Question

British English and American English

A student is studying British English. He wonders: Can I have a talk with Americans? Can they catch 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 English and American English. There are a few differences in grammar（语法）. For example, speakers of British English say “in hospital” and “Have you a pen?” Americans “in the hospital” and “Do you have a pen?” Pronunciation (发音) is sometimes different. Americans usually sound the “r” in words like “car”and “farm”. Some speakers of British English do not sound the “r” in these words. There are differences between British English and American English in spelling and vocabulary. For example, “colour”and “honour” are British English spellings. “Color” and “honor” are American English spellings.

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

1.In American English, we can say, “      ? ”

A．Have you a new book

B．Do you have a new book

C．Are you have a new book

D．Can you to have a new book

2.Between British English and American English, sometimes pronunciation is        .

A．poor

B．different

C．high

D．short

3.In American English, the word “favourite”can be spelt      .

A．favoruite

B．favurite

C．favorite

D．favrite

4.Englishmen say “in hospital”, while Americans say        .

A．at the hospital	B．in the hospital
C．by hospital	D．to hospital

5.The main idea of the passage is that                  .

A．there are no differences between British English and American English

B．British English and American English are two different languages

C．speakers of British English and American English speak the same language

D．we shouldn't speak English

Answer

1.B

2.B

3.C

4.B

5.C

【解析】

试题分析：

1.细节理解题，根据文中语句“Americans “in the hospital” and “Do you have a pen?””理解可知。美式英语中常用句型结构do you have…来表示你有…吗？故选B

2.细节理解题，根据文中语句“Pronunciation (发音) is sometimes different.”理解可知。美式发音和英式发音有所不同故选B。

3.理解归纳题，根据文中语句理解可知。英式英语中的favourite在美式英语中要用favorite，故选C。

4.细节理解题，根据文中语句“For example, speakers of British English say “in hospital” and “Have you a pen?” Americans “in the hospital” and “Do you have a pen?””理解可知。英式英语中的in hospital在美式英语中就用in the hospital，故选B。

5.细节理解题，根据文中语句“For the most part, British English and American English are the same language.”理解可知。不管美式英语还是英式英语都是英语。故选C。

考点：有关说明文的阅读理解。