American and British people both speak English of course. But sometimes there are some important differences between British English and American English.

First of all, they sound very different often. Americans don’t say each word separately. They say words together. Americans may say “I dunno” instead of “I don’t know”. Or they may say “Whaddya say?” instead of “What did you say?” However, the British are more careful. They usually say all the words and keep them separate.

Sound is not only the difference. Words sometimes have different meanings too. For example, the vocabulary for cars and driving is very different. Americans drive trucks, but in England people drive lorries.

Many expressions are also different in the two countries. In England, if you are going to telephone your friends you “phone them up”. In America, you “give them a call”. When you are saying goodbye in England you might say “Cheerio!” In America you might say “See you later.”

There’re also some differences in grammar. For example, Americans usually use the helping verb “do” when they ask a question. They say “Do you have a storybook”? But the British often leave out the helping verb. They say “Have you a storybook?”

Most languages are like this. Languages change over time. When people live in separate places, the languages change in different ways. This is what has happened to English. It can also happen to other languages, such as French. Many people in Canada speak French but their French is very different from the French of France.

1.Where do people say words separately, in America or in Britain?

________________________________________________________

2.When the British say “phone them up”, what do Americans say?

________________________________________________________

3.How many differences between American English and British English are there in the passage?

________________________________________________________

4.What is the main idea of the 5th paragraph?

________________________________________________________

5.Why is American English different from British English?

________________________________________________________

Finding the Owner

"It's mine," said Fred, showing a pocketknife with a shining blade (刀片) "Just what I've always wanted. "And he turned it over and over with the look of satisfaction on his face.

"I guess I know who owns it," said Tom, looking at it carefully.

"I guess you don't. It isn't Mr. Raymond's," Fred replied quickly.

"I know. Mr. Raymond's is twice as large," said Tom, going on with his drawing.

Tom's doubt was taking away Fred's enjoyment. In fact, Fred was not comfortable with the knife at all, for he felt that he was having something that did not belong to him and he got worried. He even had serious thoughts of burning it, or hiding it, or giving it away; but a better plan hit him.

"Tom," said Fred, one day at break, "didn't you say that you knew who owned the knife?"

"Yes, I did. It looked like Doctor Perry's," Tom ran off to play with others, without giving the knife another thought.

It was Dr. Perry's ! Fred looked at his watch and realized he only had a little time, so he started quickly, and found the old gentleman getting ready to visit a patient. "Is this yours?" cried Fred, in breathless haste, holding up the cause of a week's anxiety.

"It was," said the doctor, "but I lost it the other day."

"I found it," said Fred, "and have felt like a thief ever since. Here, take it. I've got to run. "

"Hold on!" said the doctor. "I've got a new one, and you are quite welcome to this."

"Am I? May I ? Oh! Thank you! Now, I'm the real owner of the knife. What a different feeling!"

1.Tom's doubt made Fred______.

A.satisfied B.worried C.proud D.angry

2.After knowing the knife could be Dr. Perry's, Fred decided to _______.

A.return it to Dr. Perry B.keep it himself

C.give it to Tom D.hide it or burn it

3.What can we know about Fred from the story?

A.He hoped to be a good friend of Tom's. B.He took himself as a smart boy.

C.He expected to get the knife from Dr Perry. D.He felt happier to be an honest person.

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