（精選）英語國家概況復(fù)習(xí)資料Word版

英語國家概況知識點筆記PartOneTheUnitedKingdomofGreatBritainandNorthernIrelandLesson1UKlandandpeople1.NamesforBritainBritishIsles,GreatBritainandEnglandareallgeographicalnames.BritishIslesaremadeupoftwolargeislands(GreatBritainandIreland)andhundredsofsmallones.EnglandisapoliticaldivisionontheislandofGreatBritain.TheUnitedKingdomandthe2.PositionandBordersTheUK’sgeographicalpositionismarkedbylatitude50°NinSouthernEnglandandbylatitude60°acrosstheShetlands.TheUKisborderedonthesouthbytheEnglishChannel,whichseparatesitfromthecontinentofEurope.ItisborderedontheeastbytheNorthSeaseparatingitfromBelgiumandHolland,andborderedonthewestbytheIrishSeaandtheAtlanticOceanseparatingitfromIreland.ItsonlylandborderwithanothernationisbetweenNorthernIrelandandIreland.3.PoliticalDivisionsofBritainEngland(London),Scotland(Edinburgh),Wales(Cardiff)(ontheGreatBritain)andNorthernIreland(Belfast)Englandisthelargest,mostpopulous,andwealthiestdivisionoftheUnitedKingdom.ThisEnglishdominanceissuchthatmanypeopleuse“England”torefertothewholeUnitedKingdom.Thisisnotonlyincorrect,butmayannoypeoplefromotherpartsoftheUK.Scotlandisthesecondlargestofthefournationsbothinareaandpopulation.BeforeScotlandformallyjoinedtheUnionwithEnglandin1707,ithadbeenaunifiedstateindependentoftheUKforalongtime.WalesisthesmallestamongthethreenationsontheislandofGreatBritain.WaleshasbeendominatedbyEnglandsinceitsunionwithEnglandin1536.NorthernIrelandisthesmallestbothinareaandpopulationamongthefournationsoftheUK.Since1801,IrelandhadbeenpartoftheUnitedKingdom.In1922,theIrishFreeStatedeclareditsindependence,leavingonlysixnortheasterncountiesinsidetheUniontobecalledNorthernIreland.Underanaccordin1998,asemi-autonomousgovernmentwasestablishedmid4.TheHighlandZoneThehighlandzoneisanareaofhighhillsandmountainsinthenorthandwestthatarefrequentlybrokenbyvalleysandplains.Scotland,WalesandpartsofEnglandarelocatedinthiszone.ThehighestpointhereaswellinBritainisBenNevisat1,343meters.ThePennineChain:“backboneofEngland”,isamassiveuplandareaextendingnorthtosouthacrossEngland,startingonEngland’sborderwithScotlandandendinginthecentralEngland.5.TheLowlandZoneThelowlandzoneinthesouthandeastconsistsmostlyofrollingplains.MostofBritain’spopulationlivesdenselyinthelowlandzone,whichcoversmostofEngland.ThemetropolisofLondonandmostofBritain’slargecitiesarelocatedinthelowlandzone.6.RiversandLakesTheUK’slongestriver,theSevern,is338kminlength,beginninginWalesandenteringtheAtlanticOceannearBristolinEngland.ThesecondlargestbutthemostimportantriveristheThames,whichflowsthroughOxfordandLondon.LoughNeaghinNorthernIrelandisthelargestlakeinthecountry.LakeDistrictcomprises15majorbeautifullakesandhasbecomeapopulartouristdestination.7.ClimateTheoverallclimateinEnglandiscalledtemperatemaritime.Thismeansthatitismildwithtemperaturesnotmuchlowerthan0oCinwinterandnotmuchhigherthan32oCinsummer.Italsomeansthatitisdampandissubjecttofrequentchanges.ThechangeabilityofweatherhelpstheBritishbecomemoreadaptable,andthefrequentdrizzlesandgloomyskiesmaketheBritishtendtosufferSAD.8.EthnicCompositionInhistorictimesmigrantsfromtheEuropeanmainlandjoinedtheindigenouspopulationofBritainduringtheRomanEmpireandduringtheinvasionsoftheAngles,Saxons,Jutes,Danes,andNormansfromNorthernandWesternEurope.TheIrishhavelongmadehomesinGreatBritain.ManyJewsarrivedinBritaintowardtheendofthe19thcenturyandinthe1930s.ThelargeimmigrantcommunitiesfromtheWestIndiesandSouthAsiadatefromthe1950sand’60s.9.DemographicCompositionComparedtotherestoftheworld,theUKhasasmallerpercentageofyoungerpeopleandahigherpercentageofolderpeople.Lifeexpectancyin2005was75.94yearsformenand80.96yearsforwomen.EnglandisthemostpopulatedpartoftheUnitedKingdom,withfour-fifthsoftheUKpopulationresidinginEngland.TheUKpopulationisoverwhelminglyurban,with89.4percentlivinginurbanareasand10.6percentlivinginruralareas.10.LinguisticCompositionTodayEnglishistheofficiallanguageoftheUnitedKingdomandisthefirstlanguageofthevastmajorityofitscitizens.Ofthesurvivinglanguages,theearliestIndo-EuropeanlanguagetoarrivewastheCeltic,fromwhichIrish,WelshandScottishGaelic,amongothers,havedeveloped.Ofthese,Welsh,closelytiedtotheculturalnationalismofWales,isthestrongest.11.ClassStructureBritishsocietyistraditionallyclassconscious.Middleclassesconstituteabout60percentofthepopulation.12.TheBritishIdentityRegardlessofnationality,ethnicbackground,religion,language,area,sexorage,citizensintheUnitedKingdomstillshareidentificationwithBritain,or“Britishness”.DimensionsRepresenting“Britishness”（8）Geography,Nationalsymbols,People,Valuesandattitudes,Culturalhabitsandbehavior,Citizenship,Language,AchievementsLesson2UKhistory1.PrehistoricTimesTheNeolithicAge(whichbeganfromaround4,400BC)andtheStonehengenearSalisbury:TheCeltsweretribesthatinvadedfromEuropeafterabout800BC.TheyhadcoveredmostoftheBritishIslesby500BC.2.RomanBritainThefirstRomaninvasionofthelandstookplacein55BCunderwarleaderJuliusCaesar.ThefirstsuccessfulinvasiontookplaceinthesummerofAD43.Romansbuiltthenetworkofstraightroadsacrossthecountry.TheypushednorthintoScotlandandbuiltHadrian’sWall,tocontrolthefrontier.ChristianitywasbroughttoBritainbyRomans.3.Anglo-SaxonBritainAngles,SaxonsandJutesinvadedEnglandinaboutAD449.TheAnglo-SaxonseventuallyformedsevenseparatekingdomsknownastheHeptarchyinsouthEngland.KingArthurisbelievedtohavebeenaRomano-Britonwarriorwhofoughtagainsttheseattackers.FromaboutAD793,theVikingsbegantoinvadeBritain.In1066whenEdwardtheConfessordied,HaroldascendedthethronewhichwasalsoclaimedbyWilliamofNormandy.HaroldwasdefeatedbyWilliaminOctoberatHastings.4.NormanBritainToconsolidatehispower,WilliamtheConquerorstrengthenedandenlargedthesystemoffeudalrelations.HenryII(1154-1189)wasthefounderofPlantagenetandundertookanexpeditiontoIreland.ThelegendofRobinHoodisbasedontheperiodduringwhichRichardIwasawayfromEnglandfightingtheThirdCrusade.5.DeclineofFeudalismKingJohnwasforcedtosigntheMagnaCartatoimposelegallimitsontheKing’spersonalpowersin1215.DuringHenryIII’sreign,SimondeMontfortsummonedthefirstelectedParliamentin1265.Thissetthescenefortheso-called“ModelParliament”of1295adoptedbyEdwardI.In1282,KingEdwardIfinallyconqueredWales.Inthe14thcenturyconflictsbetweenEnglandandFranceinevitablyledtowarswhichintermittentlyspannedfrom1337to1453,knownastheHundredYears’War.ByendingEngland’sstatusasapoweronthecontinent,itledtheEnglishtoexpandtheirreachandpoweratsea.WarsoftheRoseswerestagedbetweenthehousesofLancasterandYorkfortheEnglishthrone.ThewarendedwiththevictoryoftheLancastrianHenryTudorandthefoundingoftheHouseofTudor.6.ReformationIn1527HenryVIIIpursuedadivorcefromCatherinetomarryAnneBoleyn,butPopeClementVIIdeniedhimanannulment.TheReformationallowedHenrytomarryAnnein1533andmoreimportantlyestablishedhimselfheadofanindependentChurchofEngland.ElizabethIsettledreligiousissuewhichhaddividedthecountrysinceHenryVIIIbybalancingtheinterestsofthePuritans(radicalProtestants)and“die-hard”Catholics,andestablishedtheChurchofEngland.7.Renaissance:TheElizabethanErawitnessedtheEnglishRenaissance,theculturalandartisticmovement.Poets:EdmundSpenserandJohnMilton;Playwrights:ChristopherMarloweandWilliamShakespeare;Philosophers:SirThomasMoreandSirFrancisBacon8.CivilWarKingofScotland,JamesVI,oftheHouseofStuart,succeededhiscousinElizabethIandascendedthethronesoftheKingdomofEnglandandtheKingdomofCommonwealthof9.RestorationTheCommonwealthwasdeclaredin1649andOliverCromwellbecametheLordProtector(1653-1658).Thepro-royalConventionParliamentinvitedCharlesIItoreturntoEngland.CharlesIIacceptedtheinvitationandrestoredtheHouseofStuart.Theunwillingnesstoaccepttheimplicationsofthisdependencyhadsomepartinbringingaboutthedeposition(1688)ofJamesII,whowashatedasaRomanCatholicaswellasasuspectedabsolutist.TheConventionParliamentinvitedWilliamandMarytoruleEnglandjointly.ThisistheGloriousRevolution.WilliamIIIandMaryII(1689-1694)agreedtoaBillofRights(1689)thatgavepoliticalsupremacytoParliamentandseverelylimitedthekingorqueen’spower,whichmarkedthebeginningoftheconstitutionalmonarchyinEngland.10.GeorgianBritainUnderQueenAnn(1702-14),theActofUnionreceivedRoyalassentin1707,abolishingEnglandandScotlandasseparatekingdomsandcreatingtheUnitedKingdomofGreatBritainwithasingleParliament.TheActofUnionof1800formallyassimilatedIrelandwithintheBritishpoliticalprocess,andcreatedanewstate“TheUnitedKingdomofGreatBritainandIreland”.ThecrucialdevelopmentoftheIndustrialRevolutionwastheuseofsteamforpower,andthegreatlyimprovedengine(1769)ofJamesWattmarkedthehighpointinthisdevelopment.11.VictorianBritainQueenVictoriahadthelongestreigninBritishhistory,andthecultural,political,economic,industrialandscientificchangesthatoccurredduringherreignwereremarkable.In1838,the“workingclass”stagedtheChartistmovementtourgereforminparliamentelection,includinguniversalmanhoodsuffrage.TheGreatExhibitionof1851wasthefirstWorld’sFairthatshowcasedthegreatestinnovationsofthecenturyincludingphotography,amongotherthings.Atitsheightinthelate19thandearly20thcentury,theBritishEmpireincludedterritoriesonallcontinents,comprisingaboutonequarteroftheworld’spopulationandarea.12.BritainintheTwoWorldWarsBritaindeclaredwaronGermanyinearlyAugust1914,supportedbysoldiersfromthedominionsandcoloniesoftheBritishEmpire.In1931theStatuteofWestminsterofficiallyrecognizedtheindependentandequalstatusunderthecrownoftheformerdominionswithinaBritishCommonwealthofNations,thusmarkingtheadventoffreecooperationamongequalpartners.In1936therewastheshockoftheabdicationofEdwardVIIIwhowishedtomarryAmericandivorceeMrs.WallisSimpson.InresponsetoHitler’smilitaryexpansion,BritishPrimeMinisterChamberlainhadadoptedanappeasementpolicytotrytoavoidaEuropeanwar.Britainfoughtback,verymuchinspiredbythenewlyappointedPrimeMinisterWinstonChurchill,whowasaneloquentorator.13.BritainsinceWWIIBeginningwiththeindependenceofIndiaandPakistanin1947,theremainderoftheBritishEmpirewasalmostcompletelydismantled.The1970sand’80ssawtheUK’sintegrationintotheEuropeanEconomicCommunity.TheIrishRepublicanArmytooktheissueofNorthernIrelandtoGreatBritain,maintainingaprolongedbombingcampaignontheisland.TheUKenteredawarin1982withArgentinaovertheFalklandsIslands.TheUKvictoryhighlyelevatedThatcher’simage.BlairwastheonlyLabourPrimeMinistertowinthreeconsecutiveelectionsfrom1997to2007.Lesson3UKgovernmentandpolitics1.TheConstitutionTheUKhasnowrittenconstitutioninanyonedocument;itisonlypartlywrittenandcontainedinmultipledocuments.Theconstitutionconsistsof:(1)statutelaw;(2)commonlaw;(3)conventions;(4)ancientdocuments.CharacteristicsofBritishConstitution:(1)Constitutionalmonarchy;(2)Parliamentarysupremacy;(3)Representativedemocracy;(4)Theruleoflaw.2.TheMonarchyInadditiontobeingtheSovereignoftheUnitedKingdom,TheKingorQueenisHeadofStateof15otherrealmsandHeadoftheCommonwealth.Intheorythemonarchhasenormouspowers,butgiventhenatureoftheconstitutionalmonarchy,inrealitythosepowersarelimitedandtheCrownfollowsthedictatesandadviceoftheministersinParliament.Themonarchissupposedtoreignbutnotrule.Therealworkofthemonarchyconsistslargelyofsigningpapers.Themonarchhastheright,however,tobeconsultedonallaspectsofnationallifeandreviewallimportantgovernmentdocuments.3.ParliamentParliamentcomprisesthreeparts:theCrown,theHouseofLords,andtheHouseofCommons.ThemainfunctionsofParliament:(1)toexamineproposalsfornewlaws;(2)toscrutinizegovernmentpolicyandadministration;(3)todebatethemajorissuesoftheday.BillsmaybeintroducedintoeithertheHouseofCommonsortheHouseofLords,exceptforfinancialbills,whichmaybeintroducedonlyintheHouseofCommons.Eachbillisgiventhreeseparatereadingsineachhouse.Ifpassedonthethirdreading,itissenttotheotherhouse,whereitgoesthroughthesameprocedure.Ifpassedbythesecondhouse,thebillissenttothemonarchfortheceremonialformalityofroyalassentbeforebecominglaw.TheHouseofCommonsiselectedroughlyeveryfiveyearsandisdissolvedbytheCrownontheadviceoftheprimeminister,whothencallsageneralelection.TheHouseofLordstodayismoreaplaceofdiscussionanddebatethanoneofpower,anditnormallypasseslegislationalreadyapprovedbytheHouseofCommons.Itsmembersarenotelected.

TheLordshavetherighttodelaylegislation,andmaydelaybillsforuptofromamonthtoaboutayear.

