1.英美文化常識(shí)
一。（一）美國貨幣
美國貨幣由美元dollar和美分cent組成，one dollar等于100 cents。其紙幣bill有一、二、五、十、二十、五十和一百美元等面值；硬幣（coin）有一美分（或a penny）、五美分（或a nickel）、十美分（或a dime）和二十五美分（或a quarter）等。在數(shù)字前加$表示美元，如：$500表示五百美元；在數(shù)字后加C表示美分，如：50C表示50美分；表示由美元和美分組成的錢數(shù)時(shí)，常用$表示，如：$6.50。
（二）英國貨幣
英國貨幣由英鎊（pound）和便士（pence）組成，也分為紙幣notes和硬幣coins。紙幣有面值五鎊、十鎊、二十鎊和五十鎊；而硬幣，即金屬貨幣有一便士、二便士、五便士、十便士、二十便士、五十便士和一鎊等。若指一定數(shù)額的硬幣，通常用piece，如2P(pieces)；隨身帶的硬幣可用change表示。100 pence等于1 pound。在數(shù)字前加￡表示多少英鎊，如：￡800為800英鎊；在數(shù)字后加P表示多少便士，如：5P表示五便士（penny的復(fù)數(shù)）；表示由英鎊和便士組成的錢數(shù)時(shí)通常不說出pence，如3鎊50便士可說成￡3.50或three pounds and fifty。
2.有關(guān)英美文化的英語知識(shí)
英語國家中傳統(tǒng)的文娛和體育活動(dòng)：棒球、橄欖球等；英國：4月23日/7月---戲劇節(jié)--為紀(jì)念莎士比亞而舉行的盛大文娛活動(dòng)英語國家中重要的節(jié)假日：圣誕節(jié)---12月25日，情人節(jié)----2月14日；感恩節(jié)—11月的第四個(gè)星期四開始，持續(xù)四天感恩節(jié)每年11月的最后一個(gè)星期四是感恩節(jié) （Thanksgiving Day） 。
感恩節(jié)是美國人民獨(dú)創(chuàng)的一個(gè)古老節(jié)日，也是美國人合家歡聚的節(jié)日，因此美國人提起感恩節(jié)總是倍感親切。 感恩節(jié)的由來要一直追溯到美國歷史的發(fā)端。
1620年，著名的“五月花”號(hào)船滿載不堪忍受英國國內(nèi)宗教迫害的清教徒102人到達(dá)美洲。1620年和1621年之交的冬天，他們遇到了難以想象的困難，處在饑寒交迫之中，冬天過去時(shí)，活下來的移民只有50來人。
這時(shí)，心地善良的印第安人給移民送來了生活必需品，還特地派人教他們?cè)鯓俞鳙C、捕魚和種植玉米、南瓜。在印第安人的幫助下，移民們終于獲得了豐收，在歡慶豐收的日子，按照宗教傳統(tǒng)習(xí)俗，移民規(guī)定了感謝上帝的日子，并決定為感謝印第安人的真誠幫助，邀請(qǐng)他們一同慶祝節(jié)日。
在第一個(gè)感恩節(jié)的這一天，印第安人和移民歡聚一堂，他們?cè)诶杳鲿r(shí)鳴放禮炮，列隊(duì)走進(jìn)一間用作教堂的屋子，虔誠地向上帝表達(dá)謝意，然后點(diǎn)起篝火舉行盛大宴會(huì)。第二天和第三天又舉行了摔跤、賽跑、唱歌、跳舞等活動(dòng)。
第一個(gè)感恩節(jié)非常成功。其中許多慶祝方式流傳了300多年，一直保留到今天。
初時(shí)感恩節(jié)沒有固定日期，由各州臨時(shí)決定。直到美國獨(dú)立后的1863年，林肯總統(tǒng)宣布感恩節(jié)為全國性節(jié)日。
習(xí) 俗 每逢感恩節(jié)這一天，美國舉國上下熱鬧非常，人們按照習(xí)俗前往教堂做感恩祈禱，城鄉(xiāng)市鎮(zhèn)到處舉行化裝游行、戲劇表演和體育比賽等，學(xué)校和商店也都按規(guī)定放假體息。孩子們還模仿當(dāng)年印第安人的模樣穿上離奇古怪的服裝，畫上臉譜或戴上面具到街上唱歌、吹喇叭。
散居在他鄉(xiāng)外地的家人也會(huì)回家過節(jié)，一家人團(tuán)團(tuán)圍坐在一起，大嚼美味火雞。 同時(shí)，好客的美國人也忘不掉這一天邀請(qǐng)好友、單身漢或遠(yuǎn)離家鄉(xiāng)的入共度佳節(jié)。
從18世紀(jì)起，美國就開始出現(xiàn)一種給貧窮人家送一籃子食物的風(fēng)俗。當(dāng)時(shí)有一群年輕婦女想在一年中選一天專門做善事，認(rèn)為選定感恩節(jié)是最恰當(dāng)不過的。
所以感恩節(jié)一到，她們就裝上滿清一籃食物親自送到窮人家。這件事遠(yuǎn)近傳聞，不久就有許多人學(xué)著她們的樣子做起來。
美 食 美國人一年中最重視的一餐，就是感恩節(jié)的晚宴。在美國這個(gè)生活節(jié)奏很快，競(jìng)爭(zhēng)激烈的國度里，平日的飲食極為簡(jiǎn)單。
但在感恩節(jié)的夜晚，家家戶戶都大辦筵席，物品之豐盛，令人咋舌。在節(jié)日的餐桌上，上至總統(tǒng)，下至庶民，火雞和南瓜餅都是必備的。
因此，感恩節(jié)也被稱為“火雞節(jié)”。 感恩節(jié)的食品富有傳統(tǒng)特色。
火雞是感恩節(jié)的傳統(tǒng)主菜，它原是棲息于北美洲的野禽，后經(jīng)人們大批飼養(yǎng)，成為美味家禽，每只可重達(dá)四五十磅。通常是把火雞肚子里塞上各種調(diào)料和拌好的食品，然后整只烤出，雞皮烤成深棕色，由男主人用刀切成薄片分給大家。
然后由各人自己澆上鹵汁，灑上鹽，味道十分鮮美。此外，感恩節(jié)的傳統(tǒng)食品還有甜山芋、玉蜀黍、南瓜餅、紅莓苔子果醬、自己烘烤的面包及各種蔬菜和水果等。
游 戲 感恩節(jié)宴會(huì)后，有些家庭還常常做些傳統(tǒng)游戲。第一次感恩節(jié)，人們進(jìn)行了跳舞、比賽等許多娛樂活動(dòng)，其中有些一直流傳至今。
有種游戲叫蔓越桔競(jìng)賽，是把一個(gè)裝有蔓越桔的大碗放在地上，4-10名競(jìng)賽者圍坐在周圍，每人發(fā)給針線一份。比賽一開始，他們先穿針線，然后把蔓越桔一個(gè)個(gè)串起來，3分鐘一到；誰串得最長(zhǎng)，誰就得獎(jiǎng)。
至于穿得最慢的人，大家還開玩笑地發(fā)給他一個(gè)最差獎(jiǎng)。 還有一種玉米游戲也很古老。
據(jù)說這是為了紀(jì)念當(dāng)年在糧食匱乏的情況下發(fā)給每個(gè)移民五個(gè)玉米而流傳下來的。游戲時(shí)。
人們把五個(gè)玉米藏在屋里，由大家分頭去找，找到玉米的五個(gè)人參加比賽，其他人在一旁觀看。比賽開始，五個(gè)人就迅速把玉米粒剝?cè)谝粋€(gè)碗里，誰先剝完誰得獎(jiǎng)，然后由沒有參加比賽的人圍在碗旁邊猜里面有多少玉米粒，猜得數(shù)量最接近的獎(jiǎng)給一大意爆玉米花。
人們最喜愛的游戲要算南瓜賽跑了。比賽者用一把小勺推著南瓜跑，規(guī)則是絕對(duì)不能用手碰南瓜，先到終點(diǎn)者獲獎(jiǎng)。
