Every year in English-speaking countries, people list the most popular names. Here are some examples. In the United States at the moment, the three most popular names are Emily, Emma, and Madison. For boys, they are Michael, Joshua and Mathew. In Britain parents today might call their little girl Grace, Jessica or Ruby. If they have a little boy, they could call him Jack, Thomas or Oliver.
In China names have very clear meanings. If a girl is called Mei, her name means “beautiful”. If a boy is called “Wu”, his name means “ like a soldier”. Names in English-speaking countries are like this too. The girl’s name Joy is probably chosen because the parents with their daughter to be joyful and bring joy to others. If a girl is Ruby, it may be because of the beautiful valuable stone.
Parents often pick names that can be shortened. They might choose such names because they want to be able to speak to their child in a personal way.
For exampale, a popualr name is William. But William can be shortened to Will, Willy, Bill and Billy. The same is true of the favourite old name for a girl, Elizabeth. Elizabeth can be shortened to Beth, Liza and Liz.
Another reason children get the names is that parents want their boy or girl after someone who is famous, such as an actor, a pop star or sports star. David is a popular name in Britain, partly because David Beckham is a famous footballer.

1. 1.

   At the moment, Michael is one of the three most popular names for boys _______ while Grace for __________ in Britain.

2. 2.

   Mei means ________ and Ruby means ________ according to the passage.

3. 3.

   From this passage, we know that both parents in ________ countries and in China would like to choose names for their __________.

4. 4.

   Parents often pick names that can be _________ so that they can ____________ in a personal way.

5. 5.

   David is a popular name in Britain partly __________________ the famous football _____________, David Beckham.

American and British people both speak English of course. But sometimes it does not seem like the same language. In fact, 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 several 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 in their speech. They usually say all the words and keep them separate.

    Words sometimes have different meanings too. Some American words are never used in England. The same thing is true of some British words in America. For example, the vocabulary（词汇）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”.

     There’re also some differences in grammar. For example, when Americans ask a question., they say “Do you have a storybook?” But the British often say “Have you a storybook?”

     All these differences can be confusing （易混淆的）if you are learning English. But 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.What does the word “separate” mean in the passage? It means “____”

A. 含糊的     B. 快速的    C. 分开的      D. 简略的

2.The vocabulary for cars and driving is _____.

A. an example of British English

B. an example of American English

C. the same in America and England

D. not the same in America and England

3.Language _________.

A. are always changing as time passes

B. keep unchanged even if time changes

C. are the same in all places

D. are easy to learn

4. This passage is mainly about ______.

A. English vocabulary

B. how American sounds are different from British sounds

C. the way the British say words

D. some differences between American and British English

American and British people both speak English of course. But sometimes it does not seem like the same language. In fact, 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 several 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 in their speech. They usually say all the words and keep them separate.
Words sometimes have different meanings too. Some American words are never used in England. The same thing is true of some British words in America. For example, the vocabulary（词汇）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”.
There’re also some differences in grammar. For example, when Americans ask a question., they say “Do you have a storybook?” But the British often say “Have you a storybook?”
All these differences can be confusing （易混淆的）if you are learning English. But 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.
【小题1】What does the word “separate” mean in the passage? It means “____”

American and British people both speak English, but sometimes it doesn’t seem like the same language.

First of all, they sound very different. Often, Americans don’t say all the letters in each word, especially consonants （辅音） like “t” and “d.” For example, Americans may say “I dun no” instead of “I don’t know”. However, the British usually pronounce their consonants more carefully.

Also, some letters have different sounds. For example, Americans say the “a” in “half” like the “a” in “cat,” but the British say the “a” in “half” like the “a” in “ash.”

Sound is not the only difference between British English and American English. The two languages have different words for some things. For example, the words for clothing are different. Americans use the word “sweater,” but the British say “jumper.”

Many other words and expressions are different in the two countries. In England, if you are going to telephone a friend, you “ring her up.” In America, you “give her a call.” The British use the word “lovely” to describe something they like. Americans use the word “cool” or “great”.

There are also some differences in grammar. For example, Americans almost always use the helping verb “do” with the verb “have.” They might say “Do you have an extra pen?” The British often ask the question in a different way. They might say “Have you got an extra pen?”

These differences can be confusing（令人混淆的） if you are learning English. But there is a reason for the differences. Languages change over time. When the same language is used in different places, it changes differently in each place. This is what happened to English. It also happened to other languages, such as French. Many people in Canada speak French, but their French is different from the French spoken in France.

1．Do Americans say all the letters in each word?

___________________________________________________________

2．Who use the word “sweater”, Americans or the British?

___________________________________________________________

3．Is French the same in Canada and France?

____________________________________________________________

4．Why are there some differences in the same language?

___________________________________________________________

5．What is the main idea of the passage?

___________________________________________________________