Question

Learners of English often ask: What are the differences between British 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 you got a pen?” while Americans say “in the hospital” and “Do you have a pen?”. Pronunciation is sometimes different. Americans usually sound the “r” in words like “bird “and “hurt”. Some speakers of British English do not sound the “r” in these words. There are differences between British and American English in spelling and vocabulary. For example, “colour” and “honour” are British, while “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.Are there many differences in grammar between British and American English?

A．There are few differences between them.

B．There are many differences between them.

C．There are some differences between them.

D．There are great differences between them.

2.Americans don’t say “Have you got a pen.” do they?

A．Yes, they do.       B．Yes, they don’t.    C．No. they don’t.    D．Sorry, they do .

3.Who says “ in hospital ”? Who says “ in the hospital ”?

A．Americans say “ in the hospital ” while Englishmen say “ in hospital ”.

B．Americans say “ in hospital ” while Englishmen say “in the hospital ”

C．Both Americans and Englishmen say “ in the hospital ”

D．They are the same .

4.From the article we can know____.

A．American English is better than British English.

B．it’s not so difficult for a British English speaker to understand American English.

C．the spelling of “color” is wrong while the spelling of “colour” is right.

D．British English is better than American English.

5.What’s the main idea of the article?

A．We should learn both American English and British English.

B．British and American English are two different languages.

C．Speakers of British and Americans speak the same language.

D．We should learn other languages .

Answer

1.C

2.C

3.A

4.B

5.C

【解析】

试题分析：这篇短文主要谈到了英国英语和美国英语之间的一点差别，但是归根到底他们还是同一种语言。

1.根据第二段Certainly, there are some differences between British and American English.描述,可知选C.

2.根据第二段For example, speakers of British English say…… and “Have you got a pen?” while Americans say …… and “Do you have a pen?”.描述,可知选C.

3.根据第二段For example, speakers of British English say “in hospital”……” while Americans say “in the hospital” and ……描述,可知选A

4.根据短文最后一段描述，可知说英国英语的人理解美国英语并不是太难。故选B。

5.这篇短文主要谈到了英国英语和美国英语之间的一点差别，但是归根到底他们还是同一种语言。故选C。

考点：关于英国英语和美国英语的说明文阅读