比賽用的勺子越小，游戲就越有意思。 除去這些活動(dòng)外，有些家庭在節(jié)日里驅(qū)車到鄉(xiāng)間去郊游，或是坐飛機(jī)出去旅行，特別是當(dāng)年移民們安家落戶的地方——普利茅斯港更是游客們向往的所在。
在那里，可以看到按照“五月花”號(hào)仿制的船和普利茅斯石，還可以花幾個(gè)小時(shí)在移民村里參觀。移民村是仿照當(dāng)年的樣子建成的。
參觀時(shí)，還有專門人員扮成請(qǐng)教徒同游客們談天，給人以身臨其境的感覺。 多少年來，慶祝感恩節(jié)的習(xí)俗代代相傳，無論在巖石嶙峋的西海岸還是在風(fēng)光旖旎的夏威夷，人們幾乎在以同樣的方式歡度感恩節(jié)，感恩節(jié)是不論何種信仰、何種民族的美國人都慶祝的傳統(tǒng)節(jié)日。
圣誕節(jié)12月25日這一天，各教會(huì)都會(huì)分別舉行崇拜儀式。天主教與東正教舉行圣誕彌撤，新教舉行圣誕禮拜。
有些教會(huì)的慶?；顒?dòng) 從午夜零點(diǎn)就開始。除崇拜儀式外，還演出圣誕劇，表演 耶穌降生的故事。
圣誕起源據(jù)。
3.英國文化知識(shí)
Let's Learn About England一IntroductionThe British Isles have a rich history going back thousands of years.The history of the United Kingdom includes also the history of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The history is full of invaders, wars, rulers. 二The Kings and Queens Until 1603 the English and Scottish Crowns were separated.Following the Accession of King James VI of Scotland (I of England) to the English Throne. From the end of the 17th century, monarchs lost executive power and they became subject to Parliament, resulting in today's constitutional Monarchy.三The best known Queen: Elizabeth gave the name to a golden age of poets, statesmen and adventurers. Known as the Virgin Queen, or Gloriana.四The best known King:Claims to the throne of France led to the Hundred Years' War and the loss of almost all the large English territory in France. Eduard III五The Historical Flag When King James VI of Scotland ascended to the English throne, thereby becoming James I of England, the national flags of England and Scotland on land continued to be.Flag? crossesThe Union Jack/Flag includes the Cross of St. George (England), the Cross of St. Andrew (Scotland) and the Cross of St. Patrick (Ireland). 六The Most Important WarsThe Hundred Years War 1336-1565 Wars of the Roses 1455-1487Civil War 1642-1645 Boer War 1901-1902World War I 1914-1918 World War II 1939-1945 七Walesa Celtic land of mountains and coalNorthern IrelandIt is clear today that the Irish problem has not been solved. Northern Protestants feel they have a right to determine their own future democratically. Northern Catholics feel they have the right to be part of a united Ireland. 八ScotlandAn English army arrived to relieve the Scots siege of Stirling. Bruce defeated the English army under Edward II, who was lucky to escape with his life. The Scots victory at the Battle of Bannockburn secured complete Scots independence.九EnglandEngland has always played an important role in the world? economy and business.十Historical Monumentthe name of a very remarkable ancient monument in England It consists of a great collection of stones 十一A Few Facts About EnglandEngland is part of the United Kingdom which is made up of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.England is part of the European Union.The capital of England is London.The money used is called the pound.The population of England is 60,776,238.The language spoken is English.