1.英美文化常识
一。（一）美国货币
美国货币由美元dollar和美分cent组成，one dollar等于100 cents。其纸币bill有一、二、五、十、二十、五十和一百美元等面值；硬币（coin）有一美分（或a penny）、五美分（或a nickel）、十美分（或a dime）和二十五美分（或a quarter）等。在数字前加$表示美元，如：$500表示五百美元；在数字后加C表示美分，如：50C表示50美分；表示由美元和美分组成的钱数时，常用$表示，如：$6.50。
（二）英国货币
英国货币由英镑（pound）和便士（pence）组成，也分为纸币notes和硬币coins。纸币有面值五镑、十镑、二十镑和五十镑；而硬币，即金属货币有一便士、二便士、五便士、十便士、二十便士、五十便士和一镑等。若指一定数额的硬币，通常用piece，如2P(pieces)；随身带的硬币可用change表示。100 pence等于1 pound。在数字前加￡表示多少英镑，如：￡800为800英镑；在数字后加P表示多少便士，如：5P表示五便士（penny的复数）；表示由英镑和便士组成的钱数时通常不说出pence，如3镑50便士可说成￡3.50或three pounds and fifty。
2.有关英美文化的英语知识
英语国家中传统的文娱和体育活动：棒球、橄榄球等；英国：4月23日/7月---戏剧节--为纪念莎士比亚而举行的盛大文娱活动英语国家中重要的节假日：圣诞节---12月25日，情人节----2月14日；感恩节—11月的第四个星期四开始，持续四天感恩节每年11月的最后一个星期四是感恩节 （Thanksgiving Day） 。
感恩节是美国人民独创的一个古老节日，也是美国人合家欢聚的节日，因此美国人提起感恩节总是倍感亲切。 感恩节的由来要一直追溯到美国历史的发端。
1620年，著名的“五月花”号船满载不堪忍受英国国内宗教迫害的清教徒102人到达美洲。1620年和1621年之交的冬天，他们遇到了难以想象的困难，处在饥寒交迫之中，冬天过去时，活下来的移民只有50来人。
这时，心地善良的印第安人给移民送来了生活必需品，还特地派人教他们怎样狩猎、捕鱼和种植玉米、南瓜。在印第安人的帮助下，移民们终于获得了丰收，在欢庆丰收的日子，按照宗教传统习俗，移民规定了感谢上帝的日子，并决定为感谢印第安人的真诚帮助，邀请他们一同庆祝节日。
在第一个感恩节的这一天，印第安人和移民欢聚一堂，他们在黎明时鸣放礼炮，列队走进一间用作教堂的屋子，虔诚地向上帝表达谢意，然后点起篝火举行盛大宴会。第二天和第三天又举行了摔跤、赛跑、唱歌、跳舞等活动。
第一个感恩节非常成功。其中许多庆祝方式流传了300多年，一直保留到今天。
初时感恩节没有固定日期，由各州临时决定。直到美国独立后的1863年，林肯总统宣布感恩节为全国性节日。
习 俗 每逢感恩节这一天，美国举国上下热闹非常，人们按照习俗前往教堂做感恩祈祷，城乡市镇到处举行化装游行、戏剧表演和体育比赛等，学校和商店也都按规定放假体息。孩子们还模仿当年印第安人的模样穿上离奇古怪的服装，画上脸谱或戴上面具到街上唱歌、吹喇叭。
散居在他乡外地的家人也会回家过节，一家人团团围坐在一起，大嚼美味火鸡。 同时，好客的美国人也忘不掉这一天邀请好友、单身汉或远离家乡的入共度佳节。
从18世纪起，美国就开始出现一种给贫穷人家送一篮子食物的风俗。当时有一群年轻妇女想在一年中选一天专门做善事，认为选定感恩节是最恰当不过的。
所以感恩节一到，她们就装上满清一篮食物亲自送到穷人家。这件事远近传闻，不久就有许多人学着她们的样子做起来。
美 食 美国人一年中最重视的一餐，就是感恩节的晚宴。在美国这个生活节奏很快，竞争激烈的国度里，平日的饮食极为简单。
但在感恩节的夜晚，家家户户都大办筵席，物品之丰盛，令人咋舌。在节日的餐桌上，上至总统，下至庶民，火鸡和南瓜饼都是必备的。
因此，感恩节也被称为“火鸡节”。 感恩节的食品富有传统特色。
火鸡是感恩节的传统主菜，它原是栖息于北美洲的野禽，后经人们大批饲养，成为美味家禽，每只可重达四五十磅。通常是把火鸡肚子里塞上各种调料和拌好的食品，然后整只烤出，鸡皮烤成深棕色，由男主人用刀切成薄片分给大家。
然后由各人自己浇上卤汁，洒上盐，味道十分鲜美。此外，感恩节的传统食品还有甜山芋、玉蜀黍、南瓜饼、红莓苔子果酱、自己烘烤的面包及各种蔬菜和水果等。
游 戏 感恩节宴会后，有些家庭还常常做些传统游戏。第一次感恩节，人们进行了跳舞、比赛等许多娱乐活动，其中有些一直流传至今。
有种游戏叫蔓越桔竞赛，是把一个装有蔓越桔的大碗放在地上，4-10名竞赛者围坐在周围，每人发给针线一份。比赛一开始，他们先穿针线，然后把蔓越桔一个个串起来，3分钟一到；谁串得最长，谁就得奖。
至于穿得最慢的人，大家还开玩笑地发给他一个最差奖。 还有一种玉米游戏也很古老。
据说这是为了纪念当年在粮食匮乏的情况下发给每个移民五个玉米而流传下来的。游戏时。
人们把五个玉米藏在屋里，由大家分头去找，找到玉米的五个人参加比赛，其他人在一旁观看。比赛开始，五个人就迅速把玉米粒剥在一个碗里，谁先剥完谁得奖，然后由没有参加比赛的人围在碗旁边猜里面有多少玉米粒，猜得数量最接近的奖给一大意爆玉米花。
人们最喜爱的游戏要算南瓜赛跑了。比赛者用一把小勺推着南瓜跑，规则是绝对不能用手碰南瓜，先到终点者获奖。
比赛用的勺子越小，游戏就越有意思。 除去这些活动外，有些家庭在节日里驱车到乡间去郊游，或是坐飞机出去旅行，特别是当年移民们安家落户的地方——普利茅斯港更是游客们向往的所在。
在那里，可以看到按照“五月花”号仿制的船和普利茅斯石，还可以花几个小时在移民村里参观。移民村是仿照当年的样子建成的。
参观时，还有专门人员扮成请教徒同游客们谈天，给人以身临其境的感觉。 多少年来，庆祝感恩节的习俗代代相传，无论在岩石嶙峋的西海岸还是在风光旖旎的夏威夷，人们几乎在以同样的方式欢度感恩节，感恩节是不论何种信仰、何种民族的美国人都庆祝的传统节日。
圣诞节12月25日这一天，各教会都会分别举行崇拜仪式。天主教与东正教举行圣诞弥撤，新教举行圣诞礼拜。
有些教会的庆祝活动 从午夜零点就开始。除崇拜仪式外，还演出圣诞剧，表演 耶稣降生的故事。
圣诞起源据。
3.英国文化知识
