The Queen----Elizabeth

                The Queen Elizabeth was born in 1926 and become Queen at the age of 25, and has regined through more than 5 decades of enormous social change and development. As the head of state, the Queen must remain politically neutral. Her majesty and her family never vote or stand for election to any position, political or otherwise. This enables them to provide continuity and focus for national unity. Modern Britain is a multi-cultural, multi-faith society, made up of Christians,Musilins, Jews and people of other faith. This is reflected in the work of the Queen and other members of the Royal Family. And the Queen always like to do some of the donor. In the January 12, 2011, the Queen has made a private donation to the Queensland Premier's Flood Rlief Appeal.

TV

                  BBC is one of  my favorite shows.  It exists to enrich people's lives with great programmes and services that inform, educate and entertain. Its vision is to be the most creative, trusted organisation in the world. I especially enjoy watching the news which always are some of the latest ones.  In this way, not only can I understand the fact but also practice my speaking and listening.  The other one the radio of BBC.is also my favorite one. Sometimes I always listen to the radio through mobile phone before going to bed. Although I can't keep up with the speed and the meaning, I really enjoy the speakers' pronunciation and accent. And I believe that if I keep doing this, the level of my English will greatly be improved.

Crime

              The frequency of burglary and robbery  might not be as relevant as the human cost.  By implementing a range of basic preventive measures retailers can make their stores less attractive to any would-be robber or burglar. Moreover a robust security system is needed such as alarm, camera and etc.
          About knight crime, the current police information strategy is to show that carrying a knife is not “cool” and often counter-productive. It can make you more likely to be stabbed.  Young people who carry a knife for protection may have an image in their mind of being confronted by criminal youths and holding up their knife as a  threat.  It seems that UK government is responding to improve the concern about knife crime by trying to get knives off the streets through rewards and searches.
         In China, I think corruption is one of the most common crime. It is common among government employees. People through bribes to gain their own interests. A legal verdict can be changed from guilt to innocence, death sentence can turn into not-guilty verdict and length of prison terms can be reduced by bribing officials. And by bribing the manager people can get a better job.

The Natinal Health Seivice

1.Blood Donor:

•         He first gave blood 7 years ago.
• He has given blood 41 pints.
• Because he has a rare blood type,which can be given without the risk of reaction. And he likes to help others.
• When he was 12 years old, he always got bullied in school,and his mother told him boxing can made him strong. 
• When he was boxing he saw different kinds of  people then he thought how great it was, since that he decided to help those who couldn't see everyday. 

2. Your local pharmacy

•      .First of all, they can help people develop healthy life style and then give people advices which are free, next they can talk to people and tell them what kind of  medicine they can take.
• 90% of people with minor ailment are treated straight away.
• It helps dispense right by way and puts the drugs to a better option.

3. Free choice

•     No, they didn't. They just choose the local one.
•    Since 2008 British people had this choice.
•    It will  be more convenient for people who want to save time and those who live far. People can check out easily.And the appointtment is suitable that the wating time is not too long.  Aslo people can know more about the hospital which theywould like to choose.
•   The first one is GP searching, the second one is that you can go home and ring out the chosen, book a appointment, and the last one is that you can go online and buy house space.

THE WELFARE SYSTEM

    1) Jobseeker’s Allowance is the main benefit for people of working age who are out of work or work less than 16 hours a week on average.What four requirements must people meet in order to get Jobseeker's Allowance. First of all, people must be available for, capable and actively seeking work. Next, aged 18 or over but below State Pension age. And then, working less than 16 hours per week on average. Lastly, living in Great Britain.

   2) Child Benefit is a tax-free payment that you can claim for your child. It is usually paid every four weeks but can sometimes be paid weekly. There are separate rates payable for each child. The payment can be claimed by anyone who qualifies, whatever their income or savings. There are two separate amounts, with a higher amount for your eldest (or only) child. People get £20.30 a week for their eldest child and £13.40 a week for each of their other children.

   3) Apprenticeships are available in a wide range of employment sectors. As an Apprentice, you earn money while you learn and study for nationally recognised qualifications.

   There is a very significant difference between the system in the UK and the system in China which is the official retirement age. In China, the age for men is 60 and for women is 55. So compared with UK, it is a little bit younger for Chinese to retire. In the UK the age for men and women are both 65.

The national newspapers in Britain

             Like THE TIMES,THE GUARDIAN,THE INDEPENDENT,THE DAILY TELEGRAPH, they belong to Broadsheet. Most of the articles are about politics and other serious news. Its most prominent feature is more text and fewer pictures. The others like THE SUN,THE DAILY NEW,THE DAILY MIRROR, they are relating to human interest stories with more pictures,less text and simpler English.
             The next section, I just choose an example of each what is about Meryl Streep. In THE TIMES, the headline is "Revealed: Meryl Streep as Thatcher". Only one picture on it. However, with eye-catching headline in THE SUN, it is "Maggie's back in Downing Streep". And there are more pictures with described at great length using simpler English. In addition to these there are many different information between them. For example, in THE TIMES it contains news which are politics,health,education,technology and evironment. Like other serious news, there are opinion, business, money, sport, life, arts, puzzles and papers in THE TIMES. And it is always favored by older people. In contrast, there is no papers in THE SUN. It is the best for box news, sport, showbiz and celebrities. So that's why THE SUN is very popular and many young people like it very much.

The unusual sport between UK and China

        One of the unusual sports which is actually played in the United Kingdom include the 'Man versus Horse Marathon', a famous race in Wales that pits a man against a horse that combines a cross-country marathon race and an obstacle course; office depot jousting, which involves several teams of two players each, in which one player in a team sits in a chair and propels himself, while his teammate pushes the chair down the aisle of a store, dodging the rivals who attempt to hit each other with garden hoes.
         However in China, maybe the most unusual sport is cricket fighting.  Cricket fighting also has a long history in China. It dates back at least to the 14th century and has traditionally been a gambler's sport. The cricket fighting season begins in September when the crickets are about a month old. Bets frequently top $1,000 and sometimes exceed $10,000. Because the stakes are so high and gambling is technically illegal, many of the fights are held in private homes or discreet corners of parks. Chinese are particularly fond of crickets because they are said to bring good luck and wealth.

Merry Christmas!

 To all the PMP:
  
           Wish you a Merry Christmas and may this festival bring abundant joy and happiness in your life!

                                                                                 Season

Merry Christmas!




        

 

  To Jeanette:

        Sending the warmest Christmas wishes to you and your family. May God shower his choicest blessings on you and your family this Christmas!

                                                         Yours'lovely
                                                            Season

The differences of the education system in China and the UK

              With developments made in both economic and cultural fronts, the differences between the western and eastern education system  is getting closer and closer. Nevertheless there is a very significant difference between them. In the UK, there is full-time education which is compulsory up to the middle teenage years; the academic year begins at the end of summer; compulsory education is free of charge, but parents may spend money on education their children privately if they want to.while education in China is a state-run system of public education run by the Ministry of Education.  All citizens must attend school for at least nine years. The government provides primary education for six years, starting at age 6 or 7, followed by six years of secondary education for ages 12 to 18. Some provinces may have five years of primary school but four years for middle school. There are three years of middle school and three years of high school. The Ministry of Education reported a 99 percent attendance rate for primary school and an 80 percent rate for both primary and middle schools. In 1985, the government abolished tax-funded higher education, requiring university applicants to compete for scholarships based on academic ability. In the early 1980s the government allowed the establishment of the first private schools.
                 Anthor obvious difference is about exam. National examinations to select students for higher education  are an important part of China's culture,  traditionally, entrance to a higher education institution is considered excellent. Although the examination system for admission to colleges and universities has undergone many changes since the Cultural Revolution, it remains the basis for recruiting academically able students. When higher education institutions were reopened in early 1970s, candidates for entrance examinations had to be senior-middle-school graduates or the equivalent, generally below twenty-six years of age. Work experience requirements were eliminated, but workers and staff members needed permission from their enterprises to take the examinations. Unusually, England, Wales and Northern Ireland have several exam boards, with schools and colleges able to freely choose between them on a subject-by-subject basis.

The UK Government

           The Government is led by the Prime Minister, who selects the other members of the Government.The Prime Minister and the other most senior Ministers belong to the supreme decision-making committee, known as the Cabinet. In Britain, unlike much of western Europe, normally has single-party government. In other words, all members of the government belong to the same political party. The habit of single-party government has helped to establish the tradition known as collective responsibility. That is, every member of the government shares the responsibility for every policy made by the government.  The monarch selects the Prime Minister as the leader of the party most likely to command a majority in Parliament. The British Parliament utilises the Westminster System, a parliamentary democracy which remains to this day the most widely used system of politics in the world. Most nations that practice the Westminster System are Commonwealths or former Commonwealths of the Commonwealth of Nations. Local government authorities(generally known as "councils") in Britain only have powers because the central government has given them powers. Indeed, they only exist because the central government allows them to exist. The system of local government is very similar to the system of national government. Most British people have far more direct dealings with local government than they do with national  government.