十二Let's visit some important cities in England.Oxford University and the University of Cambridge are both famous around the world.十三England's Important People Famous authors - Beatrix Potter, Roald Dahl and J.K. RowlingWilliam Shakespeare - famous for writing playsQueen Elizabeth and the royal familyThe Beatles -famous singing group who became popular in the 1960sDido – English Singer十四What English Kids DoEnglish kids like to play football, cricket, tennis and netball.Many kids belong to clubs like scouts, judo, karate and church clubs.Kids also like to skateboard, watch TV, ride bicycles and play computer games. Kids in the cities spend time in the many museums.F十五amous Sights in EnglandBig Ben ClockWestminster AbbeyTower of LondonLondon EyeTrafalgar SquareBuckingham Palace 十六Visit the Sights in the Harry Potter Books!!Go to this website for information on places that are important to find - /Funtodo/England/visitharrypottersites.htmKing's Cross StationLondon ZooAlnwick CastleGloucester CathedralLacock Abbey十七What the English Like to EatFish and chipsTea and biscuits。
4.求一些經(jīng)典的有關(guān)英美文化的書藉
英語學(xué)習(xí)與英美文化淺談 周 強(qiáng) （太原師專外語系 030001） 摘要 語言與文化緊密相關(guān)。
本文摘錄《大學(xué)英語》課本（文理科通用） 中的許多例句， 闡述了文化背 景在英語學(xué)習(xí)中的重要作用。本文不僅強(qiáng)調(diào)打好語言基礎(chǔ)的重要性， 更注重提高英語學(xué)習(xí)者文化素質(zhì)的 提高。
二者的結(jié)合對(duì)于提高運(yùn)用英語的能力有很大的幫助。 關(guān)鍵詞 文化背景， 英語基礎(chǔ)知識(shí) 大學(xué)英語教學(xué)大綱（非英語專業(yè)本科） 指出： 在打好語言基礎(chǔ)的同時(shí)，“大學(xué)英語教學(xué) 還應(yīng)有助于學(xué)生開闊視野， 擴(kuò)大知識(shí)面， 加深對(duì)世界的了解， 借鑒和吸收外國文化精華， 提 高文化素質(zhì)。
文化和語言有密切的聯(lián)系， 一定的文化背景知識(shí)有助于促進(jìn)語言應(yīng)用能力的 提高?！?語言是社會(huì)現(xiàn)象， 是一定文化的載體。
雖然人類的思維沒有什么不同， 但由于各個(gè)民 族生活的地理環(huán)境不同， 形成的歷史不同， 社會(huì)制度， 宗教信仰、價(jià)值觀念以及生活的習(xí)俗 不同， 因而各民族都有獨(dú)特的文化， 反映民族文化的語言必然與外族語有差異。這種差異 不僅表現(xiàn)在描述同一事物時(shí)， 詞匯、發(fā)音和語法結(jié)構(gòu)的不同， 而且對(duì)同一概念的具體表述， 以及對(duì)某一事物所產(chǎn)生的聯(lián)想也不盡相同。
學(xué)習(xí)外語的人往往注意外語與母語形式的不 同而容易忽略文化的差異。 英語起源于基督教國家英國， 今天世界上以英語為母語的國家絕大多數(shù)也是基督教 國家。
英語中的許多典故和成語都來自基督教的經(jīng)典——《圣經(jīng)》（The Ho ly B ib le）?！洞?學(xué)英語》·精讀（Co llage English 修訂本·上海外語教育出版社） 第一冊(cè)第一課中有這樣 一句話“The wo rld won't end if you don't pass a test, so don'two rry excessively abou t a single tex t. ”（一次考試不及格， 天是不會(huì)塌下來的， 因此， 不必為個(gè)別的一次考試過分擔(dān) 心。）
“end of the wo rld”意為“世界末日”， 出自《圣經(jīng)》的《馬太福音》13 章39 節(jié)（M at thew 13: 39） ,“The enem y that sow ed them ( tares) is the devil; the harvest is the end of the wo rld; and the reapers are the angels. " （撒稗子的仇敵就是魔鬼， 收割的時(shí)候就是世界的 末了， 收割的人就是天使。） 我們中國人常用“天崩地裂”、“天塌了”比作“世界末日”。
如果 我們把“天不會(huì)塌下來”譯為“The heaven won't fall dow n”， 英美人恐怕就不知所云。 英語來自《圣經(jīng)》的成語很多， 如“a drop in the bucket”（滄海一粟）、“app les of go ld in p ictu res of silver”（錦上添花）、“beat swo rds in to p low shares”（化干戈為玉帛）、“cast pearls befo re sw ine ”（對(duì)牛彈琴）、“tu rn a deaf ear to”（充耳不聞） 等。
有些成語漢語也已 經(jīng)借用， 如：“象牙塔”、“橄欖枝”、“披著羊皮的狼”就來自“tow er of ivo ry”、“o live b ranch" 和“wo lf in sheep's clo th ing”。學(xué)習(xí)英語國家地理和歷史知識(shí)也對(duì)英語語言的學(xué)習(xí)有很大 幫助。
