专八人文知识之北美概况.docVIP

美国概况ABOUT AMERICA　　1.）introduction美国概况　　a.国名：the United States of America　　b.国旗：stars and stripes.主体部分由13道红白相间之横条组成；旗面左上角排列着50颗白 色五角星。国旗上有白红蓝三种颜色。13道宽条代表美国最初之13个殖民地（thirteen colonies），50颗五角星代表美利坚合众国。 　　c.国徽（National Emblem）：　　主体一只胸前带有盾（shield）形图案之秃鹰（BALD EAGLE）。秃鹰上方之顶冠内13颗白色五角星代表美国最初之13个殖民地。鹰爪分别抓着橄榄枝(olive brance)和箭(arrows)；鹰嘴叼着黄色绶带上用拉丁文写着之“合众为一”(E pluribus unum means Out of Many One. 　　d.绰号（NICK NAME)　　Uncle Sam is a national personification(n. 化身, 象征) of the United States (US), and sometimes more specifically(adv. 特定之,明确之) of the American government, with the first usage of the term dating from the War of 1812 and the first illustration dating from 1852. He is often depicted (v. 描述) as a serious elderly white man with white hair and a goatee(n. 山羊胡子), and dressed in clothing that recalls the design elements of flag of the United States—for example, typically a top hat with red and white stripes and white stars on a blue band, and red and white striped trousers. 美国之绰号叫山姆大叔。传说在英美战争期间，美国商人山姆威尔逊在装供应军队牛肉之桶上写有“U.S.，表示这是美国之财产。这恰与山姆大叔（UNCLE SAM）之首字母缩略相同。于是人们便戏称带有”U.S.标记之物资是山姆大叔之，而山姆大叔也就逐渐成为了美国之绰号。1961年美国国会通过决议，正式承认“山姆大叔”代表美国之形象。　　e.国歌（NATIONAL ANTHEM)　　美国国歌《星条旗永不落》（the star-spangled banner曾译《星条旗》歌）诞生在巴尔底摩。　　１９３１年，美国国会正式将《星条旗永不落》定为国歌 。　　如今，巴尔之摩市之麦克亨利堡已被辟为国家纪念地和历史圣地。１９８５年１１月７日，巴尔之摩市与中国福建省厦门市结为友好城市。　　f.首都（CAPITAL)　　华盛顿哥伦比亚特区（Washington D.C,其中D.C表示District of Columbia），是为了纪念乔治华盛顿(George Washington)和发现美洲新大陆之哥伦布(Christopher Columbus)而定名之。　　g.最大城市（LARGEST CITY)　　New York City is the most populous city in the United States, while the New York metropolitan area ranks among the most populous urban areas in the world. A leading global city, it exerts a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, fashion and entertainment. As host of United Nations headquarters, New York is also an important center for international affairs.　　The Big Apple is a nickname or moniker for New York City. It was first popularized in the 1920s by John J. Fitz Gerald, a spor