专八人文知识辅导：大英帝国的兴衰（2）

会计考友

(2) Political stability. Britain had a peaceful society, which, after the 17th century, was increasingly interested in overseas trade and colonies. International trade brought wealth to merchants and city bankers. They and those who had done well out of new farming methods provided capital in large quantities for industralization.
　　政治局面稳定。17世纪后的英国社会宁静，对海外贸易和殖民地兴趣日增。国际贸易给商人和城市银行家带来财富，他们加上由于新农作法而发家的人们为工业化提供了大笔资金。
　　(3) Good foundation in economy. The limited monarchy which resulted from the Glorious Revolution of 1688 ensured that the powerful economic interests in the community could exert their influence over Government policy.
+ _9 m8 i- ]9 ~# H　　1688年光荣革命限制了君主的权力，这使得强大的经济利益集团能对议会政策施加影响。
0 u! s2 C. ^" z: `　　(4) It was a country in which the main towns were never too far from seaports, or from rivers, which could distribute their products.
　　英国的主要城镇皆靠近海港或河流，货物运送便利。
, O; A7 }, o  v2 I5 Z　　(5) Britain had many rivers, which were useful for transport but also for water and steam power. Britain also had useful mineral resources.
　　英国许多河流不仅用于交通，还提供水力及蒸汽动力。英国还有可用的矿产资源。
　　(6) British engineers had sound training as craftsmen.
" ]  o0 _* C3 ~% ~' Q; h　　英国工程师为训练有素的手工艺人。
　　(7) The inventors were respected. They solved practical problems.
/ v6 q4 o8 l) ^　　发明家受人尊重，他们解决了实际难题。
　　(8) Probably laissez faire and "Protestant work ethic" helped.
$ J3 t: L. L. J: w# ?+ \　　很可能利益于"放手干"及"新教工作道德"。
7 j5 ]) u) J/ l& G8 I, C5 m　　(9) England, Scotland, and Wales formed a customs union after 1707 and this included Ireland after 1807. So the national market was not hindered by internal customs barriers.
9 E( k( g' q) c8 {　　1707年后，英格兰、苏格兰和威尔士形成关税联盟，1807年后爱尔兰加入。因此，全国市场不再受阴于内部的关税障碍。
0 [2 y+ a; N  v! {6 l8 `& A　　(10) The enclosures and other improvements in agriculture made their contributions by providing food for the rising population, labour for the factories, and some of the raw materials needed by industry.
* Y& F$ R" W  z8 }, g　　圈地运动和其它农业改良为增加的人口提供了粮食，为工厂提供了劳动力，为工业提供了所需的一些原材料。