Question

I came across quite a few language problems while on holiday with my family last summer. The most embarrassing was when my Mom apologized to the people we were staying with because her “pants were dirty”. They looked at her in amazement, not knowing how to react. You see, Mom had fallen over and gotten mud on her jeans. But in Britain, “pants” means underpants, not trousers as it does back home.

Katie — From America

When I asked for the “restroom” in a big department store, people kept directing me to a room with seats where I could sit and “rest”. It took me years to get through to someone that I only wanted the toilet!

Tom — From America

Last summer we went on a two-week family touring holiday, so Dad hired a car over the Internet. This was an old vehicle and there turned out to be lots of things wrong with it. When he phoned the hire company and tried to explain that the lock on the boot(汽车行李箱) was broken, they thought he was talking about footwear! He had no idea their word for “boot” was “trunk”. In the end we went to a garage and just solved the problem.

Mary — From Britain

Last summer, I went to stay with a friend on the west coast. Her flat was on the first floor of a high-rise building so I got the lift up. Then I wandered round for ages looking for her flat but couldn’t find it. Fed up and tired, I finally had to go out to find a phone box. She explained that her flat was on the first floor, which for me meant the ground floor.

David — From Britain

1.Hearing Katie’s mother’s words, Katie’s friends were in amazement because ____________.

A．they mistook “pants” in American for underpants

B．Katie’s mother’s underpants were dirty

C．Katie’s mother got mud on her jeans

D．they didn’t know any English

2.David went out to find a phone box to ____________.

A．phone the police for help                 B．apologize for his being late

C．tell his friends he couldn’t go to visit her    D．phone his friend for help

3. When Tom asked for the “restroom”, the people around him thought _____________.

A．he wanted a chair                       B．he wanted to have a rest

C．he wanted the toilet                     D．He wanted to go to a department store

4.The underlined word “garage” is probably _____________.

A．a parking place     B．a car             C．a place to repair cars D．a gas station

5.Which of the following words is from British English？

A．Pants             B． Restroom         C．Ground floor       D．Trunk

Answer

1.A

2.D

3.B

4.C

5.C

【解析】

试题分析：本文通过几个例子告诉我们美国英语和英国英语在词汇方面的诸多差异。

1.A 细节题。根据文章第一段最后2行But in Britain, “pants” means underpants, not trousers as it does back home.可知双方对于“pants”的理解不同。故A正确。

2.D 推理题。根据文章最后3行Fed up and tired, I finally had to go out to find a phone box. She explained that her flat was on the first floor, which for me meant the ground floor. 可知我没有找到对方的家，所以找了一个电话亭，打电话进行联系。

3.B 推理题。根据第二段1,2行When I asked for the “restroom” in a big department store, people kept directing me to a room with seats where I could sit and “rest”.可知我说的restroom是指上厕所。对方理解成我要去休息。故B正确。

4.C 推理题。根据第三段最后2行He had no idea their word for “boot” was “trunk”. In the end we went to a garage and just solved the problem.可知我们是到修理厂去把车修好的，故C项正确。

5.C 推理题。根据文章最后2行. She explained that her flat was on the first floor, which for me meant the ground floor.可知the ground floor是来自英国英语的词汇，在美国英语中就是the first floor。故C正确。

考点：考查文化类短文阅读