《英美国家概况(英文版)》是专为各类高职高专院校(包括电大、成人教育学院、自考等)英语专业一、二年级学生编写的教材。

通过介绍英国和美国的地理、历史、政治、经济、教育、文化等背景知识，帮助学生提高对文化差异的敏感度，提升商务语言在工作情境中的综合运用能力;拓展有关知识从而深化语言基础、提高阅读效果和写作效果，提升有效交际能力;帮助学生以史为鉴，对东西方文化差异进行思考和分析，提高文化修养和公民意识;综合运用其他语言和商务课程的知识和技能进行团队合作，提升创新思维能力和有效解决问题能力。

《英美国家概况(英文版)》集时代性、实用性、趣味性为一体，以能力培养为主线，以易教与易学的思路设计学习模块，整体编排从课堂教学实际出发，充分发挥学生的主观能动性，促使学生思考，鼓励学生积极参与教学活动，锻炼学生运用语言知识的实际能力。

英美法系包括：英国（不包括苏格兰）、美国（路易斯安那州除外）外，主要是曾是英国殖民地、附属国的国家和地区，如印度、巴基斯坦、新加坡、缅甸、加拿大（魁北克省除外）、澳大利亚、新西兰、马来西亚等。

中国香港地区也属于英美法系。

目录：
Part One The United Kingdom
(Chapter 1 Geography3
I. The Nation4
II. England5
III. Scotland5
IV. Wales6
V. Northern Ireland6
VI. The Land7
VII. The People9
Work Sheet11
(Chapter 2 History15
I. Prehistory to the Norman Conquest16
II. The Norman Conquest and the Middle Ages18 III. The Sixteenth Century19
IV. The Seventeenth Century—Civil War21
V. The Eighteenth Century22
VI. The Nineteenth Century24
VII. The Twentieth Century26
VIII. The Cold War28
IX. Towards the 21st Century29
Work Sheet34
(Chapter 3 Monarchy and Government39
I. The Monarchy40
II. The House of Lords42
III. The House of Commons43
IV. The British Constitution44
V. The Two Main Parties45
VI. The National Flag48
Work Sheet49
(Chapter 4 Economy55
I. Economy—Overview56
II. Britain’s Natural Resources57
III. Agriculture, Hunting, Forestry, and Fishing58 IV. Mining and Quarrying59
V. Financial and Business Services60
VI. Tourism60
VII. Transport, Storage and Communication61 VIII. Wholesale and Retail Trade61
Work Sheet62
(Chapter 5 Education67
I. Primary Education68
II. Secondary Education69
III. Further Education70
IV. Higher Education71
V. Famous University72
VI. Entry Requirement74
Work Sheet77
(Chapter 6 Society83
I. Costume and Fashion84
II. Cuisine86
III. Housing87
IV. Transportation89
V. Holidays90
Work Sheet93
Part Two The United States
(Chapter 7 Geography99
I. Physiographic Regions100
II. Rivers and Lakes106
III. Climate108
IV. The People109
V. Typical City112
Work Sheet119
(Chapter 8 History123
I. Discovery and Exploration, 1000-1600124
II. The Colonial Period, 1600-1774127
III. Revolutionary Period and New Nation, 1775- 1812129 IV. Slavery, Civil War and Westward Expansion, 1813-1865132
V. Growth and Transformation, 1865-1900135
VI. War and Prosperity, 1900-1928136
VII. The Great Depression and the New Deal138 VIII. World War II139
IX. Postwar America—Cold War141
X. Decades of Change 142
XI. Toward the 21st Century143
Work Sheet148
(Chapter 9 Political System153
I. US Government154
II. The Constitution155
III. The Executive Branch155
IV. The Legislative Branch156
V. The Judicial Branch157
VI. State Government158
VII. Local Government159
VIII. Political Parties159
IX. The Flag160
X. The Pledge of Allegiance161
Work Sheet161
(Chapter 10 Economy167
I. American Economy—Overview168
II. Conditions and Resources 170
Work Sheet176
(Chapter 11 Education181
I. “The Condition of Education 2000”183 II. The American Style of Education184 III. Education in the United States 185 IV. Grading Scale189
V. Famous University 190
Work Sheet193
(Chapter 12 Society199
I. Costume and Fashion200
II. Cuisine204
III. Buying a House206
IV. Transportation208
V. Holidays210
Work Sheet213
References217。