本书是英语专业学生必修的一门基础知识课程，目的是让学生熟悉英语国家的地理、历史、经济、文化、教育等一般知识，丰富文化修养，加深对语言和文学的理解，提高分析与辨别的能力。通过对本课程的学习，学生应该对英语国家的历史和现状，以及它们的社会发展及其趋势有较好的理解。除掌握有关国家的一些最基本的知识外，学生还可以提高对社会科学类英文书籍的阅读能力。

本书除英美两部分各六章外，对澳大利亚、加拿大及新西兰也作了简单的介绍。全书除历史部分外，均尽可能使用最新资料。对所涉及国家的情况，尽可能做到客观介绍，避免主观评述。

本书内容丰富，资料翔实，图文并茂，选用了最新信息及数据，内容涵盖了英国、美国、加拿大、澳大利亚、新西兰等国的地理、历史、政治、经济、教育、文化等各方面。另外，本书每个章节后都附有讨论题，使读者在了解相关章节背景知识的同时，还有更为广阔的思考和评判空间。

本书可作为高等院校英语专业本科生的教材使用，同时也适合广大英语爱好者自学使用。

Section 1 The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Chapter 1 Land and People in Britain

    I. Land

    II. People

 Chapter 2 British History

    I. Origin of the English Nation

    II. Feudalism in England

    III. The Industrial Revolution and the Chartist Movement

    IV. The Rise and Fall of the British Empire

 Chapter 3 National Economy

    I. Basic Framework

    II. The Government's Role in the Economy

    III. Industries

    IV. Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing

    V. The Service Sector

    VI. Foreign Trade

 Chapter 4 British Government and Politics

    I. British Government

    II. British Politics

 Chapter 5 British Education System

    I. Introduction

    II. The Purpose of the British Education System

    III. The National Curriculum

    IV. The Relationship between Education and Social Class

    V. The Influence of the Church on Schooling

    VI. The Present Education System

    VII. Teaching Method in UK

 Chapter 6 English Language, Religion and Beliefs

    I. The English Language

    II. Religion and Beliefs

Section 2 The United States of America

 Chapter 7 Land and People in the United States

     I. Land of the Free

     II. The American People

 Chapter 8 American History

     I. Discovery of the New World

     II. The War of Independence

     III. Slavery and the Civil War

    IV. The United States in the Late 19th Century

    V. War, Peace and the Great Depression

    VI. America in the Turning Point of the New Millennium

Chapter 9 National Economy

    I. Basic Framework

    II. A Mixed Economy

    III. The World of American Business

    IV. Some Historical Perspectives on the American Economy

 Chapter 10 American Government and Politics

    I. The American Government

    II. American Political Parties--the Democratic Party and the Republican Party

    III. American Presidents Elections

    IV. The Development of the American Government System

    V. The New Individualism: Interest Group Government

    VI. The Political Future of the United States

 Chapter 11 American Educational System and Schools

    I. General information of American Education

    II. The American Education System

    III. Education Philosophy

    IV. How to be a Good College Student?

 Chapter 12 American Values and Beliefs

    I. Mainstream American Values

    II. Religions

Section 3 Canada

Chapter 13 Land and People

    I. Land

    II. People

Chapter 14 History and Culture

    I. History

    II. Culture

Chapter 15 National Economy

Chapter 16 Government

    I. Federal Government

    II. Provincial Governments

    III. Municipal Governments

Chapter 17 Education

Section 4 Australia

 Chapter 18 Land and People

    I. Land

    II. People

 Chapter 19 History and Culture

    I. History

    II. Culture

 Chapter 20 Economy

 Chapter 21 Education

 Chapter 22 Political System

Section 5 New Zealand

 Chapter 23 Land and People

    I. Geography

    II. Climate

    III. People

 Chapter 24 History and Political System

    I. History

    II. Political System

    III. Justice and the Police

 Chapter 25 Education and Economy

    I. Education

    II. Economy

 Chapter 26 Labor and Employment

 Chapter 27 Social Services and Accident Compensation

    I. Social Services

    II. Accident Compensation

 Chapter 28 Defense

 Chapter 29 Foreign Policy and Overseas Aid

Bibliography