英语国家概况课后题汇总及答案(4)

4. What are the ideals that guide the American educational system?

The first ideal is that as many people as possible should receive as much education as possible. It is an outcome of the American's assertions about the equality among people.The second ideal is that of producing a society that is totally literate and of local control. Education in the U.S. is governed by state and local governments, not by the national government.The third ideal is that scholars and students should work to discover new information or conceive new ways to understand what is already known. Learning is not just a process of memorizing knowledge that already exists in books. It is an enterprise of exploration, experimentation, analysis and synthesis.

5. How is a President voted into office in America? What are your ideas about the American election?

Each party holds its national convention every four years to choose a candidate for the presidency. To win a presidential election, a candidate has to spend millions of dollars, travel all over the country to make speeches, and debate on television with the rival. The general election is technically divided into two stages. During the first stage , presidential electors for each state will be chosen. In the second stage the electors meet and vote a President. Since the second stage is only a kind of formality, everyone knows who will be the next President as soon as the first stage is over.

An open answer to the second part.

6. Why can we say that Puritanism has much influence on America?

a) Puritans were encouraged to read the Bible in order to better understand the God’s will. Thus, education had been essential for Puritans, which education had been stressed during American history.

b) When Puritans came to America, they wanted to build ―a city upon hill‖—an ideal

community. Since that time, Americans have viewed their country as a great experiment, a worthy model of other nations.

c) Puritans established another American tradition—a strain of often intolerant moralism, which had had much influence on the following generations.

d) The Puritans also have left rich cultural heritage to future Americans. The American values such as individualism, hard work, and respect of education owe very much to the Puritan beliefs.