1.

Multiple choice, fill in blank, true/false, short answer (6d)

University of Languages and International Studies, VNU Hanoi

FACULTY OF LINGUISTICS AND CULTURES OF ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES

Division of Country Studies

INTRODUCTION TO BRITISH & AMERICAN STUDIES

GUIDELINES FOR REVIEWING THE COURSE

CONTENT

Section 1. Structure of the final exam ……………………………………….…..2

Section 2. Course review questions ………………………...…………….………3

Section 3. Sample fianl exam…………...……………………..………………….6

SECTION 1. STRUCTURE OF THE FINAL EXAM

The final exam would last 60 minutes. It consists of two compulsory parts.

The first compulsory part (Part 1/ 6 points) estimates your ability to understand common references and
conversations about the UK and the US. It includes short questions about the course‟s key concepts and
facts.

The second compulsory part (Part 2/ 4 points) mobilizes your in-depth understanding of a socio-political
and cultural phenomenon in the UK or the. It asks you to write a short response to some pictures which
address the issues discussed in the seminars.

SECTION 2. REVIEW QUESTIONS

PART 1 – 6 points

Instead of providing ready-made short questions to appear in the real exam, this review guidelines only
offer suggestions that will be used to develop the questions in Part 1. Some of the suggestions might
seem about trivialities; however, from the course designers‟ perspective, these details are among those
defining the events, periods, or processes at hand. See the sample test to have a sense of the kinds of
question you will encounter in the real exam.

History of the UK & the US

● When did the Victorian era start and end? Name three key features of the era.

American Civil War

● Name the major debate that motivated the American Civil War.

● During what years was the Civil War fought?

● What were the two opposing forces in the American Civil War?

● What was the name of the secessionist faction of the Civil War?

● Who was the President of the US at that time?

● The Civil War resolved two matters that vexed Americans since 1776. What are they?

World War I

World War I (WWI or WW1), also known as the First World War, the Great War, or the War to End All
Wars, was a global war originating in Europe. It was one of the deadliest conflicts in history, and paved
the way for major political changes, including revolutions in many of the nations involved. Unresolved
rivalries still extant at the end of the conflict contributed to the start of the World War II only twenty-
one years later.

● During what years was the war fought?

● How did the UK enter World War I?

● How did the US enter World War II?

● Who was the US president during the war?

Roaring Twenties

The Roaring Twenties was a period of sustained economic prosperity with a distinctive cultural edge in
the US and Western Europe, particularly in major cities such as Berlin, Chicago, London, Los Angeles,
New York City, Paris, and Sydney.

● What war ended right before the start of the Roaring Twenties?

● What is often said about the spirit of the Roaring Twenties?

● In the US, what style of music became popular during the Roaring Twenties?

● What event brought the Roaring Twenties to a grinding halt?

World War II

World War II (often abbreviated to WWII or WW2), also known as the Second World War, was the most
widespread war in history, and directly involved more than 100 million people from over 30 countries.
The war led to the formation of two opposing military alliances, the Allies and the Axis, and a new world
order.

● In what years was the war fought?

● How did the UK enter World War II?

● Who was the British Prime Minister during the war?

● How did the US enter World War II?

● What happened to the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945,
respectively?

National Beliefs and Values (tap trung vao My)

● What does the phrase “a city upon the hill” refer to?

● What is the American Dream?

● What is American exceptionalism (co 3 cai)? What are some examples of American exceptionalism?

Political Systems

● Describe the political systems of the UK & the US in terms of constitution, form of government,
branches of government, political parties, and election.

● What is a constitution?

● What is a constitutional monarchy?

● What is a parliamentary democracy?

● What is a representative democracy?

● How are powers divided in American federalism?

● What does „separation of powers‟ refer to?

● What is a bill? (bao nhie buoc de thanh mot law)

Economic Systems

● What is a free enterprise system?

● Name economic activity sectors that are usually present in descriptions of a nation‟s economy.( trong
3 sector casi nafo laf dominant)

● What can be said about the shift in the growth pattern of economic sectors during the end of the 20th
century in the UK and the US?