Let's Learn About England一IntroductionThe British Isles have a rich history going back thousands of years.The history of the United Kingdom includes also the history of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The history is full of invaders, wars, rulers. 二The Kings and Queens Until 1603 the English and Scottish Crowns were separated.Following the Accession of King James VI of Scotland (I of England) to the English Throne. From the end of the 17th century, monarchs lost executive power and they became subject to Parliament, resulting in today's constitutional Monarchy.三The best known Queen: Elizabeth gave the name to a golden age of poets, statesmen and adventurers. Known as the Virgin Queen, or Gloriana.四The best known King:Claims to the throne of France led to the Hundred Years' War and the loss of almost all the large English territory in France. Eduard III五The Historical Flag When King James VI of Scotland ascended to the English throne, thereby becoming James I of England, the national flags of England and Scotland on land continued to be.Flagś crossesThe Union Jack/Flag includes the Cross of St. George (England), the Cross of St. Andrew (Scotland) and the Cross of St. Patrick (Ireland). 六The Most Important WarsThe Hundred Years War 1336-1565 Wars of the Roses 1455-1487Civil War 1642-1645 Boer War 1901-1902World War I 1914-1918 World War II 1939-1945 七Walesa Celtic land of mountains and coalNorthern IrelandIt is clear today that the Irish problem has not been solved. Northern Protestants feel they have a right to determine their own future democratically. Northern Catholics feel they have the right to be part of a united Ireland. 八ScotlandAn English army arrived to relieve the Scots siege of Stirling. Bruce defeated the English army under Edward II, who was lucky to escape with his life. The Scots victory at the Battle of Bannockburn secured complete Scots independence.九EnglandEngland has always played an important role in the worldś economy and business.十Historical Monumentthe name of a very remarkable ancient monument in England It consists of a great collection of stones 十一A Few Facts About EnglandEngland is part of the United Kingdom which is made up of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.England is part of the European Union.The capital of England is London.The money used is called the pound.The population of England is 60,776,238.The language spoken is English.十二Let's visit some important cities in England.Oxford University and the University of Cambridge are both famous around the world.