mr. Zi's report received wide circulation abroad, embarrassing the government at a time when China is facing 。
5.英語文化知識
淺談英語文化知識滲透于英語教學內(nèi)容摘要語言是文化的載體,是文化的主要表現(xiàn)形式。
它是隨著民族的發(fā)展而發(fā)展的,是社會民族文化的一個組成部分。不同民族有著不同的文化、歷史、風俗習慣和風土人情等,各民族的文化和社會風俗又都在該民族的語言中表現(xiàn)出來。
語言離不開文化,文化依靠語言,英語教學是語言教學,當然離不開文化教育。隨著我國對外交往與民族接觸的日益迫切的需要,英語教學要重視交際能力的培養(yǎng)和隨之而來的要求對所屬文化有所了解的呼聲越來越高。
在英語教學中,教師應努力培養(yǎng)學生的文化習得意識,使文化規(guī)范的教學與語言技能的培養(yǎng)同步進行。關(guān)鍵詞 語言 文化 文化差異 文化意識在美國有這樣一個盡人皆知的句子:"When you're down, you are not necessarily out."但是許多English learners卻對其含義不甚了了。
原因是不了解這句話的文化背景。這原是一句拳擊術(shù)語,在拳擊比賽中拳擊手若被對方擊倒,裁判數(shù)到10還不能起來則被判輸。
但在很多情況下不等裁判數(shù)到10,倒地的拳擊手便能爬起來再戰(zhàn)。因此,這句話的表層意思是:當你被人擊倒,并不意味著輸了這場比賽。
其寓意為:當你遇到挫折,并不一定喪失了成功的機會。由此我們可以得到啟示:在英語教學中要注重語言和文化的關(guān)系,應提高對中西文化差異的敏感性和適應性,應樹立文化意識并注重文化知識的傳授。
一、語言和文化語言和文化是密不可分的。語言不僅僅是一套符號系統(tǒng),人們的言語表現(xiàn)形式更要受語言賴以存在的社會/社團(community)的習俗,生活方式,行為方式,價值觀念,思維方式,宗教信仰,民族心理和性格等的制約和影響。
長期以來,在英語教學中語言和文化的這種關(guān)系一直未得到足夠的重視。在教學實踐中,似乎認為只要進行聽,說,讀,寫的訓練,掌握了語音,詞匯和語法規(guī)則就能理解英語和用英語進行交際。
而實際上由于不了解語言的文化背景,不了解中西文化的差異,在英語學習和用英語進行交際中屢屢出現(xiàn)歧義誤解頻繁,語用失誤迭出的現(xiàn)象。如:用How much money can you earn a month?來表示對外國人的關(guān)心,殊不知這是一句冒犯的問話,侵犯了別人隱私(privacy),會激起對方的反感。
中國人以謙遜為美德,如當外國人稱贊中國人某一方面的特長時,中國人通常會用You are overpraising me ("過獎")來應酬,這往往會讓說話者感到你在懷疑他的判斷力;抑或是用"Where? Where?"來回答,弄得外國人莫名其妙,不知所云。美國社會學家G.R.Tucker 和W.E.Lambet對于外語教學中只教語言不教文化有這樣的看法:"我們相信,任何這類企圖都會使學生失去興趣,使他們不僅不想學習語言符號本身,而且也不想了解使用這一符號系統(tǒng)的民族。
相反,幫助學生在學習語言時提高對文化的敏感性,就可以利用他們發(fā)自內(nèi)心的想了解其他民族的興趣和動力。
從而提供了學習該民族的語言的基礎(chǔ)"。二、中西文化的偶合現(xiàn)象與文化差異 不同民族的文化有可能存在某些相同或相似的地方,這被稱為文化的偶合現(xiàn)象。
這主要是由于不同的民族在與大自然作斗爭的過程中會有相同或相似的生活體驗和經(jīng)歷。這種相似性必然會反映到語言中來。
因而在英語和漢語中,我們不難發(fā)現(xiàn)許多相同或相似的表達。例如:"披著羊皮的狼",英語為wolf in sheep's clothing;"同舟共濟" ,英語為in the same boat;"破土動工",英語為break earth;"三思而后行",英語為 think twice before you act;"藍圖",英語為blue print,等等,這樣的偶合現(xiàn)象不勝枚舉。