Bonfire night

           For 400 years, bonfires have burned on November 5th to mark the failed Gunpowder Plot. The tradition of Guy Fawkes-related bonfires actually began the very same year as the failed plot. Preparations for Bonfire Night celebrations include making a dressing of Guy Fawkes, which is called "the Guy". Some children even keep up an old tradition of walking in the streets, carrying "the Guy" they have just made, and beg passersby for "a penny for the Guy." The kids use the money to buy fireworks for the evening festivities. On the night itself, Guy is placed on top of the bonfire, which is then set alight; and fireworks displays fill the sky. The extent of the celebrations and the size of the bonfire varies from one community to the next. Lewes, in the South East of England, is famous for its Bonfire Night festivities and consistently attracts thousands of people each year to participate. Bonfire Night is not only celebrated in Britain. The tradition crossed the oceans and established itself in the British colonies during the centuries. It was actively celebrated in New England as "Pope Day" as late as the 18th century. Today, November 5th bonfires still light up in far out places like New Zealand and Newfoundland in Canada.

Halloween

       Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain(pronounced 'sow-in'). Samhain  marked the end of the "season of the sun" (Summer) and the beginning of "the season of darkness and cold" ( Winter). The ancient people celebrated New Year on November 1st. They celebrated their New Year's Eve on October 31st. There were four things significant about this date: the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was belived that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. During the day, people celebrated with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Nowadays, people will give a big party to celebrate it. Last Friday our school had the fancy dress party, I'm really having a great time. The party was very interesting and full of fun.

Advantages or disadvantages for the UK as a member.

             As far as I`m concerned  the advantages for the UK as a member in EU are listed as follows:
 First of all, single currency in single market makes sense. Next, transaction costs will be eliminated. Last but most important is that as a member in EU will help high unemployed areas of the UK start their own businesses to employ people. While in the other side there are also some disadvantages for the UK as a member in EU. For instance, the instability of the system, over estimation of trade benefits. And growing pressure for the UK to adopt the Euro. There is also a huge democratic deficit with the EU. That is really problem.

The differences between the four nations of UK

            The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK, or Britain) is a country, located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. There are four nations of UK, England, Wales, Scotland, Republic of Ireland. There are many differences between the four parts, like flag, plant, musicals instruments, clothes and so on.  I am very fond of plant, so I would like to talk about something about national flowers of the four nations.As a foreigner, maybe we all know the symbol plant of England is rose. I like rose.While do you know what the others? So let me tell you. The plant of Wales is Daffodil, and Scotland is thistle, Republic of Ireland is shamrock. They are very nice plants so I will find more inforemation about them during my leisure time.

The tudors

               About Henry the Eighth's six wives there is a sentence:"Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived."  His first wife Catherine was a Spanish princess, because of they just had a daughter and Henry wanted to have a son, they divorced. In order to marry his second wife Anne, he created a Separate Church. While after that she was beheaded by Henry accused her of having a love affair. Although he had a son with his third wife Catherine, she died. Then he married Anne of Cleaves who was a German princess, but at the end they divorced. The fate of his fifth wife Catherine Howard was the same as his second wife. At last, he married Catherine Parr who was his last wife. Except for his complex marriage, we also know that Henry VIII spent lots of money on creating a palace named Hampton Court Palace where is near London.
            After Henry VIII died, Edward the sixth become king, while Edward died, Mary the First become Queen who was married to the Spanish king Philip the Second. After Mary died Elizabeth became queen.

My impression of the UK

        I have been the UK for half a month. And I still remember the first impression of this place.That's amazing! Everthing here are full of vibrant. Now I stay here - Wales, the one of the part of the UK. The nation's youthful capital, Cardiff, is a busy and entertaining place. My first feeling about this place is clean and quiet, with a strong tradition of region culture. While after you're  familiar with  it, you will find that there's plenty to see and do, and what attracted most interest of all is its terrific energy. I am deeply fascinated by Wales. So if you ask me whether I have learned something  particularly interesting.The answer has to be an unequivocal "yes". If you want to go some places the frequent, fast train is your best choice. Peole  arrive every day on the train just like take the subway.

Friday

  Today is Friday, raining now. And it is also the National day in China. So we should be happy although we have classes at this spcecial day.