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American English and British English

　　The Americans and British use different greetings. In the USA the commonest greeting is “Hi!”. In Britain it is “Hello!” or “How are you?”. “Hi!” is creeping into(不知不觉地进入) British, too. When they are introduced to someone, the Americans say, “Glad to know you.” The British say, “How do you do?” or “Please to meet you.” When Americans say “Good-bye”, they nearly always add, “Have a good day.” or “Have a good trip.” etc. to friends and strangers alike. Britons are beginning to use “Have a good day.”

　　The British usually use “have got” in the sense of “have”. The Americans hardly ever do.

　　Am. E：－Do you have a. car, room, etc.?

　　－Yes, I do.

　　Br. E：－Have you got a car, room, etc.?

　　－Yes, I have.

　　Finally, there are a number of differences between American and British English in the spelling of words, for example, check (US)/cheque (UK); center (US)/centre (UK). Many American words ending in “or” such as honor, vigor, labor are spelt in British English with an “our” like honour, vigour, labour. Many verbs in American English with “ize” or “izing” forms, such as organize, realizing, are spelt in British English with “ise” or “ising” like organise, realising. In American English, “practice” is used as both a verb and a noun. In British English, the verb is spelt “practise”, and the noun “practice”. And in the main, American English avoids the doubling up of consonants(辅音字母) in nouns and verbs while British English does not. In American English, for example, one writes “travel, traveled, traveling, traveler” while in British English one writes “travel, travelled, travelling, traveller”.

　　It was once predicted(预测) that British and American English would become separate languages finally. But the opposite has happened. The links(连接) between the two countries are so strong that linguistically(语言上), and probably culturally(文化上) too, they are closer together than ever.

1．The American hardly say ________.

[　　]

A．Good-bye, have a good day!

B．Glad to know you!

C．Hi!

D．Have you got a car?

2．An Englishman writes ________.

[　　]

3．What does the third paragraph talk about?

[　　]

A．There are lots of differences in spelling between Am. E and Br. E.

B．Why the Americans and the British use different spellings.

C．There are few differences in spelling between Am. E and Br. E.

D．The different usages of words in Am. E and Br. E.

4．Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

[　　]

A．The two languages will become separate languages gradually.

B．American English will be used more often than British English.

C．The two languages will be closer and closer.

D．British English will be used more often than American English.

Dear Flowermouse,?

Thank you for your comments on how Americans and Chinese view each other. This is an important subject. Modern technology has given many nations the chance of destroying other nations. This is a cruel picture but it is a realistic one. It means that every nation should make sure that these weapons of great destruction are never used. This requires greater acceptance of differences among people and nations in all parts of the planet.?

Your letter asks specially about Chinese-American relationships but I want to let you know my feelings on a global scale. Because China and America are the most powerful nations and I believe they have a special responsibility for promoting better understanding and for leading the way toward peaceful solutions to the world's problems.

You ask how Chinese and American people view each other. This is an important question. Because I know so little about China that I am not able to judge how Chinese view Americans. I am sure that the view differs according to individual experiences that persons might have. And it is not easy to describe America to foreigners. America is a vast mass of people and cultures. These people came from all parts of the world, from Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe and Australia. Each brought a different culture and a different set of values within a single nation.

　　I believe that the vast majority of Americans like the vast majority of Chinese want peace and friendship between our two nations. Both China and America have suffered through generations from war and violence in our history. And I believe that it is the special responsibility of all Chinese and all Americans to impress this need for mutual understanding on our neighbors in other.?

So my friend, this is my response. Please know that I write to you as a private person living in America. I do feel strongly that people everywhere have more in common than they have in differences. We all share the same basic needs for existence and we all depend upon the same need for the survival of this beautiful planet earth. Maybe we can begin to encourage better communication and better understanding through my columns. I hope so.?

From the passage we can know that Flowermouse_______.?

A. loves Americans

B. has read about the writer's articles?

C. is an American

D. knows little about Americans?

It is likely that the writer_______.?

A. disagrees with Flowermouse?

B. thinks it possible for nations to be destroyed due to modern technology?

C. thinks American government share the same opinions with its people?

D. believes the weapons of great destruction are never used?

The letter that Flowermouse wrote to the writer, maybe have referred to .?

A. American culture     

B. American society?

C. Chinese-American relationships

D. Chinese society?

When I was quite young, I discovered that somewhere inside the telephone lived an amazing

person - "Information Please" and there was nothing she did not know.　

One day while my mother was out, I hit my finger with a hammer. The pain was terrible, but there was no one home to give me any sympathy. I walked around the house, finally arriving at the telephone! Quickly, I called “Information Please" and told her what happened.  She told me to open the icebox and hold a little piece of ice to my finger.

