What's In a Name?（课文P40-41）
The United Kingdom, Great Britain, Britain, England--many people are (confuse) by what these different names mean. So what is the (different) between them, if any? (get) to know a little bit about British history will help you solve this puzzle.
In the 16th century, the nearby country of Wales was joined the Kingdom of England. Later, in the 18th century, the country Scotland was joined (create) the Kingdom of Great Britain. In the 19th century, the Kingdom of Ireland was added to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. (final), in the 20th century , the southern part of Ireland (break) away from the UK, which resulted the full name we have today: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Most people just use the shortened name: "the United Kingdom" or "the UK". People from the UK are called "British", means the UK is also often (refer) to as Britain or Great Britain.
The four countries belong to the United Kingdom work together in some areas. They use same flag, known the Union Jack, as well as share the same currency and military (defend). However, they also have some differences. example, England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland all have different (educate) systems and legal systems. They also have their own (tradition), like their own national days and national dishes. And they even have their own football teams competitions like the World Cup!
The United Kingdom has long and interesting history to explore, can help you understand much more about the country and its traditions. Almost everywhere you go in the UK, you will be (surround) by evidence of four different groups of people took over at different times throughout history. The first group, the Romans, (come) in the first century. Some of their great achievements included (build) towns and roads. Next, the Anglo-Saxons arrived in the fifth century. They introduced the (begin) of the English language, and changed the way people built houses. The Vikings came in the eighth century, left behind lots of new vocabulary, and also the names of many (location) across the UK. The last group were the Normans. They (conquer) England after the well-known Battle of Hastings in the 11th century. They had castles (build) all around England, and made changes the legal system. The Normans were French, many French words slowly entered into the English language.
There is so much more (learn) about the interesting history and culture of the United Kingdom. Studying history of the country will make your visit much more (enjoy). The capital city London is a great place to start, as it is ancient port city that has a history (date) all the way back to Roman times. There are countless historic sites to explore, and lots of museums ancient relics from all over the UK. The UK is a (fascinate) mix of history and modern culture, with both new old traditions. If you keep your eyes open, you will be surprised (find) that you can see both its past and its present.
"Universal history, the history of what man has accomplished in this world, is at bottom the History of the Great Men who have worked here," wrote the Victorian sage Thomas Carlyle. Well, not any more it is not.
Suddenly, Britain looks to have fallen out with its favourite historical form. This could be no more than a passing literary craze, but it also points to a broader truth about how we now approach the past: less concerned with learning from forefathers and more interested in feeling their pain. Today, we want empathy, not inspiration.
From the earliest days of the Renaissance, the writing of history meant recounting the exemplary lives of great men. In 1337, Petrarch began work on his rambling writing De Viris Illustribus (On Famous Men), highlighting the virtus (or virtue) of classical heroes. Petrarch celebrated their greatness in conquering fortune and rising to the top. This was the biographical tradition which Niccolo Machiavelli turned on its head. In The Prince, he championed cunning, ruthlessness, and boldness, rather than virtue, mercy and justice, as the skills of successful leaders.
Over time, the attributes of greatness shifted. The Romantics commemorated the leading painters and authors of their day, stressing the uniqueness of the artist's personal experience rather than public glory. By contrast, the Victorian author Samual Smiles wrote Self-Help as a catalogue of the worthy lives of engineers, industrialists and explores. "The valuable examples which they furnish of the power of self-help, if patient purpose, resolute working and steadfast integrity, issuing in the formulation of truly noble and many character, exhibit," wrote Smiles. "what it is in the power of each to accomplish for himself." His biographies of James Walt, Richard Arkwright and Josiah Wedgwood were held up as beacons to guide the working man through his difficult life.
This was all a bit bourgeois (庸俗的) for Thomas Carlyle, who focused his biographies on the truly heroic lives of Martin Luther, Oliver Cromwell and Napoleon Bonaparte. These epochal figures represented lives hard to imitate, but to be acknowledged as possessing higher authority than mere mortals.
Not everyone was convinced by such bombast (浮夸的描写): "The history of all existing society is the history of class struggle" wrote Marx and Engels in The Communist Manifesto. "It is man, real living man, who does all that." And history should be the story of the masses and their record of struggle.
This was the tradition which revolutionized our appreciation of the past. It transformed the public history: downstairs became just as fascinating as upstairs. In place of Thomas Carlyle, Britain nurtured Christopher Hill, EP Thompson and Eric Hobsbawm. Whole new realms of understanding—from gender to race to cultural studies—were opened up as scholars unpicked the diversity of lost societies.
The United States you may not know
The United States is the only superpower in the world, and it is far more advanced than any other country. However, we can't simply owe its 1 and prosperity to its lucky escape from the destruction of the two world wars. What other nations should 2 is the American spirit and its social system.
The most obvious features of the American spirit are 3 and pragmatism (务实思想). Nearly 70% of the important inventions have been made in the US since the first industrial revolution. Since the US occupies such an important position in science and technology, naturally it has become the first superpower in the world.
Americans are always 4 with what they have achieved, and they have an appetite for adventure over the love of 5 . European countries have been pursuing a reformist policy of "high tax and high welfare" since the 1960s, while only the US 6 the policy of "high risk and high return". 7 , the US has become the leader of the third industrial revolution (in technology of information, materials and biology).
High salary is not the only 8 that the talents from other countries find in the United States. Some characteristics of American society should not be 9 . Family backgrounds and great wisdom in building connections and playing up to the boss, to which great importance is attached in other countries, are not so important to 10 development in the US. Most people are on the same starting line, and whether one can succeed or not depends on his own ability and hard work.
However, the American character is full of paradoxes (矛盾). The American people are both extremely romantic and pragmatic. The American is a(n) 11 people, but in every field there are workaholics. The Americans are open-minded but they are very conservative on certain matters. Since China's reform and opening-up to the outside world, many media in Western countries have greatly 12 their attitudes towards China. However, the American media are singing the same old tune against China as they were in the Cold War period. The Americans 13 freedom, but their government is very fond of interfering in other countries' internal affairs. What's most puzzling is that the Americans 14 authority, but they highly respect the laws and regulations of the society. Therefore, in such a nation that values personal liberty, the society can still be kept in good order and operate with high 15 . Is it odd? No one can provide a satisfactory answer.
The Palace Museum's clock collection, more than 1,500 in number, is arguably one of the most breathtaking clock preservations worldwide. (make) between the 18th century and the 20th century, some were crafted in Britain, France and Switzerland, some were from the Clock Worship of the Qing Palace, the others were mixture of both the East and the West.
The (major) of British clocks feature bronze cases inlaid with splendidly colorful jewels. They are diverse form, recreating all kinds of architecture and natural sights, and often include automatic (decorate) such as fountains, moving figures, boats and birds. These clocks represent the highest level of craftsmanship in Britain.
Most of the French clocks here are the products of the early 20th century. Whether in terms of theme decorative style, the French clocks in the collection have a style of (they) own, and deserve their place in history.
The Swiss timepieces (most) comprise small, unconventionally shaped desk clocks and delicate pocket watches. They were specially made (suit) the tastes of Chinese customers.
Clocks may turn back in time, but humans may never dream of doing so. Today, the Palace Museum (aim) to carry on this touching tale of "time" as guardians of this traditional craftsmanship.