我們中國人一說到陜北和甘肅自然會(huì)聯(lián)想起黃土高坡， 革命圣地延安， 同時(shí)也會(huì)想 到干旱和貧困； 提起江南頭腦中就會(huì)浮現(xiàn)出稻田、水牛相映的魚米之鄉(xiāng)。而美國人談到美 國大西洋東北部海岸， 就會(huì)想到摩天大樓林立的紐約和獨(dú)立戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)時(shí)期革命的中心波士頓、費(fèi)城等大城市； 提起佛羅里達(dá)和夏威夷自然會(huì)浮現(xiàn)出海浪拍打沙灘， 棕櫚樹成蔭的“陽光 地帶”； 而美國西部地區(qū)更會(huì)使現(xiàn)代的美國人聯(lián)想到白雪皚皚的落基山脈、披荊斬棘開發(fā) 西部邊疆的先人、粗獷豪爽的牛仔和19 世紀(jì)瘋狂的淘金熱。
《大學(xué)英語》第一冊(cè)第十單元“GO IN G HOM E”（《回家》） 一課， 寫到6 個(gè)前往佛羅里 2000 年 太原師范?？茖W(xué)校學(xué)報(bào) Journal of Taiyuan Teachers Co llege 第3 期 達(dá)度假的青年男女“dream ing of go lden beaches and sea t ides as the gray, co ld sp ring of N ew Yo rk van ished beh ind them " （“當(dāng)紐約灰暗寒冷的春天在他們身后消失時(shí)， 他們正夢(mèng) 想著金色的海灘和大海的潮水”）。在第四冊(cè)第九單元“JOU RN EYW EST ”（《西行記事》 中， 作者認(rèn)為美國精神體現(xiàn)在西部， 因?yàn)椤癆 lthough the Repub lic have been bo rn in the East, it had spen t mo st of it s t im e and energies since then movingW est”（雖然共和國誕 生在東部， 但建國后的絕大部分時(shí)間和精力花在向西開拓上。）
因此，“w hen m illion s of o ther Am erican fam ilies w ere p reparing to crow d in to the B icen tenn ial sh rines of the East ”（當(dāng)數(shù)百萬美國家庭正準(zhǔn)備擁向東部?jī)砂倌甏髴c的圣地） ，“w e reso lved to head in the sam e direct ion in 1976, fo llow ing the o ld p ioneer t rails and the famou s rivers. ”（我們 決定在1976 年也沿著老一代拓荒者的足跡和名山大川向西進(jìn)發(fā)。） 如果我們熟悉這些背 景， 這兩篇課文也就不難理解。
就美國地理而言，《大學(xué)英語》這套教材幾乎提及美國所有的大城市和大部分的州諸 如華盛頓（W ash ington D. C. ）、紐約（N ew Yo rk ）、舊金山（San F rancisco ）、休斯敦 （Hou ston）、匹茲堡（P it t sbu rgh）、巴爾第摩（Balt imo re）、圣地亞哥（San D iego ）、芝加哥 （Ch icago）、布法羅（Buffalo） 等美國主要城市。如果有一定的地理知識(shí)的話， 我們就很熟悉 。
5.英美文化基礎(chǔ)教程
there are lots of positives and negativesA big negative is an increase of environmental damage. The factories were powered by coal- the smoke from the factories turned pretty much everything black in the UK. Also durring this time there was a mass movement of people from the farms into the cities where they could make more money in the factories. A positive is that it created a huge middle class. Before the IR there was the lower class which consisted of most people and then there was the few people who made up the wealthy upper class that pretty much controlled everything. As the poor people began to work in the factories, they made more money, which gave them more power. The new middle class began to demand rights, they wanted to vote (before only land owners could vote.) However this created a new problem- you can't have uneducated people voting, it can be dangerous. As a result mandatory education was introduced for everyone. Hope this helps POSITIVE:The Industrial Revolution changed the ways by how the world produced its goods. It also changed our societies from a mainly agricultural society to one that in which industry and manufacturing was in control. During this time there were also many new technological advancements, socioeconomic and cultural problems that arised. On the technology front, the biggest advancements were in steam power. New fuels such as coal and petroleum, were incorporated into new steam engines. This revolutionized many industries including textiles and manufacturing. Also, a