谈英语国家概况的自学及应试

南京师范大学外国语学院教授　程中锐

知难而上　勇于迎考
    过去由江苏省自学考试指导委员会制定的英语专科考生必修的课程《英美概况》，现在改为全国高等教育自学考试指导委员会制定的课程《英语国家概况》。顾名思义，原来只涉及到英美两国的概况介绍，现在却涉及到英、美、加、澳、新等五国。不仅范围扩大了，内容增多了，从原来主要涉及英、美两国的政治、经济、自然地理等方面的情况和两国历史上各个时期的社会政治、经济、文化等方面的情况扩展到囊括英、美、加、澳、新五国的历史、地理、政治、经济、文化、艺术、风土人情等众多的内容；而且，教材由原来采用的南京出版社出版、刘银同志编著的《英美概况》改为采用由外语教学与研究出版社出版、余志远同志主编的《英语国家概况》；原来正文仅225页，而现在教材则有正文564页，比原来采用的教材页数多了一倍以上，而且原来教材使用中文撰写，而现在的教材使用英文撰写。这对母语为汉语的广大自学考生来说确是一个不小的改变，一个由易到难的大转折。无怪一些已通过该门考试的考生看到新教材后咋舌摇头，口出一个“难”字，接着又额首庆幸自己已经过了此“关”。用他们的话来说：“原来只要拿《英美概况》来按图索骥，死记硬背中文就可以了，而现在得先把《英语国家概况》教材中的英语搞懂才谈得上记忆，更何况教材内容由英、美两国改为五国！”怎一个“难”字了得！但我个人认为教材由中文版改为英文版是一大进步，一方面说明我们广大自学考试考生英语水平的提高，另一方面说明全国高等教育自学考试指导委员会高瞻远瞩，不仅把此课程的学习目的定位于“learn 　about　 English"即大纲中所说的“为了使英语专业专科学生了解主要英语国家的地理、历史、经济、政治等方面的概况；了解主要英语国家的文化传统、风俗习惯和社会生活的其它有关情况”，而且要让学生"learn　 English"即大纲中所说的“通过学习文化知识，进行语言基本功的训练，巩固和提高英语水平。”显然，摆在广大考生面前的是一个难题（hard　 nut），等待勇于挑战的考生去克服。而要做到这一点却必需要扎扎实实地把语言关过好，学懂、学通教材才行，另外，由于汉语及英语的极大差异，虽然，咋看起来教材变厚了，范围扩大了，但相对说来，就英、美两国概况而言，内容反倒没有原来的多、杂。而且，从考试的命题角度来看，由于教材采用了英文撰写，内容就不如原来用中文编写的那样深、透，所以试卷不可能象原来我省由南京师范大学外文系命题的《英美概况》那样细、那样面面具到。对考生更为有利的是新教材对各章规定了考核目标，“考什么？怎么考？”一目了然。考生不必到处瞎抓，胡乱猜题，“押宝”，因此，考生切勿存在侥幸心理，以为只要学习和复习一些重点就能“蒙混过关”，而恰恰相反，新的教材要求考生：

研究大纲 　 精读教材

  广大考生最关心的莫过于考试。《英语国家概况》自学考试大纲明文规定了命题原则“本课程考试的命题，应根据本大纲所规定的各章学习要点和考核目标，确定考试范围和考核标准，不要扩大或缩小考试范围，也不要提高或降低考核标准。考试内容要覆盖到各个章节，并适当突出课程的重点内容，难易程度要适中。”因此，我认为广大考生应一步一个脚印、踏踏实实地做到：

  研究大纲、精读教材。据笔者所知，历年考试中考生往往把考试大纲搁在一边或丢在脑后，错误地认为“老师又不从大纲中命题”，殊不知命题教师恰恰严格按照大纲精神和大纲规定来命题的，甚至有的题目及答案就是直接来自大纲，如新教材大纲中的题型举例中单项选择题第一题The British Isles are mainly made up of 　　.就是根据大纲第5页中Different Names for Britain and its Parts 来的；第二题The Norman Conquest refers to the conquest of England by the Normans under　　in　　. 就来自大纲第10页The Norman Conquest(1066)。我们再看一下北京市一九九七年高等教育自学考试英语国家概况试题第一项单项选择题19题：　　is the biggest and best －loved holiday in the United States.

