People from Great Britain brought the English language to North America in the 16th and 17th centuries. And in the __________ 300 years, there were so many __________ in both places that now people can easily __________ an English person from an American in the __________ he or she talks.

Many old words __________ in England but were kept in America. For example, 300 years ago people in Great Britain got their water from something they __________ either a “faucet”, “spigot”, or a “tap”. All these words are __________ heard in different parts of America, but only “tap” is still __________ in England. Americans often make __________ new words or change old ones. “Corn” is one kind of plant in America and __________ in England.

Also, over the last three centuries the English language has __________ thousands of new words for things that weren't __________ before. And often, American and English people used two __________ names for them. A tin can is called “tin” for short in English, but a “can” in America. The word “radio” is __________ all over the world, including America. But many English people call it a “wireless”. And almost anything __________ something to do with cars, railroads, has different __________ in British and American English.

But now American and British English may be __________ closer together. One thing is that __________ people can hear a large amount of American speech daily in __________, on television, or from travelers. Because of this, Americans __________ to be influencing the British more and more. So some day, English may even be the same on both sides of the Atlantic.

1.A. past B. recent C. oldest D. latest

2.A. citizens B. inventions C. changes D. advances

3.A. pick B. tell C. take D. judge

4.A. voice B. place C. language D. way

5.A. disappeared B. stayed C. returned D. formed

6.A. said B. talked C. spoke D. called

7.A. then B. hardly C. clearly D. still

8.A. necessary B. native C. common D. lively

9.A. of B. into C. up D. out

10.A. another B. the other C. none D. something

11.A. discovered B. added C. improved D. learned

12.A. accepted B. known C. introduced D. understood

13.A. new B. short C. different D. surprising

14.A. produced B. made C. developed D. used

15.A. having B. bringing C. getting D. making

16.A. types B. names C. degrees D. parts

17.A. putting B. staying C. living D. growing

18.A. British B. American C. educated D. ordinary

19.A. families B. buses C. movies D. newspapers

20.A. need B. expect C. seem D. happen

Quite a few years ago, as I celebrated my 25th birthday with a party, I was surprised to receive an unusual present. The gift-giver smiled widely and said loudly, “It’s a nice, strong plant, so even you can’t kill it.”

I was well known in my circle of friends as an “anti-gardener” — how was I going to care for this piece of greenery?

For four years the plant received little care. I felt guilty (内疚的) just looking at it!

As a non-gardener, my offers to look after friends’ houses were met with laughter: “We appreciate (感激) the offer but, really, we don’t want to come home to a dead garden!” It didn’t occur to (想到) them that I just had no interest in having a garden. It was a choice, not a failing.

Some time later my husband accepted a job in Belgium. Because I couldn’t throw away a gift, I decided to ask my neighbor to care for my plant.

Our lovely house in Belgium had a beautiful garden. Slowly gardening became a part of my daily life, teaching me to slow down and to be happy in the silence of the garden. It was with regret that I left that garden to return to Sydney some months later.

Back home life soon went back to normal. Then one day, it occurred to me that I could start my own little garden. So, I went to collect my unwanted plant from my neighbor. I took the plant home, watered it and watched as its leaves turned from a lifeless yellow to a rich green within weeks. Many years on, I still don’t know the name of my first plant, but I do know that as it grows, so do I. It symbolises a change in me when I stopped listening to the voices around me and started to believe in myself.

1.When the author received a plant as a birthday gift, she felt _____.

A. funny B. guilty C. excited D. displeased

2.What did the author’s friends think of her?

A. Her anti-gardening was a weakness.

B. She was bored with gardening.

C. She was a good housekeeper.

D. Her dead garden was ugly.

3.How did the author deal with the plant before moving away?

A. She threw it away.

B. She asked for help.

C. She left it in the house.

D. She gave it to a neighbor as a gift.

4.The author’s stay in Belgium made her _____.

A. miss her days back in Sydney

B. feel sorry for her first plant

C. fall in love with gardening

D. become strangely silent

5.What does the author want to tell us from her experience?

A. We should try to be perfect.

B. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes.

C. We should learn to make clear choices.

D. Don’t refuse something you’ve never tried.

“It’s never too late and you are never too old to start something new!” says Englishtown______Ellen Rema. Ellen began to learn English at the age of 50, and in just a few years, she had made______progress!

Ellen chose to study at Englishtown because no evening classes were______in the German countryside where she lives. At Englishtown, she joins______classes online and speaks with live native English-speaking teachers.

In 2001, Ellen began with the first level of Englishtown and quickly______. “I spent hours and hours studying.” she said. “Maybe I wanted too much in a short time. I finished all my______after 2 years and studying English isn’t all about hard work. It should also be______! I really like the online conversation classrooms, in which I can learn so much about other cultures and traditions. I am open for all______.” Ellen has been able to______her English to use by visiting England five times! “I'm very thankful to Englishtown because most of the English I know was learned here,” Ellen says. “My life has______with Englishtown.”

1.A. professor B. friend C. student D. reporter

2.A. amazing B. challenging C. discouraging D. disturbing

3.A. satisfied B. offered C. attended D. represented

4.A. conversation B. composition C. listening D. reading

5.A. dropped B. brushed C. awarded D. progressed

6.A. channels B. schedules C. courses D. papers

7.A. fun B. waste C. weakness D. wonder

8.A. measures B. topics C. timetables D. fashions

9.A. take B. set C. make D. put

10.A. ruined B. started C. changed D. turned

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