Sports

National sports in the UK
Horse Racing is one of the national sports of Britain.
History
Traditional thoroughbred racing could date back to period of Ancient Greeks, while the modern racing developed in the UK started in 12th Centry. Arab stallions were brought in at that time.

Later in 18th Centry, Horse Racing was developed rapidly and professionally. Race courses were found. Great classic races were setting up throughout the country such as the St Leger (1776),the Oaks (1779), the Derby (1780),­ the 2,000 Guineas (1809) and the 1,000 Guineas (1814).­


Organizations

The sport of horsing racing is regulated by the British Horseracing Authority.

The UK Jockey Club and the British Hourseracing Board are the most famous organizations for horse racing. The Jockkey Club was the first governing body for the sport as we know it today, founded in the 1750's.The Horseracing Board became the governing body in 1993, though the Jockey club still has an important role in English racing.

Famous Racecourses

Ascot

Ascot Racecourse is the home of Britain’s most prestigious race meeting – the Royal Ascot. The history of Ascot racecourse was found in 1711 by Queen Anne.

Goodwood

Goodwood (West Sussex coast) is considered by many to be the United Kingdom’s most scenic racecourse. The racecourse derives most of its significance from hosting the annual Glorious Goodwood meeting, which in turn features two group 1 races, the Sussex Stakes and the Nassau Stakes.

Cheltenham
This course is often called the 'home of National Hunt racing'.

There are also other famous courses: Chester Racing (the oldest racecourse in Britain ); the Town Moor course in Doncaster (used for both flat and National Hunt racing); Newbury.

Types of Race in Britain
National Hunt racing-obstacles (either hurdles or fences);
Flat racing-unobstructed races over a given distance;

Famous players
Players for horse racing are called jockeys. Sir Gordon Richards (5 May 1904 – 10 November 1986) was the Pride of Great Britain's jockeys. He is often considered the world's greatest ever jockey and the only jockey to have been knighted.

National sports in the China

It has been said that the national sport of China is table tennis. We usually call it ping-pong in China. It might because that the Chinese first world champion was from ping-pong.Actually different countries are good at different sports, such as Cuba is famous for vollyball, Baxi is good at soccer. Nearly all the world champion titles in ping-pong belong to us. So many medias said it is our "national sport". In order to continuing our advantage in ping-pong,government and comunities have invested lots of money to support ping-pong.

Crime and Justice in the UK

Becoming a Juror

It is interesting that every ordinary people in UK might be selected as one of the 12 Juries, and they are not required to have knowledge of the law. The purpose of the random selection is to make sure a fair trial.

The jurors will attend in the court nine weeks after they recieve a Jury Summons letter contains the detail of the case. And there are several things people should do when recieve the letter:

1. Reply to Jury Summons with in 7 days;

2.Lear how to be a Juror: watch the DVD film 'Your Role as a Juror'

Finally, informations for the specific court where you are serving is given the day you at court.

It is quite different from the courts in China, we never heard that ordinary people who haven't learn much about the law.

Types of crime
The main types of crime are Gun crime, Knife crime, Burglary, Robbery, Vandalism, Anti-social behaviour, Fraud, Identity fraud, Bogus callers, Drugs and crime.

Youth Crime and Youth Justice
According to the report of Mike Hough and Julian V.Roberts -"Youth Crime and Youth Justice"(2003), the public have a negtive view of youth crime in Britain. The reasons might be: firstly, over-estimate the proportion of youth crime and increasing number of juvenile offender; secondly, people know little about the Youth Justice and the youth offending teams in Britain; thirdly, the public is to some extend have unstable attitudes towards the sentences of youth, people like to be lenient when confront with specific cases while they still think the youth justice system is too soft on young offenders; another reason might be the media, they always keep telling public the worst cases of juvenile crime.

Living condition, educational background, negative influences from family and psychologic status might lead to youth crime. Therefore, the best way to deal with Juvenile offenders might be pay more attention to their lives. Improving psychological service in schools, offering job and trainning opportunities.

