Different nations have different cultures. Language is the carrier of culture. Language and culture are syncretized with each other. Mastering a foreign language involves not only leing the language itself. It also involves the cultivation of cultural competence. This is not only the important aspect of the cultivation of communicative competence, but also the important content of mod language teaching. Language and culture are inseparable. This paper deals with the understanding of British cultural background knowledge which helps the students to master English idioms, to improve their communicative competence, to help them le and appreciate Anglo-American literary works, to understand society and culture of English-speaking countries, to help them to establish cultural awareness, to pay attention to the impartment of cultural knowledge, to arouse the studentsinterest in leing English, to understanding English grammar and improve the accuracy of their English expression.