Question

There are many differences between British English and American English.I used to teach a course about the differences between the two.We speak English on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean but we have many differences in our common language.We have examples of the same words having very d ifferent meanings，differing spellings of the same words as well as completely different words for the same things.Here are some examples.

A cookie in the US is called a biscuit in the UK.A biscuit in the US is a small cake in the UK.Crisps in the UK，are known as chips，but we British people eat a plate of chips that you call fries in the US.In the UK，a pie can be made from either meat or fruit，while in the US pies are normally made from fruit；pot pies are made from meat.Most things are measured in grams and kilograms in the US，not pounds and ounces.

One very obvious(明显的)difference is the side of the road we each choose to drive on.Petrol in the UK is gas in the US.The place where we fill up our cars，in the UK，is a garage；while in the US，it’s a gas station.The term garage is also used as a place to store your car next to or close by your house.In the UK we call a lorry what is known as a truck in the US.

An elevator in the US is called a lift here，and the first floor in the US，is calle d the ground floor here，so many visitors get off on the wrong floor in British hotels.

I could continue with this. There are countless examples of differences within our one shared language.With so many differences，no wonder it’s hard to understand each other well.

1.The passage is mainly about the differences between British English and American English in________.

A．vocabulary           B．grammar         C．sound         D．spelling

2.It’s implied in the passage that the author may be________.

A．a driver from the US

B．a cook from the US

C．a teacher from the UK

D．a gas station worker from the UK

3.In the author’s opinion，________.

A．language differences don’t affect understanding

B．the same words in the two different types of English may have different spellings

C．there will be fewer differences between American and British English in the future

D．it is impossible that some Americans get off on the wrong floor in British hotels

4.What can we learn from the passage?

A．“Elevator”is commonly used in the UK.

B．Pies mean the same thing in the UK and the US.

C．In the UK，things are measured in pounds and ounces. 

D．British and American people drive on the same side of the road.

Answer

1.A

2.C

3.B

4.C

【解析】

试题分析：英式英语和美式英语有多少不同？至少就词汇而言已经有很多不同的词和同词不同意的情况。有那么多区别，难怪相互了解的很好是很难办到的。

1.细节理解题。本文主要介绍了英式英语和美式英语在“词汇”上的差别。 grammar 语法；sound 语音；spelling拼读。故选A。

2.推理判断题。由“I used to teach a course about the differences between the two.”可知，作者曾经教过一门两者（美、英式英语）的差别这门课程，所以推测他是“一名英国教师”。故选C。

3.细节理解题。由“We have examples of the same words having very different meanings，differing spellings of the same words as well as completely different words for the same things.”可知同一个词在两种英语中可能会有不同读音。A项，语言不同会影响理解交流；C项未提及；D项美国人很可能会走错楼层。故选B。

4.推理判断题。由“Most things are measured in grams and kilograms in the US，not pounds and ounces.”可知英国人使用磅和盎司做单位。故选C。

考点：文化类文章阅读。