十三England's Important People Famous authors - Beatrix Potter, Roald Dahl and J.K. RowlingWilliam Shakespeare - famous for writing playsQueen Elizabeth and the royal familyThe Beatles -famous singing group who became popular in the 1960sDido – English Singer十四What English Kids DoEnglish kids like to play football, cricket, tennis and netball.Many kids belong to clubs like scouts, judo, karate and church clubs.Kids also like to skateboard, watch TV, ride bicycles and play computer games. Kids in the cities spend time in the many museums.F十五amous Sights in EnglandBig Ben ClockWestminster AbbeyTower of LondonLondon EyeTrafalgar SquareBuckingham Palace 十六Visit the Sights in the Harry Potter Books!!Go to this website for information on places that are important to find - /Funtodo/England/visitharrypottersites.htmKing's Cross StationLondon ZooAlnwick CastleGloucester CathedralLacock Abbey十七What the English Like to EatFish and chipsTea and biscuits。
4.求一些经典的有关英美文化的书藉
英语学习与英美文化浅谈 周 强 （太原师专外语系 030001） 摘要 语言与文化紧密相关。
本文摘录《大学英语》课本（文理科通用） 中的许多例句， 阐述了文化背 景在英语学习中的重要作用。本文不仅强调打好语言基础的重要性， 更注重提高英语学习者文化素质的 提高。
二者的结合对于提高运用英语的能力有很大的帮助。 关键词 文化背景， 英语基础知识 大学英语教学大纲（非英语专业本科） 指出： 在打好语言基础的同时，“大学英语教学 还应有助于学生开阔视野， 扩大知识面， 加深对世界的了解， 借鉴和吸收外国文化精华， 提 高文化素质。
文化和语言有密切的联系， 一定的文化背景知识有助于促进语言应用能力的 提高。” 语言是社会现象， 是一定文化的载体。
虽然人类的思维没有什么不同， 但由于各个民 族生活的地理环境不同， 形成的历史不同， 社会制度， 宗教信仰、价值观念以及生活的习俗 不同， 因而各民族都有独特的文化， 反映民族文化的语言必然与外族语有差异。这种差异 不仅表现在描述同一事物时， 词汇、发音和语法结构的不同， 而且对同一概念的具体表述， 以及对某一事物所产生的联想也不尽相同。
学习外语的人往往注意外语与母语形式的不 同而容易忽略文化的差异。 英语起源于基督教国家英国， 今天世界上以英语为母语的国家绝大多数也是基督教 国家。
英语中的许多典故和成语都来自基督教的经典——《圣经》（The Ho ly B ib le）。《大 学英语》·精读（Co llage English 修订本·上海外语教育出版社） 第一册第一课中有这样 一句话“The wo rld won't end if you don't pass a test, so don'two rry excessively abou t a single tex t. ”（一次考试不及格， 天是不会塌下来的， 因此， 不必为个别的一次考试过分担 心。）
“end of the wo rld”意为“世界末日”， 出自《圣经》的《马太福音》13 章39 节（M at thew 13: 39） ,“The enem y that sow ed them ( tares) is the devil; the harvest is the end of the wo rld; and the reapers are the angels. " （撒稗子的仇敌就是魔鬼， 收割的时候就是世界的 末了， 收割的人就是天使。） 我们中国人常用“天崩地裂”、“天塌了”比作“世界末日”。
如果 我们把“天不会塌下来”译为“The heaven won't fall dow n”， 英美人恐怕就不知所云。 英语来自《圣经》的成语很多， 如“a drop in the bucket”（沧海一粟）、“app les of go ld in p ictu res of silver”（锦上添花）、“beat swo rds in to p low shares”（化干戈为玉帛）、“cast pearls befo re sw ine ”（对牛弹琴）、“tu rn a deaf ear to”（充耳不闻） 等。
有些成语汉语也已 经借用， 如：“象牙塔”、“橄榄枝”、“披着羊皮的狼”就来自“tow er of ivo ry”、“o live b ranch" 和“wo lf in sheep's clo th ing”。学习英语国家地理和历史知识也对英语语言的学习有很大 帮助。
我们中国人一说到陕北和甘肃自然会联想起黄土高坡， 革命圣地延安， 同时也会想 到干旱和贫困； 提起江南头脑中就会浮现出稻田、水牛相映的鱼米之乡。而美国人谈到美 国大西洋东北部海岸， 就会想到摩天大楼林立的纽约和独立战争时期革命的中心波士顿、费城等大城市； 提起佛罗里达和夏威夷自然会浮现出海浪拍打沙滩， 棕榈树成荫的“阳光 地带”； 而美国西部地区更会使现代的美国人联想到白雪皑皑的落基山脉、披荆斩棘开发 西部边疆的先人、粗犷豪爽的牛仔和19 世纪疯狂的淘金热。
