本教材根據《高職高專教育英語課程教學基本要求》編寫，在編寫過程中力圖符合英語教師及學生的實際需要和實際水平，做到語言通俗易懂、內容新穎、趣味性強。本教材共分為兩大部分：英國部分和美國部分。每部分各分為八章，介紹了英、美兩國的歷史、政治、經濟、教育、宗教及文學藝術等方面的基本知識，有助于學習者了解英美的價值觀念及生活方面，加深對語言和文化的理解，增強對文化差異的敏感性，達到擴大知識面、鞏固和提高英語水平的目的。
Part One The United Kingdom
Chapter 1 Brief Introduction to the United Kingdom
1. Brief Introduction
2. Location and Area
3. Climate
4. Topography
5. Rivers and Lakes
6. Mountains and Hills
7. Population
8. Languages
Joyful Moment
Notes
New Words
Exercises
Stay Positive
Chapter 2 History of the United Kingdom
1. Early Settlers
2. The Roman Invasion of Britain
3. Anglo-Saxon Conquests
4. Viking Challenge and the Rise of Wessex
5. Norman Conquest
6. Tudor England (1485-1603)
7. The House of Stuart (1603-1714)
8. The Hanoverians (18th-19th Century)
9. Two World Wars (1914-1945)
10. The 21st Century
Joyful Moment
Notes
New Words
Exercises
Stay Positive
Chapter 3 Politics of the United Kingdom
1. Introduction
2. The Monarchy
3. The Parliament
4. The British Government
5. The General Election
6. Political Parties
7. Brexit
Joyful Moment
Notes
New Words
Exercises
Stay Positive
Chapter 4 Economy of the United Kingdom
1. General Introduction
2. Economic Sectors of UK
3. Major Cities and Industries
Joyful Moment
Notes
New Words
Exercises
Stay Positive
Chapter 5 Military of the United Kingdom
1. Overview
2. History
3. Structure
4. Uniforms
5. Recruitment
Joyful Moment
Notes
New Words
Exercises
Stay Positive
Chapter 6 Culture and Education of the United Kingdom
1. Introduction
2. Culture
3. Education
Joyful Moment
Notes
New Words
Exercises
Stay Positive
Chapter 7 Religion of the United Kingdom
1. General Introduction
2. Role in History and Modern Society
3. Christianity
4. Other Religions
5. Religious Views about Social Issues
Joyful Moment
Notes
New Words
Exercises
Stay Positive
Chapter 8 Literature and Arts of the United Kingdom
1. Literature
2. Arts
Joyful Moment
Notes
New Words
Exercises
Stay Positive
Part Two The United States of America
Chapter 1 Introduction to the United States of America
1. Introduction
2. Location and Area
3. Climate
4. Topography
5. Rivers and Lakes
6. Mountains and Hills
7. Population
8. Languages
Joyful Moment
Notes
New Words
Exercises
Stay Positive
Chapter 2 History of the United States
1. The Discovery of the New World
2. The Colonial Period (1600-1763)
3. The Independence War of America
4. Territory Expansion and the Westward Movement
5. The Civil War
6. US Imperialism and World War I
7. World War II
8. Post World War II
9. Toward the 21st Century
10. The 21st Century
Joyful Moment
Notes
New Words
Exercises
Stay Positive
Chapter 3 Politics of the United States
1. Why Government
2. The United States Constitution
3. Federalism
4. The United States Congress
5. The Executive Branch
6. The Federal Judiciary
7. The Legislative Process
8. Voting in America
9. Political Parties
Joyful Moment
Notes
New Words
Exercises
Stay Positive
Chapter 4 Economy of the United States
1. Introduction
2. Economic Performance of the US since the 21th century
3. Economic Sectors
Joyful Moment
Notes
New Words
Exercises
Stay Positive
Chapter 5 Military of the United States
1. Overview
2. History
3. The US Military Departments
4. Recruitment Culture of the US Military
Joyful Moment
Notes
New Words
Exercises
Stay Positive
Chapter 6 Culture and Education of the United States
1. Introduction
2. Culture
3. Education
Joyful Moment
Notes
New Words
Exercises
Stay Positive
Chapter 7 Religion of the United States
1. General Introduction
2. The Principal American Religions
3. Characteristics of American Religion
4. Religion in Today’s America
5. Religious Views about Social Issues
Joyful Moment
Notes
New Words
Exercises
Stay Positive
Chapter 8 Literature and Arts of the United States
1. Literature
2. Arts
Joyful Moment
Notes
New Words
Exercises
Stay Positive
Appendix I: Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom
Appendix II: Presidents of the United States
References