Part One The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Chapter One Geography Section 1 Position．Ntime and Areas Section 2 Major Cities Section 3 Climate and Environment Questions for Discussion
Chapter Two People Section 1 The People of Britain Today Section 2 A Mixed Race Society Section 3 Class Structure Section 4 Religions Section 5 Character and Manner Section 6 Social Norms and Etiquettes Questions for Discussion
Chapter Three Family Section 1 Changing Values and Norms of the British Family Section 2 Family Patterns Section 3 Family Size Section 4 Adoptions Section 5 Marriage Section 6 Divorce Section 7 Older People Questions for Discussion
Chapter Four Political System Section 1 The Constitutional Monarch Section 2 Parliament Section 3 Government Section 4 Political Parties Section 5 Election Questions for Discussion
Chapter Five National Economy Section 1 General Survey Section 2 Industry Section 3 Agriculture Section 4 Foreign Trade Section 5 Government Expenditure and Taxation Section 6 The Consumer Section 7 Welfare Questions for Discussion
Chapter Six Education Section 1 Educational System Section 2 Different Types of Schools in England Section 3 Higher Education Section 4 Famous Universities Section 5 Other Types of Education Questions for Discussion
Chapter Seven Science and Culture Section 1 Achievements in Science and Technology Section 2 Research and Development in Industry Section 3 Outstanding Culture Section 4 Principal Arts Organizations Section 5 Arts for Everybody Section 6 Museums Questions for Discussion
Chapter Eight British Literature Section 1 The Early Writings Section 2 Elizabethan Drama Section 3 The Nineteenth Century Novel Section 4 The Twentieth Century Literature Questions for Discussion
Chapter Nine History Section 1 The Founding of the Nation Section 2 Transition to the Modern Age Section 3 The Rise and Fall of the British of Empire Questions for Discussion
Chapter Ten Britain and the WorJd Section 1 The Three―Circles Section 2 Britain and America Section 3 Britain and Europe Section 4 Britain and China Questions for Discussion Chapter Eleven Media and Sports Section 1 Newspapers Section 2 Television，Broadcast and Radio Section 3 Sports and Games Questions for Discussion
Chapter Twelve Festivals and Leisure Section 1 Traditional Festivals Section 2 Leisure Activities Section 3 Public Houses(Pubs)in Britain Questions for Discussion
Part Two United States of America Chapter One Geography Section 1 Location and Size Section 2 Physiographic Regions Section 3 Rivers and Lakes Section 4 Climate and Weather Section 5 Major Cities in the USA Questions for Discussion
Chapter Two History Section 1 Discovering a New World Section 2 The Founding of the 13 Colonies Section 3 The War Of Independence Section 4 The Civil War Section 5 Establishing a New Government Questions for Discussion
Chapter Three Political System Section 1 General Principles Section 2 The Three Branches Section 3 TWO Parties System Section 4 Relations with China Questions for Discussion
Chapter Four People Section 1 A Nation of Immigrants Section 2 American Way of Life Section 3 Character and Manners Questions for Discussion
Chapter Five Religions Section 1 Religion and the USA Government Section 2 Protestants Section 3 Catholics Section 4 Jewish Section 5 Other Religions in the USA Section 6 American Character of Religion Questions for Discussion
Chapter Six American Literature Section 1 The Age of Romanticism Section 2 The Age of Realism Section 3 Modern American Literature Questions for Discussion
Chapter Seven Education Section 1 Features of American Education Section 2 Secondary Education Section 3 Higher Education Section 4 Financial Problems Section 5 Standardized Tests and Their Uses Section 6 Vocational and Technical Education Section 7 Education and Employment in the USA Questions for Discussion
Chapter Eight National Economy Section 1 General Survey Section 2 HOW American Economy Works Section 3 Manufacturing Industries Section 4 Agriculture Section 5 Money System Section 6 Foreign Trade Section 7 New Economy Section 8 Subprime Crisis Questions for Discussion
Chapter Nine Work and Welfare Section 1 Overview of American Labor Market Section 2 Major Social Welfare Programs Section 3 Welfare Reform Questions for Discussion
Chapter Ten Mess Media and Entertainment Section 1 The Press Section 2 Television Section 3 Radios Section 4 Movies Section 5 Music Questions for Discussion
Chapter Eleven Leisure Activities Section 1 Traveling in America Section 2 Sports Questions for Discussion
Chapter Twelve Holidays …… Part Three Canada,Australia and New Zealand
摘要
The American wedding is often an expensive affair（average cost about$1 0，000）．It isusually paid for by the bride’S parents，although the groom and his parents help prepare theguest list．The day’S festivities begin with the marriage ceremony，which may be held in achurch，synagogue（会堂，犹太教会堂），home，or hotel．Guests are seated on either sideof an aisle，and the wedding starts with a procession down the aisle．The procession includesthe bridal couple and their closest relatives and friends．There are usually bridesmaids（女傧相）and a maid of honor（all wearing matching dresses）and the groom’S best man（男傧相），who carries the bride’S wedding ring．Walking immediately in front of the bride is ayoung girl（the flower girl），who decorates the bride’S path with flower petals dropped fromher straw basket．The bride walks down the aisle with her father，who leads her to the altarand“gives her away”to the groom．The bride and groom then face a cleric or j udge conducting the service，as the traditional service is recited． The double ring ceremony is quite common today，with bride and groom placing identical rings on each other’S fingers．The ring。a circle with no beginning and no end，is a familiar symbol of unending love and loyalty．It is worn on the fourth finger of the left hand because of a very old idea that a vein or nerve ran from this finger directly tO the heart．Towardthe end of the wedding ceremony，the bride and groom promise to love each other“untildeath do US part．”They are pronounced husband and wife，and are invited to kiss each other．Then，the entire wedding procession walks back up the aisle，and the ceremony is over．Often，after a church wedding，guests throw rice，rose petals，or confetti（五彩碎纸）atthe newlyweds as they leave the church．