《大学英语》第一册第十单元“GO IN G HOM E”（《回家》） 一课， 写到6 个前往佛罗里 2000 年 太原师范专科学校学报 Journal of Taiyuan Teachers Co llege 第3 期 达度假的青年男女“dream ing of go lden beaches and sea t ides as the gray, co ld sp ring of N ew Yo rk van ished beh ind them " （“当纽约灰暗寒冷的春天在他们身后消失时， 他们正梦 想着金色的海滩和大海的潮水”）。在第四册第九单元“JOU RN EYW EST ”（《西行记事》 中， 作者认为美国精神体现在西部， 因为“A lthough the Repub lic have been bo rn in the East, it had spen t mo st of it s t im e and energies since then movingW est”（虽然共和国诞 生在东部， 但建国后的绝大部分时间和精力花在向西开拓上。）
因此，“w hen m illion s of o ther Am erican fam ilies w ere p reparing to crow d in to the B icen tenn ial sh rines of the East ”（当数百万美国家庭正准备拥向东部两百年大庆的圣地） ，“w e reso lved to head in the sam e direct ion in 1976, fo llow ing the o ld p ioneer t rails and the famou s rivers. ”（我们 决定在1976 年也沿着老一代拓荒者的足迹和名山大川向西进发。） 如果我们熟悉这些背 景， 这两篇课文也就不难理解。
就美国地理而言，《大学英语》这套教材几乎提及美国所有的大城市和大部分的州诸 如华盛顿（W ash ington D. C. ）、纽约（N ew Yo rk ）、旧金山（San F rancisco ）、休斯敦 （Hou ston）、匹兹堡（P it t sbu rgh）、巴尔第摩（Balt imo re）、圣地亚哥（San D iego ）、芝加哥 （Ch icago）、布法罗（Buffalo） 等美国主要城市。如果有一定的地理知识的话， 我们就很熟悉 。
5.英美文化基础教程
there are lots of positives and negativesA big negative is an increase of environmental damage. The factories were powered by coal- the smoke from the factories turned pretty much everything black in the UK. Also durring this time there was a mass movement of people from the farms into the cities where they could make more money in the factories. A positive is that it created a huge middle class. Before the IR there was the lower class which consisted of most people and then there was the few people who made up the wealthy upper class that pretty much controlled everything. As the poor people began to work in the factories, they made more money, which gave them more power. The new middle class began to demand rights, they wanted to vote (before only land owners could vote.) However this created a new problem- you can't have uneducated people voting, it can be dangerous. As a result mandatory education was introduced for everyone. Hope this helps POSITIVE:The Industrial Revolution changed the ways by how the world produced its goods. It also changed our societies from a mainly agricultural society to one that in which industry and manufacturing was in control. During this time there were also many new technological advancements, socioeconomic and cultural problems that arised. On the technology front, the biggest advancements were in steam power. New fuels such as coal and petroleum, were incorporated into new steam engines. This revolutionized many industries including textiles and manufacturing. Also, a new communication medium was invented called the telegraph. This made communicating across the ocean much faster. The Industrial Revolution was a time of dramatic change, from hand tools and handmade items, to products which were msass produced by machines. Workers became more productive, and since more