A. Independence Day
B. Thanksgiving Day
C. Christmas Day
D. New Year’s Day

  就来自新教材大纲第二十二章美国的节假日（Holidays and Festivals）中的第十二小节圣诞节Christmas Day (December 25)

  由此可见，大纲不能不谈读，而且应该仔细研究以便了解全貌，掌握重点。当然，最重要的是吃透教材，所以笔者建议考生要象使用精读教材一样地研读教材，一定要逐字逐句，每章必读，若稍有疏忽，考试时就有可能丢分。如著名的美国的五大湖在中国中小学生中可谓尽人皆知的，更不必说英语专业的学生了，但如果遇到下面这样的考题，就恐怕很难说考生都能答对了：The Great Lakes are the five lakes in the northest.They are all located between Canada and the United States except　　.要求考生填出Lake Michigan（密执安湖），这说明不仅考生应熟悉五大湖Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie和Lake Ontario,而且要能正确拼写出来，并且知道只有密执安湖才是唯一的座落在美国境内而非在美加交界处的。又如：学英语的学生几乎人人都知道美国的“早期移民”、“清教徒”、“五月花号”、“新英格兰地区”等名词，但如果要求学生用英文说出，并正确拼写出新英格兰的六个州名则恐怕很少有人能全部答对。请读者试答下面两道题目：

1.New England refers to the north－east six states of the U.S.A.: Maine ,Vermont, Connecticut,________,________and________.
2.Which of the following is NOT included in the north－eastern six states of the U.S.A. －－－New England ?
A. Maine　B. Rhode Island
C. New Hampshine　D. New York

   笔者曾做过个试验，就上述两题对英语专业本科生、研究生，甚至包括就新英格兰地区宗教问题做论文的研究生和在美学习、工作的华人学生问过上述问题，亦问过考《英美概况》的考生，全答对的人很少，更不必说能全把这六个州的地名拼对，所以说，教材一定要从头读到底，不能有所偏废。

  再说，考生怎能预测到试卷中不会出现在新西兰妇孺皆知的Kaka（卡卡鸟）、Kea (啄羊鹦鹉)，代表澳大利亚的Kangaroo(袋鼠)，在北美（美国，特别在加拿大）象征“兢兢业业”的beaver(水獭)？“不落的星条旗”该是每个考生都知道的美国国歌吧？但是否每个考生都知道英、加、澳、新的国歌分别为：“God Save the Queen(上帝保佑女王)”、“O,Canada（啊，加拿大！）”、“Advance,Australia Fair（前进，美丽的澳大利亚）”。

全面复习　突出重点

  认真、全面的阅读教材是学好这门课程的关键，只有把教材仔细研读消化、弄懂、弄通后才能谈得上学习其它的参考材料，做复习题，希望自学考生在研究自考大纲中的要求及内容提要后逐章逐节地通读全书，并且要在理解内容的基础上通过独立思考完成教材中的复习题，在这基础上，亦只有在这基础上才谈得上突出重点，否则的话成了本末倒置，反而事倍功半。笔者认为学习的重点还是应该放在英、美两国的概况上，因为美国、澳大利亚、加拿大和新西兰原属英国的殖民地，爱尔兰曾受到英国统治，从民族的组成、文化传统、风俗习惯等都和英国息息相关，甚至这些国家的许多地名都沿用了英国的地名，如英国的首都London,在美国、加拿大都有名叫London的城市，而美国则由于经济实力及地位、科学技术的领先地位及其扩张政策，使其在政治、文化、经济等方面对世界各国影响日益深远。所以笔者认为学习的重点应该放在英、美两国的概况上，而从内容上来看，笔者认为重点应该放在历史、政治、经济、文化方面，而不是地理方面，地理方面主要复习每个国家的地理概况及著名的河流、山脉即可。

  我们来分析一下北京市1997年高等教育自学考试英语国家概况试题，就不难看出该门课程的考试重点所在。第一项选择题，共20题，其中第1到第10题及第12题均为有关英国的历史、社会制度、工业革命、教会、国家政体、英国的殖民地、教育制度及健康医疗保险等方面，占全部20题的百分之五十五，可谓“重中之重”。其它9题均为关于美国的地理、移民、政治、经济、宪法、教育、节日及文学作品，占20题的百分之四十五，可谓英美两家“瓜分天下”。

  第二项为填空题。共15题。其中第1题到第6题为有关英国的两党制、国家政体、法律、宪法、教育。第7题为英国地理，有关英国的内容占了整个15题中7题，几乎达50％！第8题为美国地理，第9题为美国教育，第10题到第15题均为美国历史、政治、外交政策、民权运动、种族问题等，美国的内容占了50％之多！

  第三项为名词解释。共四题。两题为有关英国的工业革命和文艺复兴及两题有关美国的三权鼎立和抗税法案。

  第四项为简答题。共四题。其中两题为有关英国历史的英国议会的作用和英国税收每况愈下的原因，另两题为有关美国历史的美国独立战争的意义和美国历史上的四次人口大迁移。

　第五项为问答题。两题均为有关美国历史的：美国南北战争的主要原因和南北战争后资本主义迅猛发展的原因。

  综上所述，大家不难看出，无论从命题的指导思想、范围、题量所占分值比例等方面均以英、美两国概况为主，其中尤以英、美两国的历史、政治、经济、文化、教育等方面为主，而不是以地理为主，希望大家能在全面复习的基础上突出重点。