The welfare state in UK and China

The social security system is run by Department of  Work and Pensions in Britain. The fund of this programme is contributed by the national tax system and the National Insurance Fund (employees and workers). The social security system benefits to not only the workers who pay for the NIF, but also to low income people, disabled people or family needs. 

In China, the department which has a similar function with the Department of Work and Pensions in Britain called the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Meanwhile, it is also financed from general taxation. However, some other departments are included in this programme: the Department of Welfare Lotteries and the Department of Charity and Social Donation. Unfortunately, it is difficult for the fund to cover all the citizens because of the huge population in China.

One of the differences between the two welfare system is the official retirement. In Britain, employed women at 60 and men at 65 is the official retiring age. While the retirement age for women is 55 and for men is 60 in China. The retirement age in China is lower than that in Britain. Personally, I think the reason might be the employment rate. The job market in China is tougher than Britain, so that job opportunities are preferred from young generation.

National Health Servic in UK in an significant part of welfare system and it offers free health care for British peole. However, the welfare system can only pay a part of medical care of citizens in China, and the proportion that citizens should pay for health care depends on their contribution to the fund system and working age.

Education systems in UK and China

Levels of Education systems:

Pre-school and nursery education in UK is similar with kindergarten inChina. This level is for the children which ages range from zero to five. Children are being taken care of for their parents, play together or sleep together. However, kindergartens in China also teach children with basic knowledge which preparing for primary school level. Meanwhile, in UK, there are reception classes in primary schools as foundation stage.

The rest parts of education system in UK include primary Education, secondary Education and tertiary education. While education system in China is classified as primary, junior, senior and tertiary education. There is no extral levels of studying for Chinese students befor they enter a college.

Every student need to finish the senior level in order to get their High School diploma, and inevitably experience the most rigorous exam in their life-University entrance examination. However, in UK, the students which like to start higher education need to study two more years than students prefer to have a job. In that two years, students focus on the subjects their have choosen, and whereby their final resuls-"A" Levels and GCSE to enter higher education system.

It is easier for students to get into universities in UK than in China, because of competitive the quota of students. However, it is easier for students to graduate from Universities in China than in UK.

School Terms：there are three school terms in UK, Winter, Spring, and Summer. While we have only two in China, Winter and Summer.

Open Universities in UK are quite similar with those in China, which set up courses for people to do part-time study in a more flexible way.

Another similarity between these two education systems is private schools. Private schools are expensive, however there are still some parents like to send their children to private schools in order to get a better education. Teaching resource, teaching facilities are Campus Environment are always being considered. On the contrary, some people think that it is useless for children to study in private schools, there is not that much difference.

British food and drink

About Traditional Food
Breakfast
It is well known by people all around the world that breakfasts in Britain are always extremly important and generous.







The traditional English breakfast consists of eggs, bacon, sausages, fried bread, baked beans and mushrooms.










Dinner
Trading British dinner is "meat and two veg", usually put hot brown gravy, (traditionally made from the juices of the roast meat, but more often today from a packet!) on the meat and usually the vegetables. One of the vegetables is almost always potatoes.

The Fish and Chips
A fish and chip shop is a place people have to visit when visit Britain. It is a shop which cooks fried potatoes called chips. They are usually accompanied by fish, pies, mushy peas, etc. The chips used to be wrapped in newspaper but now white paper is used. They often ask if you want salt and vinegar to be sprinkled over your chips.

Bangers and mash
Also known as sausages and mash, is an English dish made of mashed potatoes and sausages, the latter of which may be one of a variety of flavoured sausage made of pork or beef or a Cumberland sausage.

The dish is usually served with a rich onion gravy.

 
 
 
 
 
Yorkshire Pudding

This dish is not usually eaten as a dessert like other puddings but instead as part of the main course or at a starter.