items were manufactured, prices dropped, making exclusive and hard to make items available to the poor and not only the rich and elite. Life generally improved,NEGATIVE:The industrial revolution also proved harmful. Pollution increased, working conditions were harmful, and with the employed of women and young children, making them work long and hard hours. Along with the great leap in technology, there was an overall downfall in the socioeconomic and cultural situation of the people. Growth of cities were one of the major consequences of the Industrial Revolution. Many people were driven to the cities to look for work, in turn the ended living in the cities that could not support them. With the new industrial age, a new qauntitative and materialistic view of the world took place. This caused the need for people to consume as much as they could. This still happens today. Living on small wages that required small children to work in factories for long days.The Industrial Revolution, was not a good revolution for the planet. From the time of its start, the factories and industry has increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by two-folds. Also in our drive for consumerism, our planets natural resources are being depleted at an alarming rate. Pollution by nuclear waste, pesticides and other chemicals are also the result of the Industrial Revolution.POSITIVE AND NEGATIVEThe Industrial Revolution was a dramatic change in the nature of production in which machines replaced tools, steam and other energy sources replaced human or animal power, and skilled workers were replaced with mostly unskilled workers. The Industrial Revolution resulted in work that had been performed in the home by family members, such as spinning yarn, being performed with the help of large powerful machines in factories, such as the early textile mill. The Industrial Revolution permitted trends begun in the domestication revolution and agricultural revolution to continue, resulting in still greater inequality。
6.英美文化习俗精粹（英汉短文）
As the development of the world, our country's economy has become more and more better, people's life standard has become much better, so people have money to amuse. Private car, once seemed to be untouchable for the ordinary people, now has been bought by most families. Owing private cars indeed brings people much convenience, but at the same time, it also has disadvantages. First, it needs to cost people a lot of money to keep the private cars. People need to buy a carport to stop the car, as it is known to all that buying a carport is very expensive, people also need to cost money to buy the gasoline. When the car is broken, it needs money to fix.。
