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

London Underground

The world's first subway was built in London in 1863. At the time, the government was looking for a way to reduce traffic problems in the city of London. The poor areas of the city were so crowded with people that it was almost impossible for horse carriages to get through. The city officials were interested in trying to make it possible for workers to live outside of London and travel easily to work each day. If people had a cheap and convenient way that they could depend on to go to and from work, they would relocate their homes outside of the city. This would help ease(减轻) the pressure of too many people living in the poor parts of London. From these problems, the idea of the London Underground, the first subway system, was born.

The plans for building the Underground met with several problems and delays, but the fast track was finally opened in January 1863. A steam train pulled the cars along the fast underground track which was 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) long. About 30,000 people got on the subway the first day. Riders were treated to comfortable seats (standing up while the train was moving was not allowed), and pleasant decorations inside each of the cars. However, the smoke from the engine soon filled the air in the tunnels with ash and soot(煤灰), as well as chemical gases. Fans had to be put in the tunnels later to keep the air clean enough for people to breathe. Even with its problems, riding in the Underground did catch on. It carried 9 million riders in its first year.

1.What led the British government to build the London Underground?

A. Traffic jams and pollution.

B. Population and pollution.

C. Overcrowding and traffic jams.

D. The poverty and subway problems.

2.How did the London Underground solve the smoke problem?

A. It made the tunnels larger.

B. It put fans in the tunnels.

C. It cleaned the chemical gases in the tunnels.

D. It reduced the number of passengers riding in the train.

3.The underlined phrase “catch on” most probably means “  ”.

A. be troublesome

B. become popular and fashionable

C. keep up with

D. seize

4.Which of the following is TRUE?

A. To relocate the workers' homes outside London, the government built the subway.

B. There were so many problems and delays that in 18th century the first subway opened.

C. The subway greatly eased the pressure of traffic.

D. There were not enough seats for the passengers the first day the subway opened.

St. Paul's Cathedral

Ludgate Hill, EC4

Underground: St. Paul's; Bus: 6, 8, 11, 15, 22, 25

Open: Daily 8:00-19:00 (17:00 from Oct. to Mar.)

Entrance free

Designed by the great architect, Sir Christopher Wren, St. Paul's Cathedral was built following the Great Fire of London of 1666, which destroyed the gothic cathedral on the site at that time. It is an inescapable attraction for all travellers to this great city and the most recognisable gothic cathedral in England. Its choir(唱诗班) is internationally famous. Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer were married here in 1981.

Buckingham Palace

South end of the Mall (SW1)

Underground: St. James's Park, Victoria, Hyde Park Corner, Green Park; Bus: 2, 11, 14, 16, 19, 22, 24, 29, 30, 38, 52, 73, 74, 137

Buckingham Palace is Queen Elisabeth II's official residence(住所), and has been the official residence of Britain's monarch(君主) since 1837. The State Rooms at Buckingham Palace have been opening to the public for the Annual Summer Opening, in August and September, since 1993. The Queen is not at Buckingham Palace when it is open to the public; she goes to one of her country residences. The State Rooms are extremely grand. You can see many of the treasures of the Royal Collection: paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens and Canaletto; and beautiful examples of English and French furniture.

The Tower of London

Tower Hill, EC3

Underground: Tower Hill; Bus: 42, 78

Open: Mon.-Sat. 9:00-18:00; Sun. 8:00-19:00

Parts of the Tower of London are over nine centuries old, as building began under William the Conqueror in 1078. Famous as a prison in the distant past, the Tower has also been a royal residence, a zoo and an observatory(瞭望台). It is now a museum and many thousands of people visit it every year in particular to see the Crown Jewels. Only by going inside can you experience nearly a thousand years of history and hear the myths and legends that make it “a day out to die for”.

Westminster Abbey

Broad Sanctuary, SW1

Underground: Westminster, St James's Park; Bus: 3, 11, 12, 24, 29, 39, 53, 59, 76, 77, 88, 109, 155, 168, 170, 172, 184, 503

Open: Daily 8:00-18:00 (Mar.-Dec., Tuesday till 20:00)

Entrance free

Located next to the Houses of Parliament in the heart of London, Westminster Abbey is a gothic church and place of worship. The building of the present Abbey was started by King Henry III in 1245. The oldest parts of the building date back to 1050. Westminster Abbey has hosted many royal weddings including the wedding of The Queen and Prince Philip in 1947 and the wedding of Prince William and Kate in 2011. It is a traditional place of coronation(加冕礼) and burial for English monarchs—38 monarchs have been crowned at the Abbey. There are many tombs there, including those of Queen Elizabeth I, “Bloody” Queen Mary, naturalist Charles Darwin, many poets and writers.

1.You can see the inside of all the buildings all the year around except  .

A. St. Paul's Cathedral B. the Tower of London

C. Westminster Abbey D. Buckingham Palace

2.The two places you can visit by getting off at the same underground station are  .

A. Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey

B. Buckingham Palace and St. Paul's Cathedral

C. Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London

D. the Tower of London and St. Paul's Cathedral

3.Where is the text most probably taken from?

A. A history book about London.

B. A guidebook for visitors to London.

C. A book about London's development.

D. A book about London's churches.

There is no better way to enjoy Scottish traditions than going fishing and tasting a little whisky(威士忌) at a quiet place like the Inverlochy Castle. When Queen Victoria visited there in 1873 she wrote in her diary, “I never saw a lovelier spot,” And she didn't even go fishing.

Scotland is not easily defined. In certain moments, this quiet land of lakes and grass mountains changes before your very eyes. When evening gently sweeps the hillside into orange, the rivers, teeming with fish, can turn into streams of gold. As you settle down with just a people and a basket on the bank of River Orchy, near the Inverlochy Castle, any frustration will float away as gently as the circling water. It's just you and purple, pink, white flowers, a perfect harmony. If you are a new comer to fishing, learning the basics from a fishing guide may leave you with a lifetime's fun. For many, fishing is more than a sport; it is an art.

Scotland offers interesting place where you can rest after a long day's fishing. Set against a wild mountain and hidden behind woodland, the beautiful Inverlochy Castle Hotel below the Nevis is a perfect place to see the beauty of Scotland's mountains. Ben Nevis is the highest of mountains, and reaching its 1342-metre top is a challenge. But it's not just what goes up that matters; what comes down is unique. More than 900 metres high, on the mountain's north face, lies an all-important source of pure water. Its name comes form the Gaelic language "usqueb" or "water of life"; and it is the single most important ingredient(原料) in Scotland's best known whisky.

1.The story of Queen Victoria is to show that  .

A. the queen is rich in tour experience

B. the Castle is a good place to go in Scotland

C. tasting whisky is better than going fishing

D. 1873 is a special year for the queen

2.How is Paragraph 2 mainly developed?

A. By giving descriptions. B. By following time order.

C. By analyzing causes. D. By making comparisons.

3.What is Ben Nevis special for?

A. The Inverlochy Castle Hotel.

B. The beauty of its surroundings.

C. The water from the mountain.

D. The challenge up to its top.

4.What is the main purpose of the passage?

A. To introduce Scottish traditions to tourists.

B. To show the attractions of Scotland to readers.

C. To explore geographical characteristics of Scotland.

D. To describe the pleasures of life in Scotland.

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