1、Some information about the countries maybe less known Columbia: Colombia is located in the northwest part of South America, and is the only country on South America with coasts on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The most distinguishing feature (显著的特点) of the country is the Andes Mounta
2、ins chain, which is in the central western part of the country and extends almost its entire length, north and south.In contrast to snow-capped mountains are the rain forests, located in the torrid (热带的) lowlands of Colombia, where the animal life and vegetation make it a unique place in the world.
3、The country is rich in minerals and natural resources, and although known for its splendid coffee, it is also a major source of the worlds emeralds (绿宝石) and flowers. Mahogany (桃花心木), oak, walnut, and pine trees are also plentiful, as are plants such as rubber, vanilla (香草), and ginger. Agriculture
4、is an important part of the Colombian economy.Colombia has a diverse population, although over half are of Spanish descent (血统). The heritage of the Spanish colonial period is still very well preserved in many areas, where family life and dress still hold to traditional norms. However, cultures vary
5、 greatly from region to region, each adding to the countrys variety.One of the worlds most noted authors, Literature Nobel Prize winner, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, is a native of Colombia.The largest cities in Colombia are Santafe de Bogota (the capital city), Cali, Medellin, and Barranquilla. Jordan:J
6、ordan, officially Hashemite (哈桑王族) Kingdom of Jordan, with an area of 37,737 sq ms (97,740 sq kms) and a population of 4,101,000 (estimated in 1995), is located in the southwest Asia, bordered by Israel (W), Syria (N), Iraq (NE), and Saudi Arabia (E, S). Amman is the capital and largest city.Before
7、1967 Jordan fell into three main geographical regions: East Jordan, which includes about 92% of the countrys land area, the Jordanian Highlands (highest point, 5,755 ft/1,754 m), and West Jordan (the West Bank, part of historic Palestine. In the Arab-Israeli War of 1967, Israel captured and occupied
8、 the West Bank, and Jordan has since given up its claim to the area). Jordans economy has traditionally been based on agriculture, although less than 5% of the land is arable (适于耕种的). The principal crops are vegetables, wheat, and citrus (柑橘类) fruits; olives are grown for oil. Manufactures are limit
9、ed to such items as foodstuffs, clothing, and cement, and there is some oil refining. Phosphate (磷酸盐) rock and potash (碳酸钾) are the only minerals produced in quantity. The annual cost of Jordans imports far exceeds its earnings from exports. Aqaba (亚喀巴), on the Gulf of Aqaba, is the only seaport. Th
10、e inhabitants of Jordan are mostly of Arab descent (over half are of Palestinian descent), and Arabic is the official language, although English is also spoken among the higher socio-economic groups. About 95% of the people are Sunni (逊尼派) Muslims.Under the 1952 constitution (宪法), the king is the mo
11、st powerful figure in the country; he appoints a cabinet (headed by a prime minister). The bicameral (两院制的) parliament has been convened and dissolved by the king several times since 1974; the 1989 elections were the first in 22 years. Political parties were again permitted to field candidates in 19
12、93. Muslim countries:Most people in the West think of Muslim or Moslem countries, where people believe in Islam, a monotheistic (一神论的) religion characterized by the acceptance of the doctrine of submission to God and Mohammed (穆罕默德) as the chief and last prophet (先知)of God, as a Middle Eastern relig
13、ion. Nevertheless, Islam is clearly a South Asian, South East Asian, Central Asian, African, and Middle Eastern religion, with a growing presence in Europe and North America.There are about 40 Muslim countries in the world, such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, Kuwait, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Indonesia,
14、 Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Somalia, Yemen and so on and so forth. People in these countries mostly believe in Islam.The name for the religion of Islam, as its publicity (宣传) goes, is much more than just a name, because it expresses a deep spiritual meaning as well as an overall outlook on l
15、ife and concept of worship. The word “Islam” is an Arabic word which means “complete submission(服从) to the will of Almighty God”. Other religions are named after their founders, such as Christianity and Buddhism; after a tribe or ethnic group, such as Judaism (犹太教); or after a specific geographical
16、region, such as Hinduism (印度教). Islam, however, is unique because its name represents its outlook on life and reflects its universal nature. Besides, the name “Islam” was not thought up by its followers or applied by other people, as is the case with the names of other religions, but was revealed (显
17、示) by Almighty God. This name expressed nothing new, because submission to the will of God, i.e. “Islam”, has always been the true religion of God. Due to this fact, and since the teachings of Islam are straightforward, profound and logical, Islam is the “Natural Religion” of all human beings. The name of no other religion carries any significant message, or conveys the true sense of its outlook on life, as does the name “Islam”.
