本教材根据《高职高专教育英语课程教学基本要求》编写，在编写过程中力图符合英语教师及学生的实际需要和实际水平，做到语言通俗易懂、内容新颖、趣味性强。本教材共分为两大部分：英国部分和美国部分。每部分有八个章节，介绍了英、美两国的历史、政治、经济、教育、宗教及文学艺术等方面的基本知识，有助于学习者了解英美的价值观念及生活，加深对语言和文化的理解，增强对文化差异的敏感性，达到扩大知识面、巩固和提高英语水平的目的。
Part One The United Kingdom
Chapter 1 Brief Introduction to the United Kingdom
1. Brief Introduction
2. Location and Area
3. Climate
4. Topography
5. Rivers and Lakes
6. Mountains and Hills
7. Population
8. Languages
East Meets West
New Words
Exercises
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Chapter 2 History of the United Kingdom
1. Early Settlers
2. The Roman Invasion of Britain
3. Anglo-Saxon Conquests
4. Viking Challenge and the Rise of Wessex
5. Norman Conquest
6. Tudor England (1485-1603)
7. The House of Stuart (1603-1714)
8. The Hanoverians (18th-19th Century)
9. Two World Wars (1914-1945)
10. The 21st Century
East Meets West
New Words
Exercises
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Chapter 3 Politics of the United Kingdom
1. Introduction
2. The Constitution
3. The Monarchy
4. The Parliament
5. The British Government
6. The General Election
7. Political Parties
8. Brexit
East Meets West
New Words
Exercises
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Chapter 4 Economy of the United Kingdom
1. General Introduction
2. Economic Sectors of UK
3. Major Cities and Industries
East Meets West
New Words
Exercises
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Chapter 5 Military of the United Kingdom
1. Overview
2. History
3. Structure
4. Uniforms
5. Recruitment
East Meets West
New Words
Exercises
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Chapter 6 Culture and Education of the United Kingdom
1. Introduction
2. Culture
3. Education
East Meets West
New Words
Exercises
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Chapter 7 Religion of the United Kingdom
1. General Introduction
2. Role in History and Modern Society
3. Christianity
4. Other Religions
5. Religious Views about Social Issues
East Meets West
New Words
Exercises
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Chapter 8 Literature and Arts of the United Kingdom
1. Literature
2. Arts
East Meets West
New Words
Exercises
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Part Two The United States of America
Chapter 1 Introduction to the United States of America
1. Introduction
2. Location and Area
3. Climate
4. Topography
5. Rivers and Lakes
6. Mountains and Hills
7. Population
8. Languages
East Meets West
New Words
Exercises
Stay Positive
Chapter 2 History of the United States
1. The Discovery of the New World
2. The Colonial Period (1600-1763)
3. The Independence War of America
4. Territory Expansion and the Westward Movement
5. The Civil War
6. US Imperialism and World WarⅠ
7. World War Ⅱ
8. Post World War Ⅱ
9. Toward the 21st Century
10. The 21st Century
East Meets West
New Words
Exercises
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Chapter 3 Politics of the United States
1. Why Government
2. The United States Constitution
3. Federalism
4. The United States Congress
5. The Executive Branch
6. The Federal Judiciary
7. The Legislative Process
8. Voting in America
9. Political Parties
East Meets West
New Words
Exercises
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Chapter 4 Economy of the United States
1. Introduction
2. Economic Performance of the US since the 21th century
3. Economic Sectors
East Meets West
New Words
Exercises
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Chapter 5 Military of the United States
1. Overview
2. History
3. The US Military Departments
4. Recruitment Culture of the US Military
East Meets West
New Words
Exercises
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Chapter 6 Culture and Education of the United States
1. Introduction
2. Culture
3. Education
East Meets West
New Words
Exercises
Stay Positive
Chapter 7 Religion of the United States
1. General Introduction
2. The Major Religions in America
3. Characteristics of American Religion
4. Religion in Today’s America
5. Religious Views about Social Issues
East Meets West
New Words
Exercises
Stay Positive
Chapter 8 Literature and Arts of the United States
1. Literature
2. Arts
East Meets West
New Words
Exercises
Stay Positive
AppendixⅠ: Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom
AppendixⅡ: Presidents of the United States
References