Question

A student is learning to speak British English. He wonders: Can I communicate with Americans? Can they understand me? Learners of English often ask: What are the differences between British English and American English? How important are these differences?

Certainly! There are some differences between British and American English. There are a few differences in grammar. For example, speakers of British English say “in hospital” and “have a pen?” Americans say “in the hospital!” and “Do you have a pen?”. Pronunciation is sometimes different. Americans usually sound theirs in words like “bird” and “hurt”. Speakers of British English do not sound theirs in these words. There are differences between British English and American English in spelling and vocabulary. For example, “colour” and “honour” are British English, “color” and “honor” are American.

These differences in grammar, pronunciation, spelling, and vocabulary are not important, however. For the most part, British and American English are the same language.

1.According to the passage, a student who is learning to speak American English might be afraid that___.

A. British English cannot understand him

B. American people cannot understand him

C. the grammar is too hard for him

D. the spelling is too hard for him

2.American English and British English are different in ________.

A. spelling              B. pronunciation

C. grammar             D. all of the above

3.What is not mentioned (提及) in the passage?

A. Whether there are differences between British English and American English.

B. Whether British and American English are one language or two.

C. How the differences between British English and American English came about.

D. How important the differences are.

4.Most ________ say “ Do you have a watch?”

A. British people        B. Americans        C. children         D. teachers

5.According to this passage, British people and Americans have ________ difficulty in understanding each other.

A. little               B. much             C. some           D. great

Answer

1.A

2.D

3.C

4.B

5.A

【解析】

试题分析：本文主要讲了一个学生在学习英式英语的时候，思考他是否能够跟美国人交流。文章介绍了英式英语和美式英语主要在语法、发音、拼写和词汇方面上的差别，然而这些差别并不是很重要，因为大多数时候，英式英语和美式英语是一样的。

1. student is learning to speak British English. He wonders: Can I communicate with Americans? Can they understand me意思是：一个学习说英式英语的学生，在思考，他是否能够跟美国人交流，美国人能不能听懂他的话。因此，学习说美式英语的学生，可能会担心英国人可能不理解他。故选A

2. differences in grammar, pronunciation, spelling, and vocabulary …,意思是：这些子啊语法、发音、拼写和词汇方面的不同…故选D。

3.

4. say “in the hospital!” and “Do you have a pen?可知美式英语讲“你有笔吗”会说“Do you have a pen?”，所以“Do you have a watch?”是美式英语的用法，故选B。

5. For the most part, British and American English are the same language. 意思是：然而，在大多数时候，英式英语和美式英语是相同的语言，所以美国人和英国人在彼此之间的理解上几乎是没有困难的。故选A。

考点：考查说明文阅读。