● In the context of the UK, the decline of which sector is a major concern?
● Describe the shifts of how the government in the UK has intervened in economic life. When did the
state become much more involved in economic planning and nationalize industries? When did the trend
start going in the other direction?

● Describe the current pattern of mixed economy of public and private sectors in the UK.

● Describe the situation of budget deficit in the UK and the US.

Education Systems

● What is educationalization? (learn by heart) 3 goal (phai ke ten duoc)

● According to David Labaree (1997), what are the three goals of the American education system?
Illustrate each goal with examples of educational practices in the US.

● How did the 1944 Education Act Change the education system in England and Wales? (nho no,
elementary become free and compulsory and selective secondary)

● What is the significance of the Brown v. Board of Education case? (racism, public school sagragation,
saparated but equal)

● What are the features of No Child Left Behind? (standard test, major subject: reading & math, minor
subject: art, language,

PART 2 – 4 points

Visual interpretation on the three seminar issues: Trump‟s travel ban, Brexit, and American publich
education.

SECTION 3. SAMPLE TEST

PART 1: 17 cau trac nghiem

Section 1: Choose the best answer (A, B, C or D) to each of the following questions - 1.5 points

1. Which definition BEST describes nation-building?

A. The process of drawing new borders for countries

B. The effort to build a sense of national identity among citizens

C. Conquering a neighboring nation

D. Giving sovereign power to a different group of people

2. What does Victorian Era mean to British history?

A. The shortest and poorest era

B. The era of flourishing development in many fields

C. The era in which new modern lifestyle is popular

3. Britain is described as having a ‘two-party’ system because _______________ .

A. there are only two parties in the Parliament

B. the government only accepts votes from members of the two main parties

C. the two main parties occupy almost all the seats in the House of Commons

D. under the current electoral system, only two parties can have MPs

4. What was the name of the secessionist faction of the Civil War?

A. The Union

B. The Confederate States of America

C. The United States of America

D. The Free Southern Territories

5. Which of the following notions shows Americans’ belief in competition?

A. Acquiring a large number of material possessions is of great importance.

B. Receiving financial support from charity, family, or the government is never admired.

C. Moving about from place to place is a common and accepted practice.

D. Much of life is seen as a race for success, and everyone is entitled to enter and win.

Section 2: Decide whether these statements are TRUE or FALSE - 1.5 points

6. The initial response of the U.S. government to the outbreak of both World Wars was maintaining a
neutral policy. =>> T

7. Britain has an unwritten constitution. =>> T

8. From 1945 until 1980, the general trend in the UK was for the state to have less and less control over
economic planning. =>> F

9. Currently, manufacturing is a key driver of British GDP growth. =>> F

10. The British Crown rules over the USA. =>> F

Section 3: Fill in each blank with NO MORE THAN THREE words – 2 points

11. Parliament is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom which includes the Crown, House
of Lords and House of Commons.

12. Separation of powers refers to the idea that the major institutions of state should be functionally
independent and that no individual should have powers that span these offices.
13. The intention of the 1944 Education Act in England and Wales was to provide free and compulsory
state primary and secondary education.

14. An election for President of the United States occurs every four-year on Election Day, held the first
Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

15. The Supreme Court‟s Brown v. Board of Education decision struck down the principle of separate
but equal education facilities for the races in 1954.

Section 4: Briefly answer the following questions in ONE or TWO sentences. – 1 point

16. What is educationalization?

17. Why is it said that the Americans vote for their national leader indirectly? Representative
demorcracy is…………

PART 2 - 4 points 4 cau tu luan

Section 5: Write ONE or TWO sentences to interpret the following figurative expressions.

1. In US, Trump’s Travel Ban actually is Muslim Ban and vi hien

2. In UK, UK bi tan ra khi anh muon ra khoi chau au vi Scotland cung muon ra khoi chau Au

3. In US, su chia re ve race, lan song thu 2

4. In US, Standaized test, fair but not fair

1 la ten van de, 2 la quan diem cua tac gia

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