Question

Easy for one to learn a foreign language? When A student is learning to speak British English, he wonders: Can I communicate with Americans? Can they understand me? 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 a pen?”, Americans say “in the hospital” and ‘Do you have a pen?’.Pronunciation is sometimes different. Americans usually sound theirs in words like “bird” and “hurt”. Speakers of British English do not sound theirs in these words. There are differences between British and American English in spelling and vocabulary. For example, “colour” and “honour” are British, “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.According to this passage, we can guess a student who is learning to speak American English might be afraid that ________.

A. British people cannot understand him

B. American people cannot understand him

C. the grammar is too hard for him

D. the spelling is too hard for him

2.What is NOT talked about in the passage?

A. Whether there are differences between British English and American English.

B. Whether British English and American English are one language or two.

C. How the differences between British English and American English came about.

D. How important the differences are.

3.Most __________ say “Do you have a watch?”

A. British people B. Americans

C. children D. teachers

4.According to this passage, British people and Americans have __________ difficulty in understanding each other.

A. little B. much C. some D. great

Answer 1

1.A

2.C

3.B

4.A

【解析】

试题分析：很多语言学习者都想知道，英式英语和美式英语到底有没有区别，其实是有的。这两者在语法、发音、拼写以及词汇上都有区别，但是并不影响这两个国家的人之间的交流。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段的When A student is learning to speak British English, he wonders: Can I communicate with Americans?可知，学习英式英语的学生通常担心无法和美国人交流。那么，相对应的，学习美式英语的学生通常也担心英国人无法听懂他的话，故选择A。

2.细节理解题。根据第一段的What are the differences between British and American English? How important are these differences? 以及最后一段的For the most part, British and American English are the same language.可知，选项文章提到了A、B、D，没有提到的是这些变化是怎么产生的。故选择C。

3.细节理解题。根据文章第二段的Americans say “in the hospital” and ‘Do you have a pen?’可知，美国人才这样说，故选择B。

4.细节理解题。根据最后一段的These differences in grammar, pronunciation, spelling and vocabulary are not important, however. For the most part, British and American English are the same language.可知，这两者虽然有区别，但是还是同一种语言，也就是说两国人交流是没有多大问题的，故选择A，指美国人和英国人彼此交流上几乎没有困难。

考点：考查说明文阅读