4.CentralGovernmentTheUKgovernment,officiallyknownasHis(orHer)Majesty’sGovernment,iscenteredonWhitehallinLondon.ThePrimeMinistermayappointupto20ministerstositintheCabinet,allofwhommustbemembersofParliament.TwokeydoctrinesofCabinetgovernmentarecollectiveresponsibilityandministerialresponsibility.Thechiefexecutiveofthegovernmentistheprimeminister,whoistheleaderofthepartythatholdsthemostseatsintheHouseofCommons.ThePrimeMinister’sOffice,No10supportshimorherintheirroleasheadofgovernment.5.LocalGovernmentInEnglandandWales,localgovernmentsaredividedbetweencountycouncilsanddistrictcouncils.InScotland,servicesaredividedbetweenregionalanddistrictboards.Devolution:thepowersofthecentralgovernmentoverlocalaffairsarepasseddown,totheScottishandWelshpeoplethroughtheirowndemocraticallyelectedlocallegislatures.6.ThePoliticalPartySystemBeforethemid-19thcentury,BritishpoliticswasdominatedbytheWhigsandtheTories.After1815,theWhigsevolvedintotheLiberalPartywhiletheToriesbecametheConservativeParty.In1900,theLabourPartyrepresentingtradeunionswasformed.Since1945thetraditionaltwo-partysystemofgovernmentintheUKParliamenthasbeenmaintained,withpowerbeingheldbyeithertheConservativePartyortheLabourParty.7.ElectionsTheUnitedKingdomisdividedinto659constituencies,eachofwhichreturnsonemembertotheHouseofCommonsatageneralelection.Britishcitizens,andcitizensofotherCommonwealthcountriesandtheRepublicofIrelandresidentintheUnited8.TheRuleofLawEveryoneisboundbythelaw.Allpersonsareequalbeforethelaw.Lawandordermustbemaintainedthroughtheofficialsandinstitutionsofthestate.Legalredressisprovidedforcitizenswhentheyfeeltheyhaveexperiencedinjustice.Thelawandlegalprocessesandpersonnelshouldbeindependentfrompoliticalinterference.9.SourcesofLawThethreemainsourcesofEnglishandWelshlawarethestatutelaw,commonlawandEuropeanUnionlaw.ThemainsourcesoflawarethecommonlawofScotlandandlegislationenactedbytheUKorScottishParliament,andEUlaw.TheNorthernIrelandAssemblyhashadlegislativeandexecutiveauthorityforalldevolvedmattersfrom2000andcanthereforemakelawsinNorthernIreland.

10.TheCourtSystemInEnglandandWales,minorcriminaloffencesareheardinlocalmagistrates’courts;moreseriousoffencesareheardintheCrownCourts..InEnglandandWales,mostofthecivilcasesareheardincountycourts;theHighCourthearsmorecomplicatedcivilcases.BothcivilandcriminalcasescanbeappealedtorespectivedivisionsintheCourtofAppeals.FormostlegalcasesinEnglandandWales,theHouseofLordsisthefinalpointofappeal.

11.JudicialProceedingsTheprinciplesderivedfromBritishlawincludetherighttotrialbyjury;therighttodueprocessoflaw;freedomfromunlawfulimprisonment;thetrialsystemofprosecutionanddefence;andthepresumptionthatapersonisinnocentuntilprovenguilt.12.TheLegalProfessionTheLordChancellorisheadofthejudiciaryinEnglandandWales.HerecommendsalljudicialappointmentstotheCrown,otherthanthehighest.Solicitorsperformtheeverydayworkofthelaw,particularlylegalmattersthatcanbehandledsolelywithpaperwork.Barristersarelawyerswhohaverighttopleadcasesincourt.Lesson4UKsociety1.EconomicHistoryInthe19thcentury,theUKhadtheworld’sleadingeconomy.Inthe20thcentury,itseconomydeclinedbutstillremainedrelativelystrong.From1945,Labourgovernmentadopted“Keynesian”demandmanagement,usingfiscalpolicytocontrolthelevelofaggregatedemand.Sincethe1980s,andparticularlyundertheGovernmentofMargaretThatcher,manystateenterprises,whichhadbeennationalisedsincethe1940s,wereprivatised.TheBritisheconomyhasinrecentyearsseenthelongestperiodofsustainedeconomicgrowthformorethan150years.2.IndustriesSince1969,whenoffshoregasfieldswerediscoveredintheNorth3.LabourTheUKemploymentlevelshavebeenrisinggenerallyoverthelastthreedecades.Servicetradeshaveincreased.Self-employmenthasrisen.Thenumberofwomenworkingoutsidethehomehasincreasedsincethe1950s.MostBritishunionsaremembersoftheTradesUnionCongress(TUC;foundedin1867),representingnearly6.5millionsunionmembersintheUK.4.SocialSecurityThesocialsecuritysystemprovidesincomeduringperiodsofinabilitytoearn,pensionsforretiredpeople,financialhelpforlow-incomefamiliesandassistancewithcostsarisingfromdisablement.TheNationalInsuranceActof1946consolidatedearlierwelfarelegislation,expandedcoverage,andincreasedbenefitsforanumberofprogrammes.Theneedsofthoseindifficultyaremetbylocalauthorities,whodrawuponfundsprovidedbytheDepartmentforWorkandPensions(DWP)inEngland.WelfareservicesintheUKaresupportedbytaxpayers.Revenueforthesystemalsocomesfromcompulsoryweeklycontributionsbyemployeesandemployers.5.TheNationalHealthServiceTheNationalHealthService(NHS)wascreatedin1948toprovidehealthcarefortheUKresidentpopulation,basedonneed,nottheabilitytopay.TheserviceisfundedbythetaxpayerandisaccountabletoParliament.Mostformsoftreatmentareprovidedfree,butotherssuchasprescriptiondrugs,eyetestsanddentistrymayincuracharge.InEnglandtheNHSismanagedbytheDepartmentofHealth..6.PersonalSocialServicePersonalsocialservicesreferstotheassessmentforandprovisionofpracticalhelpandsupportforolderpeople,disabledpeople,vulnerablechildrenandyoungpeople,thosewithmentalhealthproblemsorlearningdisabilities,andtheirfamiliesandcareers.Thesocialservicesdepartmentsoflocalauthoritiesareresponsibleforensuringthedirectprovisionorcommissioningofservicesandforensuringthatpeoplereceiveahigh-qualityservice,regardlessoftheprovider.InNorthernIrelandservicesareprovidedbyHealthandSocialServices(HSS)Trusts.7.PrimaryandSecondaryEducationThevastmajorityofchildrenareeducatedinstateprimaryandsecondaryschoolswhicharenon-feepayingschoolsfundedfromtaxes.Primaryeducationisfreepaidforfrompublicfundsandcompulsoryfromage5to11.Thesecondaryeducation,whichisorganisedinavarietyofwaysforchildrenaged11to19,isalsofreeandcompulsorytoage16.EachcouncilorlocalauthorityintheUKhasaLocalEducationAuthority(LEA)andtheyareprimarilyresponsibleforpublicspendingonschools.The1944EducationActdividedstateschoolsintogrammar,secondarymodernandtechnicaltocaterforthedifferentacademiclevelsandotheraptitudesofchildren.Entrytotheseschoolswasbasedonthe11plusexaminations.Today,inmostpartsoftheUK,secondaryschoolsarenon-selectivecomprehensive,thatis,theyareopentopupilsofallabilities.RegulatedbytheEducationReformAct1988theNationalCurriculumwasestablishedforeachyearofcompulsoryschoolandallstateschools.Some250publicschoolsassocalled,butprivateinnature,suchasEton,HarrowandWinchester,arethemostfamousoftheindependentschools.8.HigherEducationThereare89universities,plus15ScottishcentralinstitutionsandhundredsofCollegesofHigherEducation(CHE).Theuniversitiescanbebroadlyclassifiedintofourstypes:theancientuniversitiesofOxfordandCambridge,the“red-brick”orcivicuniversities,universitiesfoundedaftertheSecondWorldWarandinthe1960s,andthe“newuniversities”createdin1992.TheOpenUniversityisadegree-grantinginstitutionthatprovidescoursesofstudyforadultsofallagesthroughtelevision,radio,producedbooks,audio/videocassettes,correspondencecoursesandlocalstudyprogrammes.Universitiesandhighereducationcollegesenjoyacademicfreedom,appointtheirownstaff,awardtheirowndegreesanddecidewhichstudentstoadmit.However,theyhavecloselinkswiththecentralgovernmentbecausealargeproportionoftheirincomederivesfrompublicfunds.9.FurtherEducationandTrainingTheUKoffersvariousopportunitiesforfurthereducationandtrainingwhichisconductedbyfurthereducationcollegesincluding“sixthform”collegesandsomeadulteducationinstitutions,likeCollegeofFurtherEducation(CFE).Lesson5UKculturallife1.ReligiousHistoryChristianitywasfirstintroducedintoBritainbytheRomansinthe1stcenturyBC.Inthe16thcentury,HenryVIIIimplementedtheReformationandfacilitatedthefoundingoftheChurchofEnglandasastatechurch.InScotland,theProtestantReformationwasmoreofagrassrootsmovementwhichgaverisetotheChurchofScotland.InIreland,continuingadherencebyamajorityofthepopulationtoCatholicismensuredunstableandviolentrelationsbetweenthenationsoftheisles.Duringthe16thand17thcenturies,manyProtestantsfeltthechurchhadnotdistanceditselfsufficientlyfromRomeandformedNonconformistchurches,calledFreeChurchestoday.2.TheChurchofEnglandTheChurchofEngland(alsoknownastheAnglicanChurch)istheestablishedchurchinEngland.UndertheActofSettlement1701,theBritishmonarchisrequiredtobeamemberoftheChurchofEnglandandholdsthetitlesofSupremeGovernoroftheChurchofEnglandandDefenderoftheFaith.ThearchbishopofCanterburyholdsthetitleofPrimateofAllEngland;anotherarchbishoppresidesatYork.Twoarchbishopsand24seniorbishopssitintheHouseofLordsservingasthelinktoParliament.WestminsterAbbeyisusedfortheCoronationofallBritishMonarchswhoarealsomadetheheadoftheChurchofEngland.3.TheChurchofScotlandFoundedin1560byJohnKnox,theChurchofScotlandistheestablishedchurchinScotland,butisnotsubjecttostatecontrol.TheChurchofScotlandisgovernedbypresbyteries—localbodiescomposedofministersandelders—ratherthanbybishops.4.TheRomanCatholicChurchTheRomanCatholicChurchisthesecondlargestdenominationofChristianityintheUK,withoneoutoftenBritishcitizensclaimingtobeRomanCatholic.InNorthernIrelandtheCatholicChurchinIrelandisthelargestsingledenomination.5.OtherChristianDenominationsAnumberofProtestantdenominationsarecalledFreeChurches;inthepasttheywerecalledNonconformistorDissentingchurches.TheMethodistChurchisthelargestoftheseandhasabout1.2millionmembers.TheSalvationArmy,whichemphasizessavingsoulsthroughapracticalChristianityandsocialconcern,wasfoundedin1865andcurrentlyhas55000activemembers.6.LeisureActivitiesPeopleintheUKspendabout45percentoftheirfreetimewatchingtelevision,24percentsocialising,22-23percentonsportandhobbies,andabout10percentonotheractivities.Thehomehasbecomeofthechiefplaceforfamilyandindividualentertainment.VisitingapubisstillaveryimportantpartofBritishlife,andmoremoneyisspentondrinkingandotherpubactivitiesthanonanyothersingleformofleisure.Holidaysandwheretospendthemrepresentthesecondmajorleisurecost(afterpubdrinking).7.SportingActivitiesIncluding:Football(soccer),tennis,squash,golf,boxing,rugby,cricket,snooker,billiards,badmintonandcurling.Thenationalsportisfootball,andtheUKhastheoldestfootballclubsintheworld.CricketispopularinEngland,butislessimportantintheotherhomenations.Rugbyunionandrugbyleaguearetheothermajorteamsports.TennisisthehighestprofilesportforthetwoweeksoftheWimbledonChampionships.HighlandgamesareeventsheldthroughouttheyearinScotlandandothercountriesasawayofcelebratingScottishandCelticcultureandheritage.CertainaspectsofthegamesaresowellknownastohavebecomeemblematicofScotland,suchasthebagpipes,thekilt,andtheheavyevents,especiallythecabertoss.8.ArtisticActivitiesSome650professionalartsfestivalstakeplaceeachyear.TheEdinburghInternationalFestivalisthelargestofitskindintheworld.IntheUK,BritishLibrary,thenationallibrary,isoneoftheworld’sthreelargest.ThemajornationalmuseumsandgalleriesincludetheBritishMuseum,TheNaturalHistoryMuseum,theNationalGalleryandtheTateGallery.Thereareabout300theatresintendedforprofessionalandcommercialuse,ofwhichabout100areinLondon,includingtheRoyalNationalTheatre.RoyalOperaandtheEnglishNationalOperaarethemainLondonoperacompanies,w