After that, I called "Information Please" for everything. When my pet bird died, I told "Information Please" the sad story. She tried to comfort me, she said quietly, "Paul, always remember that there are other worlds to sing in." Somehow I felt better. Another day I was on the telephone, “How do you spell ‘grateful’? ". All this took place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest. When I was 9, we moved to Boston.

A few years later, on my way to college, my plane put down in Seattle. I had about half an hour or so between planes. Without thinking, I dialed my hometown operator and said, "Information, please."    　　

Surprisingly, I heard the small, clear voice I knew so well, "Information." I hadn't planned on this but I heard myself saying, "Could you please tell me how to spell ‘grateful’?"  

There was a long pause. Then came the soft-spoken answer, "I guess your finger must have healed by now."   I laughed. "So it's really still you," I said, "I wonder if you have any idea how much you meant to me during that time."  I told her how often I had thought of her over the years and asked if I could call her again. "Please do," she said, "Just ask for Sally."　　

Three months later I was back in Seattle. A different voice answered me. I was told that Sally passed away five weeks before.   　　

Before I could hang up she told me that Sally left a message for me—“Tell him I still say there are other worlds to sing in. He'll know what I mean.”  I thanked her and hung up. I knew what Sally meant.

Never underestimate the impression you may make on others. Whose life have you touched today?　

1.What does “Information, Please” refer to in the passage?

A. An amazing girl.

B. A special kind of telephone.

C. A communication system.

D. A service that helps telephone users.

2.What happened to the little boy one day when he was at home alone? 

A. He was amused by the telephone.

B. He hurt his finger with a hammer.

C. He found an amazing telephone.

D. He got a piece of ice from an icebox.

3.What did “Information, Please” give the little boy whenever he was in trouble? 

A. Information and conversation.

B. Good memories and happiness.

C. Sympathy and information.

D. Friendship and cheers.

4.When did the author get in touch with “Information, Please” again after he moved to Boston?  

A. When he was in trouble on his way to college.

B. When his plane stopped in Seattle for half an hour.

C. When he went back to Seattle to visit his sister.

D. Three months later after he moved to Boston.

 

Paula Radcliffe, chasing a third London marathon title, says she has became a stronger person after her terrible experience at the 2004 Athens Games.

Radcliffe, who failed to complete the Olympic marathon and the 10,000m last August, said: "Athens made me a stronger person and it made me care less about criticism"

"In the past I wanted to please everyone, but now I am going to listen even more to the people around me."

She didn't care about criticism made at the weekend by Liz McColgan, who felt Radcliffe should have rested and let her body recover after her failure in Athens.

"Liz is someone I look up to but she hasn't spoken to me since last year and if she really cared for me, I'm sure she would have contacted me."

Instead Radcliffe won the New York City marathon just 11 weeks after Athens.

"In New York I wasn't in my best state but I did know I was good enough to win the race."

Radcliffe insisted her only goal in Sunday's race would be winning a third title and not chasing world records.

However, Radcliffe has not ruled out in the future chasing her "final" world record time and questioned sayings that marathon runners have the ability in their career to produce only four or five world-class times.

"I don't think that ——although I can't put a number on it," said. Radcliffe. "That changes from person to person."

Radcliffe is sure she can better her winning London 2003 performance at some point in the future. Following a successful three-month training period in the United States, the 31-year-old will chase a third title on Sunday after her first victory in 2002 and again 12 months later.

Radcliffe clocked a time of 2:18:56 in her first 42.2-kilometre race three years ago.

Afterwards she set a "mixed course" mark of 2:17:18 five months later in Chicago before lowering that to a time of 2:15:25 in the 2003 London event.

1.Radcliffe’s failure in Athens made her___________.?

A. develop respect for Liz?   B. love people around her more?

C. rest for five months?      D. face criticism calmly?

2.Which of the following is true according to the passage??

A. Radcliffe broke the world record in the New York City marathon.?

B. Radcliffe didn’t fully recover before the New York City marathon.?

C. Radcliffe won her first marathon title in the New York City marathon.?

D. Radcliffe had a 3-month training before the New York City marathon.?

3. By saying “I can’t put a number on it,” Radcliffe means she’s not sure ___________.?

A. if she has the ability to set a new world record?

B. if she can win another race though she has won many times?

C. how many times a marathon runner can set the world record?

D. if she has the ability to produce four or five world-class times?

4. According to the text, Radcliffe has won ___________ London marathon title(s).?

A. one　　　　　B. two?             C. three          D. four

5.What can we learn from Radcliffe’s story??

A. Practice makes perfect.?            B. Well begun is half done.?

C. Where there is a will, there is a way.?  D. A friend in need is a fried indeed.