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Sports in Britain 1.Ball Games 1.1 Football ---was invented in Britain 1.1.1 seasons:in winter and early spring 1.1.2 Football Association(FA) 1.1.3 the FA Cup 1.2.Tennis ----- Wimbledon (grass courts) Was invented in Britain 1.3.Cricket------ was invented in Britain and is the first team

sports in Britain to have organized rules; is regarded as a snobbish sport.

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Sports in Britain 1.4.Golf ------- was invented by the Scottish 2. Horse Racing ----- Flat racing and Steeple chasing 2.1. The Grand National ----- the world’s most famous ste

eplechase 2.2. The Royal Ascot -----It is the biggest event associated w

ith horse racing. People dress up and go to show off their fashionable clothes as well as to watch the races and play their bets. Women especially wear very elaborate and exotic hats. This event gets much attention from the media and the public.

2.3. Equestrianism ------ sports involves riding skills

4.

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Sports in Britain 3.Hunting ------- boar---- Wolves ---- Foxes Hunt Saboteurs -----Hunting is a sport enjoyed by

many wealthy and aristocratic families, but many animal rights groups find this an unacceptable and cruel recreation . So “Hunt Saboteurs “ people of extremists animal rights groups , make the efforts to prevent the hunt from proceeding by laying false trails to distract the dogs which track the quarry and making the noise to scare the horses.

4.Fishing / Angling -------

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British Holidays and Festivals 1.Introduction----- holidays of the lunar calen

dar Holidays of the Christian calendar Local ,regional and national holidays; Holidays activities; observance and celebration; Holiday customs and traditions. All the holidays reflect the religious, historical, soc

ial, and cultural diversity of the country.

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British Holidays and Festivals 2. Religious Holidays Co-existence of the various religions Christianity--- Christian ; Hindu; Jewish ; Musli

m; and Sikh 1.1Christian Holidays 1.1.1 Christmas ( Dec.25th). It commemorates the

birth of Jesus Christ . 1.1.1.1 Christmas decorations and ornaments: C

hristmas tree, evergreen plants such as holly and ivy.

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British Holidays and Festivals 1.1.1.2 Christmas food : turkey, 1.1.1.3 Christmas as activities: exchange cards and gift

s. Family get-together for family union. 1.1.2 Typically British traditions during Christmas sea

sons: .The Christmas Pantomime :a comical musical play. T

wo leading characters in the play The principal boy ( the main male character) is played by

a young woman. Women, in the past, used to wear long skirts, so when the woman appeared in the costume (an outfit that revealed her legs) , she would look very naughty.

Chapter8

British Holidays and Festivals The Dame ( the main female villain character) is playe

d by a man, usu. A famous actor or sportsman. When he appears on the stage with heavy make-up, skirts and woman’s shoes, he looks very funny. And the audience would laugh , cheer and boo when he appears.

1.1.3.Christmas message by the Queen over the TV and radio

The message is broadcast to millions of subjects throughout the world to other nations, like Canada and Australia.

Her speech is about the year past and the her hopes for the future.

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British Holidays and Festivals 1.1.4.The Boxing Day: Also celebrated in countries with British heritage. Falls on the day after Christmas. Traditionally, people gave Christmas gifts or mon

ey to their staff or servants. A new custom has emerged, in cities, shopping----- shops open to sell off their Christmas stock decorations, food ,cards and gifts at low price.

For most people, Boxing Day is a day for eating, visiting, and relaxing.

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British Holidays and Festivals 1.2. Easter It commemorates the crucifixion and resurrection

of Jesus Christ. It occurs in spring and is considered the most imp

ortant festivals by many church-goers. The Easter egg ,originally a Christian symbol of ne

w life , is the main symbol of Easter for most people. Rabbits and chicks are also animals traditionally associated with Easter.

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British Holidays and Festivals Non-Christian festivals and holidays. (1). Ramadan-----a traditional Islamic festiva

l . A fast which lasts 29 days during which nothing can be eaten or drunk between dawn and nightfall . There will be a big festival after the fast.

(2). Chinese New Year : dragon dance , fireworks , parades and family celebrations.

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British Holidays and Festivals 3. National Holidays. Trooping the Color ---- on the 2nd Saturday in

June when the Queen’s birthday is officially celebrated around Buckingham Palace in London. the ceremony of the Queen inspecting her troops derives from old military traditions in which regimental flags were paraded before the monarch. Early in Queen Victor’s reign, it was decided that this ceremony should be held on the sovereign’s birthday.