现根据笔者研究，建议把下列内容可作重点复习之参考。

Ⅰ The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Different Names for Britain and its Parts, Geographical features of Britain, Composition of the British population, Characteristics of English, Immigrants in Britain, Earliest settlers in Britain, Roman influence on Britain and its limitations, The Norman Conquest and its consequences, England's feudalism under the rule of William the Conqueror, Origins of the English Parliament, Consequences of the Black Death, The Peasant Uprising of 1381 and its significance, The nature and consequences of the Wars of the Roses, ElizabethⅠand Parliament, Elizabeth's religious reform and her foreign policy, The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, The Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell, the Restoration and the "Glorious revolution", The Whigs and the Tories, The English Industrial Revolution and its impact on the development of Britain, The Chartist Movement and its significance, The origin of the Labour Party, The building of the British Empire, Britain and the First World War, Britain and the Second World War, Postwar Britain, Thatcherism, Reasons for the decline of Britain's industries, Characteristics of Britain's agriculture, Importance of trade in the British economy, The British Constitution, British Parliament and its functions, The British government, The Cabinet and the principle of collective responsibility, Common features of British law, Treatment of offenders, Britain's health services, Festivals and public holidays in Britain, The education system in Britain, The college system and the tutorial system, Major forms of art in Britain

Ⅱ The Republic of Ireland

Ireland's geographical features, Languages in Ireland, Conflict between the English and the Irish, The issue of Northern Ireland, The political structure of Ireland, Characteristics of Ireland's economy, James Joyce and Ulysses,

Ⅲ The United States of America

Geographical features of the United States, Rivers and lakes, geographical regions and their characteristics, Characteristics of American population, Three waves of immigration, Four great population movements, Black people and the Civil Rights Movement, Role of the Chinese－Americans in the development of the U.S., Social and economic conditions of the Indians in the U.S., The "discovery" of the New World, The original 13 colonies, The American War of Independence and its significance, The American Civil War and its impact on the development of the U.S., Economic growth in the early 20th century, Achievements under President Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, Effects of The Great Depression on American society, Franklin Roossevelt and the New Deal, American objectives and basic policies in WWⅡ, Origins of the Cold War, The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan, Consequences of the Berlin Blockade, Effects of McCarthyism on American Society, The Civil Rights Movement and its significance, The postwar boom in the U.S., The U.S. and the Vietnam War, U.S.－China relations (1949－1972), The New Right and their Program, Factors that contribute to the fast growth of economy, Characteristics of the U.S. economy: private ownership, flexible government involvement and high degree of monopoly, Problems with U.S. agriculture, The importance of U.S. foreign trade, Problems facing the American economy, Separation of powers with checks and balances under the Constitution, Provisions for amendment, The powers of the American President, The judicial system in the U.S., The two－party system and the characteristics of the two major parties in the U.S., Elementary and secondary education in the U.S., Different types of colleges and universities in the U.S., The admission system in the U.S. universities, The role of the community college, Continuing education, Education reform in the 1980s and early 1990s, Major American writers and their works, different types of popular music in the U.S., The origins of thanksgiving Day, Customs associated with Christmas,

Ⅳ Canada

Canada's geographical features, Self－government and the founding of the Confederation, Canada in WWⅠand WWⅡ, Natural and mineral resources, Canada's economic problems: high unemployment and low productivity, Canada's system of government, The Canadian Constitution, Canada's party system, One－party rule in a two－party system, The origins of the separatist issue in Quebec, Quebec's future status, The composition of the Canadian population, From assimilation to multiculturalism, Factors that have affected the formation of Canadian culture,

Ⅴ Australia

Australia's geographical features, Factors that affect Australia's climate, The composition of Australia's population, Australia's built environment, Political divisions in Australia, Aboriginal culture, Effects of European Settlement on the Aborigines, The European colonization of Australia, Effects of the Goldrushes, Great changes in the 1860s－1890s, The founding of Commonwealth of Australia, The White Australia Policy, Australia's attitude towards the Second World War, Main objectives of the Chifley government after the war, The dismissal of Gough Whitlam, Economic reforms under the Hawke－Keating government, The competitiveness of Australian agriculture, Three Major structural problems in the economy, Economic reforms under the Hawke－Keating governmetn, Characteristics of Australia's federal system of government, Characteristics of Australia's party system, The role of minor parties in Australia, The situation of the Aborigines in Australian Society today, Australia's transition to a multicultural society, Changes in women's role in society, The main components of modern Australian culture.

Ⅵ New Zealand

The geography of New Zealand, Native plants and animals in New Zealand, The Treaty of Waitangi 1840, Characteristics of Maori culture(Maoritanga), The political system of New Zealand, Education in New Zealand, New Zealand's relations with other countries.

摘自《北京自考热线》

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