The traditional way to eat a Yorkshire pudding is to have a large, flat one filled with gravy and vegetables as a starter of the meal. Then when the meal is over, any unused puddings should be served with jam or ice-cream as a dessert.

 
 
 
AFTERNOON TEA (The traditional 4 o'clock tea)

This is a small meal, not a drink. Traditionally it consists of tea (or coffee) served with either of the following:
Freshly baked scones served with cream and jam (Known as a cream tea)
Afternoon tea sandwiches - thinly sliced cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off.
Assorted pastries

About Drink
Traditional Drinks in Britain: Tea, coffee, Wine, Bitter.

Pubs In Britain
Pubs are an important part of British life. People talk, eat, drink, meet their friends and relax there.

Groups of friends normally buy 'rounds' of drinks, where the person whose turn it is will buy drinks for all the members of the group.








Pub Drinks
Bitter：The most popular kind of British beer is bitter, which is dark and served at room temperature (not hot, not cold). British beer is brewed from malt and hops.

Other Alcohol Drinks: Wine，Cider ，Whisky

Pub Food

Nearly all pubs sell pub lunches.
One of these is the Ploughman's Lunch

 
 
 
 
Including a great wedge of Cheddar cheese, some bread, some pickle, and an onion. Other typical pub foods are scampi (kind of shellfish) and chips (fried potatoes), pie and chips, and chicken and chips.

Christmas Card

Dear my friends,

Wish you a Merry Christmas.
I will never get a happy Christmas without you by my side.
You are the wonderful presants and angels on the Chrismas tree in my heart.
My Christmas is coulorful, just because of you.
That are the best Christmas gifts you give me.
Think you so much!
Wish our friendships forever!
                                                                                                   

Yours,

Nikki

UK Government-Secretaries

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs：
Hilary Benn MP (appointed on 28 June 2007).
Responses to:

• All departmental issues including budget, delivery and strategies
• EU Agriculture, Fisheries and Enironmental Council
• International negotiations on sustainable development and Defra’s interest in climate change
• National Economic Council (NEC) & National Development Council (NDC)

Secretary of State for Transport: Lord Adonis MP (appointed 5 June 2009).
Responsibilities:

• Delivery of Government's transport commitments
• Long-term transport strategy, including high speed rail and carbon
• Security
  

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs:
David Miliband MP (appointed on 28 June 2007).
Responsibilities:

• Overall management of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) including departmental strategies and policy planing
• responsible for relations with foreign countries, matters pertaining to the Commonwealth of Nations and the UK's overseas territories and the promotion of British interests abroad.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions:Yvette Cooper MP (appointed on 5 June 2009)
Responsibilities:

• Welfare and pension reform
• Helping people free from poverty

Secretary of State for Defence：Bob Ainsworth MP(appointed on 5 June 2009).

Responsibilities:

• Take over the whole business of Defence Department including departmental plan, budge and Defence Policy, Media and Communications
• His personal work on Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, Nuclear issues ,Bilateral Defence Relations, NATO and EU issues

Home Secretary for the Home Office: Alan Johnson MP(appointed on 5 June 2009)
 Responsibilities:

•  The whole business of the Department and its policies
• Personal work: Security, Counter-terrorism, Civil emergencies, Expenditure issues
  

Secretary of State for Health: Andy Burnham, a Cabinet minister, is the leader of Health Department. He responds to the NHS and social care delivery and system reforms. Also  finance and resources, strategic communications of the Health Department.


Chancellor of the Exchequer : Alistair Darling MP (appointed on 28 June 2007)
He in charge of all economic and financial matters of UK Parliament.
He controls Her Majesty's Treasury (HM Treasury), which developing and executing the British government's public finance policy and economic policy.

 
Prime Minister's responsibilities:

• Selecting all other members of the government
• Chairing Cabinet meetings
• Decision of holding general election for the House of Commons
• Oversees the operation of the civil service and Government agencies
• Recommending a number of appointments to the Queen: members of the Church of England and senior judge