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British Holidays and Festivals 4. Regional Holidays 4.1 English Holiday Bonfire Night ( Guy Fawkes Night) It is celebrated in November, which originated from

the 1605 Gunpowder plot ----a plan to blow up the British Parliament , to kill the Protestant King and replace him with a Catholic King. People celebrate it by having public bonfires and fireworks. A straw effigy called the “ Guy” ( one of the conspirators : Guy Fawkes) is thrown onto the Bonfire. The biggest Bonfire celebration is held in a medieval town of Lewes.( torchlight parade , mock battles between Protestants and Catholics)

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British Holidays and Festivals In London, the cellars of Parliament are still symbolically searc

hed by candlelight by the Beefeaters ( The Royal Guard) 4.2 Northern Ireland 4.2.1. The Orange March : the protestants celebrati

on of their victory over the exiled Catholic King James II at the Battle of Boyne on 12 July, 1690.This victory symbolize the protestants right to be in Ireland and the defeat of Catholics as the National religion. On this day, the protestants “ Orangemen” march through the streets, wearing their national uniforms( bowler hats, black suits, orange sashes ) banging drums and playing marching bands. They sometimes will clash with the Catholic by standers.

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British Holidays and Festivals 4.2.2. St. Patrick’s Day ----- on March 17 ea

ch year, when Northern Irish Catholics celebrates the birthday of the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick.( he was a Catholics bishop who lived in the 5th century and is thought to have brought Christianity to Ireland. He drove snakes out of Ireland.). The shamrock( according to a legend, St. Patrick explained the Christian trinity --- Father, son and Holy Ghost to the pagan Irish) is a popular symbol to wear on St. Patrick’s Day and it is also considered very lucky to wear something green.

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British Holidays and Festivals 4.3 Scottish Festivals 4.3.1. New year’s Eve ( Hogmanay) -----(31 Dec

ember) is the major winter celebration and overshadows Xmas.

One widely practiced custom to celebrate Hogmanay throughout Scotland ------ First Footing -----there is a superstitious belief that the 1st person to cross the threshold of a household in the New Year can bring luck and prosperity. First –footers often bring a bottle of spirit, alcohol a lump of coal or a peat as a gift and are given a “ dram of whisky” as their reward.

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British Holidays and Festivals 4.3.2. The Burns Night ----- a celebration by S

cottish people on the evening of the birthday (25 Janu) of the most beloved national poet---- Robert Burns. ( he wrote mainly in Scots dialect and his poems were drawn on older traditions of Scottish folk songs and stories) people celebrate it with supper of haggis( 肉馅羊肚 ) and whisky and Burn’s poems are recited throughout the evening. ( the haggis is served with great ceremony----- a bagpiper enters the room followed by the chef carrying the haggis)

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British Holidays and Festivals 4.3.3. Halloween （万圣节） : celebrated

on 31 October each year, which comes from the great feast of the pagan Celts which marked the arrival of the winter half of the year. It is notable for showing the darker ,supernatural side of Celtic custom. Communion with the dead, mischief, fortune-telling, and masquerades are common practices. Some of the other practices are “ Turnip(Pumpkin) Lantern ” for children ( the turnips are hollowed and hole are cut to make eyes, mouth, and nose. It is set in the window to scare away witches and other evil spirits.)

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British Holidays and Festivals And girls using magic spells to see into the future.

The young men of the villages would disguise their voices and wear strange costumes, going about the villages, representing the spirit of the dead.

4.4 Wales. The Eisteddfod ----- a popular festival of music-m

aking and poetry- writing in August each year to celebrate the welsh culture and language. During the festival, competitions are held to find the best choirs, translators, essayists and poets. The highlight is the crowning of the two bards who have written the best poems of the festival.

Chapter 9

British Education Introduction 1. In Britain, the purposes of education are not only

to provide pupils with literacy and other basic skills , but also to socialize them.

2. corporal punishment （体罚） is currently banned and other controversies about British education system----- standard English or regional English with accents and idioms ; local variations VS the richness of British culture; Class inequality and educational policy ;

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British Education3. The enduring debate over how equal educationa

l opportunity should be. 51% of the population working class; 49% middle class.

4. The accent one speaks with, the clothes one wears, the school one attends are all markers that identify your social class.

5. In Britain, where you are educated is still very important to your future. “the old boys network” refer to the elite groups of men who went to public schools like Eton and Winchester; and universities like Oxford and Cambridge. They dominate government , and are influential in banking, the media, the arts and education.

Chapter 9

British Education Historical background of the

development and reformation 1. Education was voluntary and many of the

schools that existed were set up by churches. The influence of Church on schooling is still strong : daily prayers and singing hymns is still a regular part of school life.

2. Before 1870, only 40% of children under 10 went to school regularly. The main receivers of a more advanced education were the sons of the wealthy

Chapter 9

British Education3. Great changes to British educational system afte

r the Industrial Revolution. (1). government involvement in taking responsibi

lities for the education of children. In 1870, a law was passed to call for government–funded education.

(2). by 1880, attendance at school for children between 5 and 10 was compulsory. And by the end of the 1st world War the school leaving age was raised to 14 to dissuade children from leaving school to support their families.

