I.阅读理解
A
Language experts say that spoken English was almost the same in the American colonies and Britain two hundred years ago. Americans began to change the sound of their speech after the Revolutionary War in 1776. They wanted to make it different to separate themselves from the British in language, in the same way they separated themselves from the British government.
Some American leaders proposed major changes in the language. Benjamin Franklin wanted a whole new system of spelling. His reforms were not accepted. But his ideas did influence others. One was Noah Webster.
Webster wrote language books for schools. He believed the United States should have a system of its own language as well as government. Webster published a dictionary of the American language in 1828. It established rules for speaking and spelling the words used in American English.
Webster wrote that all words should be said in the order of the letters that spell them. This is why Americans use the letters “er” to end many words instead of the British “re”. He spelled the word “center” for example, “center” instead of the British “centre”.
Webster’s rule for saying every part of a word made American English easier for foreign settlers to learn. They learned to say “waistcoat”, for example, the way it is spelled instead of the British “weskit”.
The different languages of many people who came to the United States also helped make American and British English different. Many of their foreign words and expressions became part of English as Americans speak them.
Sometimes Americans and British people do not understand each other because of different word meanings. For example, the word “jumper” in Britain means a sweater. In the United States, it is a dress. The British word “brolly” is an “umbrella” in America. And the British call potato chips “crisps”. All of these differences led British writer George Bernard Shaw to joke that Britain and America are two countries separated by the same language!
1. What does the underlined word “it” in the first paragraph refer to?
A. Separating themselves from the British in language.
B. Written English in America.
C. Spoken English in America.
D. Spoken English in Britain.
2. Why did American want their language to differ from British English?
A. Because they found British English hard to speak.
B. Because they found British English hard to spell.
C. Because they wanted to have their own language and government.
D. Because foreign settlers wanted them to change their language.
3. Why do Americans use the word “meter” instead of the word “metre”?
A. Because Benjamin Franklin didn’t like the word “metre”.
B. Because the word “meter” was absorbed from other languages.
C. Because Webster thought the word should be said in order of the letters that are spelt.
D. Because Webster thought American English should be made easier for foreign settlers to learn.
4. What does the passage mainly talk about?
A. Noah Webster’s simplifying the spelling of English words.
B. Differences and similarities between British and American English.
C. The reasons why American English was formed and its development.
D. Varieties of English throughout the world.
I.阅读理解
A
【语篇解读】本文是说明文。文章主要讲述了美国英语的形成和发展。
【答案解析】
1. C。词义猜测题。根据文章第一段第三句可知, 美国人想把美国英语的发音与英国英语的发音区分开来, 因此可以判断it指代spoken English in America。
2. C。细节理解题。由第一段中的“. . . in the same way they separated themselves from the British government. ”可知, 美国人想如同摆脱英国的控制那样, 使美国英语与英国英语不同。
3. C。细节理解题。由第四段中的“Webster wrote that all words should be said in the order of the letters that spell them. ”可以看出, 美国人想让这个单词按照字母的拼写顺序被说出来。
4. C。主旨大意题。这篇文章主要讲述了美国英语的形成和发展。
A
Language experts say that spoken English was almost the same in the American colonies and Britain two hundred years ago. Americans began to change the sound of their speech after the Revolutionary War in 1776. They wanted to make it different to separate themselves from the British in language, in the same way they separated themselves from the British government.
Some American leaders proposed major changes in the language. Benjamin Franklin wanted a whole new system of spelling. His reforms were not accepted. But his ideas did influence others. One was Noah Webster.
Webster wrote language books for schools. He believed the United States should have a system of its own language as well as government. Webster published a dictionary of the American language in 1828. It established rules for speaking and spelling the words used in American English.
Webster wrote that all words should be said in the order of the letters that spell them. This is why Americans use the letters “er” to end many words instead of the British “re”. He spelled the word “center” for example, “center” instead of the British “centre”.
Webster’s rule for saying every part of a word made American English easier for foreign settlers to learn. They learned to say “waistcoat”, for example, the way it is spelled instead of the British “weskit”.
The different languages of many people who came to the United States also helped make American and British English different. Many of their foreign words and expressions became part of English as Americans speak them.
Sometimes Americans and British people do not understand each other because of different word meanings. For example, the word “jumper” in Britain means a sweater. In the United States, it is a dress. The British word “brolly” is an “umbrella” in America. And the British call potato chips “crisps”. All of these differences led British writer George Bernard Shaw to joke that Britain and America are two countries separated by the same language!
1. What does the underlined word “it” in the first paragraph refer to?
A. Separating themselves from the British in language.
B. Written English in America.
C. Spoken English in America.
D. Spoken English in Britain.
2. Why did American want their language to differ from British English?
A. Because they found British English hard to speak.
B. Because they found British English hard to spell.
C. Because they wanted to have their own language and government.
D. Because foreign settlers wanted them to change their language.
3. Why do Americans use the word “meter” instead of the word “metre”?
A. Because Benjamin Franklin didn’t like the word “metre”.
B. Because the word “meter” was absorbed from other languages.
C. Because Webster thought the word should be said in order of the letters that are spelt.
D. Because Webster thought American English should be made easier for foreign settlers to learn.
4. What does the passage mainly talk about?
A. Noah Webster’s simplifying the spelling of English words.
B. Differences and similarities between British and American English.
C. The reasons why American English was formed and its development.
D. Varieties of English throughout the world.
I.阅读理解
A
【语篇解读】本文是说明文。文章主要讲述了美国英语的形成和发展。
【答案解析】
1. C。词义猜测题。根据文章第一段第三句可知, 美国人想把美国英语的发音与英国英语的发音区分开来, 因此可以判断it指代spoken English in America。
2. C。细节理解题。由第一段中的“. . . in the same way they separated themselves from the British government. ”可知, 美国人想如同摆脱英国的控制那样, 使美国英语与英国英语不同。
3. C。细节理解题。由第四段中的“Webster wrote that all words should be said in the order of the letters that spell them. ”可以看出, 美国人想让这个单词按照字母的拼写顺序被说出来。
4. C。主旨大意题。这篇文章主要讲述了美国英语的形成和发展。