new communication medium was invented called the telegraph. This made communicating across the ocean much faster. The Industrial Revolution was a time of dramatic change, from hand tools and handmade items, to products which were msass produced by machines. Workers became more productive, and since more items were manufactured, prices dropped, making exclusive and hard to make items available to the poor and not only the rich and elite. Life generally improved,NEGATIVE:The industrial revolution also proved harmful. Pollution increased, working conditions were harmful, and with the employed of women and young children, making them work long and hard hours. Along with the great leap in technology, there was an overall downfall in the socioeconomic and cultural situation of the people. Growth of cities were one of the major consequences of the Industrial Revolution. Many people were driven to the cities to look for work, in turn the ended living in the cities that could not support them. With the new industrial age, a new qauntitative and materialistic view of the world took place. This caused the need for people to consume as much as they could. This still happens today. Living on small wages that required small children to work in factories for long days.The Industrial Revolution, was not a good revolution for the planet. From the time of its start, the factories and industry has increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by two-folds. Also in our drive for consumerism, our planets natural resources are being depleted at an alarming rate. Pollution by nuclear waste, pesticides and other chemicals are also the result of the Industrial Revolution.POSITIVE AND NEGATIVEThe Industrial Revolution was a dramatic change in the nature of production in which machines replaced tools, steam and other energy sources replaced human or animal power, and skilled workers were replaced with mostly unskilled workers. The Industrial Revolution resulted in work that had been performed in the home by family members, such as spinning yarn, being performed with the help of large powerful machines in factories, such as the early textile mill. The Industrial Revolution permitted trends begun in the domestication revolution and agricultural revolution to continue, resulting in still greater inequality。
6.英美文化習(xí)俗精粹（英漢短文）
As the development of the world, our country's economy has become more and more better, people's life standard has become much better, so people have money to amuse. Private car, once seemed to be untouchable for the ordinary people, now has been bought by most families. Owing private cars indeed brings people much convenience, but at the same time, it also has disadvantages. First, it needs to cost people a lot of money to keep the private cars. People need to buy a carport to stop the car, as it is known to all that buying a carport is very expensive, people also need to cost money to buy the gasoline. When the car is broken, it needs money to fix.。