文化的這種偶合現(xiàn)象,可以促進English learners在目的語(target language)學習中的"正遷移"(positive transfer)。 但是,不同的民族所處的地理環(huán)境和歷史環(huán)境不同,因而對不同的事物和經(jīng)歷有著不同的編碼(code),分類;不同的民族因不同的宗教信仰,也導致了他們獨特的篤信,崇尚和忌諱心態(tài);不同的民族因其發(fā)展的特殊歷史過程也產(chǎn)生了本民族自己的歷史典故,傳說軼事。
如:漢語中的"龍","生死輪回","八卦","陰陽","氣功"等,對不了解中國文化的外國人來說必然是云里霧里,不知何物。同樣,當我們看到英語中He is a wolf這個句子時,還以為是"這個人很兇",實為"他是個好色之徒"。
中西兩種文化的差異還可以從動物的"文化附加義"的差異窺見一斑。 對于獅子的勇猛(brave),綿羊的溫順(gentle),狐貍的狡猾(sly),烏龜?shù)倪t緩(slow),豬的貪婪(greedy),英語和漢語的文化附加義基本相同。
但在老鼠,騾子和貓頭鷹的習性上,英語和漢語的文化附加義則大相徑庭。在漢語中有"賊眉鼠目","鼠目寸光"等成語,用以形容鬼鬼祟祟和目光短淺。
而老鼠在英語俚語中可指女人,怕羞的人。更由于迪斯尼先生創(chuàng)造了Mickey Mouse這個尤物,從而使得老鼠的形象大放異彩,成為千家萬戶所喜愛的動物,尤其在兒童心目中,更是機智,智慧的象征。
至于騾子,在漢語中,"壽命長,體力大"是它的特征。而英語中騾子是"頑固(stubborn)"的代名詞。
漢語中人們用貓頭鷹象征不祥之兆,如"貓頭鷹進宅,無事不來"。
6.
culture is made complicated up of knowledge,belief,arts,laws,moralities,customs,abilities and habits a person own as a member of society.understanding English culture and knowledge is helpful for the conmmunication.on the other hand,lack of knowing the background will surely make a barrier on communication.culture shock and misunderstanding will also be made.get a clearly idea about the differences between two kind of cultures will play a positive role on getting a reasonable view about the culture and avoid the embarrasse during the daily life.。
7.英語文化背景知識收集
中學英語文化背景知識 黎里中學 丁建方 西方文化背景知識已大量地滲入現(xiàn)代的中學英語教材和讀物中,這與傳統(tǒng)的英語教材只強調(diào)語言知識和語法知識的重要性差別較大。
英語是一門語言學科,它是這一民族文化的組成部分,是文化的載體和折射鏡。我們從中可以看到使用該語言國家的社會文化、自然環(huán)境和思維方式等。
通過對中西方語言文化背景的對比,了解兩者的差異。因而教師應當充分利用各種材料中的西方文化背景知識,介紹給學生,以拓寬視野,提高交際能力和閱讀能力。
以下簡略地概括一些中學英語中出現(xiàn)的中西文化的差異和西方特有的文化背景知識。 一。
日常生活交際和風俗習慣。 中西文化的差異在日常生活中出現(xiàn)得很多,如姓名、稱呼和問候之類。
在漢語中先姓后名而在英美國家則完全不同,他們是名前姓后,而且在中間還喜歡加上一個中間名。稱呼別人時一般在姓的前面加上稱呼語,如“Mr Smith”等,初學者應當注意。
在英語中我們會發(fā)現(xiàn)西方國家里對親屬的稱謂很少,如“Aunt,Ancle, Cousin”等。 而在漢語中則不同,漢語把親屬間的關(guān)系分得極細,既能分別性別、大小又能分出與稱者的關(guān)系。