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British Education (3). a new educational system emphasizing

equality was constructed after the 2nd World war with the assistance of church and trade unions.

(4). Education Act in 1944, made entry to secondary schools and universities meritocratic ( 选择具备才能和高智力的人 not because of their social class or their parents’ possession, but for the abilities they display) to make sure more children had access to a good education. All children were given the right to a free secondary education.

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British Education (5). the less elitist school system （英才教育制度）

failed because entrance to school was based upon exam performance. in the 1960s, comprehensive schools (general education providing subjects ranging from academic such as literature and science to more practical subjects like cooking and carpentry) were introduced all over the country, which ended the division between grammar schools and vocational schools. Entrance exams were abolished and schools were no longer allowed to let children compete for places.

Chapter 9

British Education (6).in 1976, the Labor Party started “the Great Edu

cation Debate” and was concerned about the inadequate skills of the labor force. in 1989, the Conservative Party led by Margaret Thatcher thought job training was important and introduced a National Curriculum and unified subjects . students have to pass national tests and schools are marked according to the success of their pupils in reaching national targets. The National Curriculum has reinforced competitions between schools. good schools attract good pupils and therefore attract more funding; which means they can hire better teachers, buy more books and equipment and produce more good students.

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British Education 4.Great difference before and after the e

mergence of the N C. THEN----The central government ---- broad educa

tion policy guidelines and funds ; Local Education Authorities (LEA)-----carried out practical policy-making based on local conditions.

Teachers ------a lot of individual power to decide on what to do in the classes.

NOW ----- all teachers are told what to teach and schools are ranked according to how well they perform this task.

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British Education The Present Education System 1. the British education system is run by the state, which pro

vides funding, oversees standard, and tried to make sure all British children receive a quality education.----- the Ministry of Education.

2. primary and secondary education in the U.K is compulsory. children between 5 --- 16 years old are obliged to attend school.

3. Children between 5 ----11 go to primary school.( state schools; co-educational or mixed schools)

4. children between 11 ---19 go to secondary schools ( 90% of them are enrolled to comprehensive schools without reference to their academic abilities. )

some children choose to attend grammar schools at the age of 11 through 11plus examination

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British Education Compare the secondary schools 1.. state schools ---- funded by local and central g

overnments . 2. private schools = independent schools = publi

c schools( because they were originally seen as public alternative to having private tutors in aristocratic households)----- funded by private sectors ,through tuition rates and some government assistance. Independent schools are not part of the national education system. The quality of instruction and standard are obtained through visits from Her Majesty’s Inspector of Schools.

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British Education 3. grammar schools ---- ( 11---) children have to take part in

the 11+ ( 11 plus) examination to be enrolled in a grammar school. Grammar schools are becoming rare in Great Britain except in Northern Ireland.

4. comprehensive schools---- in the 1960s, comprehensive schools (general education providing subjects ranging from academic such as literature and science to more practical subjects like cooking and carpentry) were introduced all over the country, which ended the division between grammar schools and vocational schools. Entrance exams were abolished and schools were no longer allowed to let children compete for places.

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British Education Examinations after the secondary education 1. GCSE Examinations(General Certificate of Second

ary Education) :after 5 years of secondary education , English , Northern Irish and Welsh students sit the exams which is to assess their progress in their final 2 years of compulsory education. Then, they will decide what avenue of education they would like to follow based on the results of the examinations. They have a number of choices. ----- quit school to find a job;

prepare for university entrance examination 2 –year-further study after the GCSE ( in the 6th form) then sit for the GCSE- Advanced) examination.

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British Education 2. GNVQ----( General National Vocational Qualifica

tions ) To sit the GNVQ for vocational training or preparation for work.

Higher Education 1. British universities are public bodies which rec

eive funds from central government. 2. the U.K has only one privately-funded univers

ity ----- the University of Buckingham 3. British higher education has a long history in t

he U.K----- Oxford and Cambridge date back to the 12th and 13th century; Scottish universities of St. Andrew, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen date back to the 14th and 15th century;

Chapter 9

British Education the rest were built in the 19th and 20th centuries. In

the 1960s a large number of universities were built. In 1992, the number grew when polytechnics and other higher education establishments were given the right to become universities. by 1994, Britain had 83 universities.

in 1980, 1in 8 pupils went to universities; by1990 it was 1 in 5; by 2000 it was 1 in 3 .

4. Open universities and open education------ in England it takes 3 years’ full time study to get the first degree for an open university learner; 4 years in Scotland.

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British Education

BA( Bachelor of Arts) ; BS( Bachelor of Science ); MA( Master of Arts ); MS ( Master of Science); in old

er Scottish universities, Master is used for a first degree in Arts subjects. IN Oxford and Cambridge the BA converts to an MA several years later, upon payment of a fee.

PhD ( Doctor of Philosophy) is written after someone’s name to indicate that he has a PhD, Collins, PhD.