這種差異說明中國的文化背景,在幾千年的封建統(tǒng)治下,中國人高度重視血緣關(guān)系和等級觀念,提倡長幼有序、尊卑分明。而在一些西方國家小輩直呼長輩之名比比皆是,少有避諱。
家庭成員之間即使是長輩也常對小輩說“Thank you”。因為西方的一些國家追求人人平等和個人的獨立意識。
在英國,熟人見面時談論天氣的話題較多如“Lovely weather,isn't it”。而在中國人們碰面時則常問“你吃了嗎?”自古以來中國食風甚盛,請客吃飯司空見慣。
吃是人們談話常見話題。英國位于大西洋北岸,屬于海洋性氣候,受北大西洋暖濕氣流的影響,四季變化不明顯,但一日之內(nèi)天氣狀況可能瞬息萬變,英國人認為“在本土沒有氣候,只有天氣”,英國的天氣每時每刻都是一個新鮮而有趣的話題,因而長期以來養(yǎng)成了談論天氣情況的習慣。
與西方人交際時應注意一些話題。譬如西方人一般不會向陌生人或不太熟悉的人提問對方的年齡、婚姻狀況、個人收入或宗教信仰之類的事,這對于他們來說是個人的隱私,別人無權(quán)知道。
特別女性的年齡,忌諱得很。在中國就不會有這么多的忌諱。
尊重女士是英國紳士的一大特點。 “Ladies and gentlemen”。
“Ladies first”等。Lady在前,體現(xiàn)了英國人的紳士風度。
如果陌生人見面,介紹人一般都是先向女士引見男士,男士為女士開門、讓座位、拿行李等是英國所崇尚的一種 道德風范。 當你帶領(lǐng)客人到家作客時,英國人僅會領(lǐng)你到客廳或告訴你衛(wèi)生間的方向而不會帶客人象中國人那樣到處參觀,西方有一句諺語“英國人的家就是他們的城堡”而在這一方面中國人則表現(xiàn)出自己的大度和推心置腹。
不同文化背景下人們的思維方式也有所不同。英美國家的社交習俗中坦蕩直率的風格與中國人特有的謙虛謹慎很是不同。
當別人問你是否有吃點或喝點什么時,我們總是要客氣一番,有時會叫人搞不清是真還是假,弄得尷尬不堪。按西方國家的習慣,你若要即要不必推辭,說聲“Yes,please”或不要“No,thanks”,不必推來推去。
當你受到別人的稱贊和夸獎時,說聲“Thank you”。在西方國家人們認為那是非常得體的用語,無須謙虛。
二。歷史文化、習語和典故。
了解更多的歷史文化和典故習語等方面的背景知識,有利于學生拓寬視野和對文章的理解。“Black”一詞是美國人在二十世紀六十年代前對遭受種族歧視和壓迫的黑人的稱呼,甚至稱黑人為“Black Slave”。
而隨著黑人爭取民族解放、平等、民主、自由運動的興起,白人就借一個外來詞“Negro”來稱黑人。當黑人運動逐步地勝利后,黑人以“Black”而自豪。
美國著名黑人杰克遜則認為應當稱美國黑人為“An American of African descent”才適當?shù)皿w。 這說明隨著歷史的發(fā)展,語言作為其交際工具,隨時都應適應社會的需要。
歷史文化是屬于說這種語言的寶貴遺產(chǎn),它們經(jīng)常在日常交際和各種閱讀材料中出現(xiàn),值得倍加注意。如西方人說“He is a Shylock”,不了解情況的學生沒法理解此句的含義,因為“Shylock”這一詞很明顯是一個人名。
而如果你知道 “Shylock”是莎翁筆下的一個什么樣的人物時,此句就很容易理解為他是一個守財奴。又如“Castle in spain”我們譯為“西班牙城堡”,而其真正的含義是幻想或夢想。
就相當于漢語中的空中樓閣之類的意思。 英語習語是學英語者最為頭痛的事,需逐步地和經(jīng)常地積累。
“Pull one'sleg”是指開玩笑而不是拖后腿。“Child's play”是簡單容易不是視同兒戲。
因為習語是該國文化在特定的場合內(nèi)形成的,切不可望文生義,否則會差之毫厘失之千里。如“It's Greek to me”,英國人一般都不懂希臘語,因而此句意為“我不知道”。
“Take French leave”是指用法國式的方式告別,英國人借用十七世紀法國流行的風俗習慣離開客廳時無需向主人或女主人告別,引深為不經(jīng)同意和通知而做什么事情。 中西文在各自領(lǐng)域內(nèi)由于語言文化的背景不同,便有了各自絢麗多彩。