English is English, right? Not exactly. Although Americans share the same language as those in Great Britain, words that commonly mean one thing in America can mean something completely different in Britain. Here are some examples.

In the United States a bird is, well, an animal with feathers. In England, however, a bird is often used to describe a young female, similar to the way young women are referred to “chicks” in America. But be careful when you are calling your boss' daughter a bird，because some Britons consider the word a negative expression.

Saying you need a new trainer in America means something quite different from it does in England. In the US, trainers are healthy and strong experts who can help you work out. However, in England, trainers are just another name for tennis shoes.

In America, the word “jumper” usually means a call to 911, as it can refer to a person who's trying to jump from a bridge or building. The meaning couldn't be more different in Great Britain，where “jumper” is the name given to a knit top, or, as it's called in America: a sweater.

Telling a Londoner that you like to sleep with your comforter every night may cause some strange looks, unless you're a baby. In the US, a comforter is a cover for bed that is filled with a soft material, but in England, a comforter is a word used to describe a baby's pacifier (橡皮奶嘴)．

In America, a casket, also called a coffin (棺材)，clearly has a sad meaning. In Great Britain, on the other hand, a casket has a completely different meaning: it refers to a small box used to store jewelry or other valuable objects.

If a Londoner tells an American he locked something in his boot, the American may look at him strangely. In America, a boot is a type of footwear, while in England the word is used to refer to a trunk (后备箱) of a car.

语篇解读：本文是一篇说明文。英式英语和美式英语有些拼写相同的单词但意思却不同，文中作者给我们列举了一些这样的例子。

1．If you call a young English female a bird, she would most probably ________.

A．feel unhappy about it

B．find it very interesting

C．consider you are strange

D．think you come from the US

解析：选A　推理判断题。根据第二段最后一句可推断，英国女孩听到自己被这样叫可能会不开心。

2．In America, a middle-aged woman teaching people to do sports can be probably called a “ ________”．

A．chick　　　　　　 B．trainer

C．jumper D．comforter

解析：选B　细节理解题。根据第三段中的“In the US, trainers are healthy and strong experts who can help you work out.” 可知，在美国，trainer是指健身教练。所以，一个教别人运动的中年女士在美国可以被称为trainer。

3．If a Londoner says he needs to get something in his boot, he ________.

A．has locked to his car by accident

B．needs to return to his car for something

C．has dropped something into his footwear

D．needs to open his casket to get some jewelry

解析：选B　细节理解题。根据最后一段中的“In America, a boot is a type of footwear, while in England the word is used to refer to a trunk (后备箱) of a car.”可知，伦敦人说这句话的时候，他是要去他的车里取东西。

4．What's the main idea of the passage?

A．English is widely spoken in the world.

B．British English has experienced many changes.

C．American English is easier than British English.

D．British English and American English have some differences.

解析：选D　主旨大意题。根据文章内容可知，本文主要是讲在英式英语和美式英语中有些拼写相同的单词但意思却不同，这表明英式英语和美式英语是有一些差别的。

Ⅱ.完形填空

Now I am living in Italy, working as an English language assistant. I am living with one of the __1__ from a local school, who is very kind. At the moment, it's a bit __2__ as we don't always understand each other!

I have learnt that it is more __3__ speaking a language in real life than speaking it in the classroom. My teachers could __4__ things to me in English when I didn't understand. My __5__ doesn't speak any English. When I don't know the __6__ in Italian, I try to explain it and when that doesn't __7__， I try to mime (比画) the thing I'm talking about.

Yesterday, the Internet wasn't working and I had to __8__ my housemate where the router was so I could find the password for the Wi-Fi. I had no __9__ what the Italian word for “router” was so I tried to explain it several times. In the end, I called it the “Internet box” and she __10__ what I meant!

However, it isn't all bad! When we finally understand each other, we both clap. Sometimes I feel very __11__ because I keep making many mistakes, but my housemate __12__ me nicely and tells me that I'm doing well! I can also feel my language __13__ because I have no choice but to __14__ Italian! I hope that I will be speaking __15__ a real Italian by the time I leave. I'm determined to climb over this language barrier!

语篇解读：本文是一篇记叙文。文章讲述了作者在意大利当英语助教时，因为与意大利室友语言有障碍而迫使自己的意大利语言水平提高的故事。

1．A.teachers　　　　　　 B．doctors

C．workers D．waiters

解析：选A　根据上文的“Now I am living in Italy, working as an English language assistant.”可知，作者此时是作为英语助教，故应该是与老师生活在一起。故选A。

2．A.formal B．difficult

C．boring D．official

解析：选B　根据下文的“as we don't always understand each other”可知，因为她们不能互相理解对方，所以有点困难。故选B。

3．A.foreign B．obvious

C．fluent D．different

解析：选D　根据下文的内容可知，在教室里作者有不明白的事物时，老师会用英语解释，而在现实生活中室友不会说英语，所以，此处指在现实生活中讲一种外语和在教室讲是不同的，故选D项。

4．A.change B．lend

C．explain D．give

解析：选C　根据下文的“in English when I didn't understand”可知，此处表示当作者不理解时，老师们能用英语解释给作者。explain sth. to sb.“向某人解释某事”。故选C。

5．A.neighbor B．housemate

C．classmate D．friend

解析：选B　根据第一段的内容可知，作者与一位当地学校的老师一起生活，也就是她的室友。故选B。

6．A.word B．letter

C．name D．place

解析：选A　根据第三段中的“I had no________what the Italian word for ‘router’”可知，此处指的是当作者不知道意大利语中的单词的时候，故选A。

7．A.appear B．work

C．happen D．flash

解析：选B　根据下文的“I try to mime (比画) the thing I'm talking about”可知，当解释不起作用时，作者尽力比画着自己谈论的事情。work 意为“奏效，起作用”，符合语境。故选B。

8．A.pass B．tell

C．ask D．hand

解析：选C　根据下文的“my housemate where the router was so I could find the password for the Wi-Fi”可知，为了能找到Wi-Fi的密码，所以作者问了室友路由器在哪里。故选C。

9．A.point B．use

C．doubt D．idea

解析：选D　根据下文的“so I tried to explain it several times”可知，作者尽力地解释了好几遍，所以此处表示作者不知道意大利语单词“路由器”怎么说。故选D。

10．A.kept B．ordered

C．understood D．explored

解析：选C　根据上文的“In the end, I called it the‘Internet box’”可知，室友明白了作者的意思。故选C。

11．A.amazed B．embarrassed

C．excited D．moved

解析：选B　根据下文的“because I keep making many mistakes”可知，作者感到很尴尬，故选B。

12．A.corrects B．annoys

C．strikes D．rescues

解析：选A　虽然作者很尴尬，因为作者总是犯错误，但是室友友好地纠正作者的错误并且告诉作者她做得很好。故选A。

13．A.improving B．stopping

C．applying D．failing

解析：选A　根据上文的“tells me that I'm doing well”可知，作者感觉语言水平正在提高。故选A。

14．A.stress B．host

C．live D．speak

解析：选D　因为作者的室友是意大利人，不讲英语，所以作者除了讲意大利语外，别无选择。故选D。

15．A.as B．for

C．about D．like

解析：选D　根据下文的“a real Italian”可知，作者希望自己讲得像一个真正的意大利人一样好。故选D。

Ⅲ.语法填空

“Englishes” is a funny word. __1__ (usual) the name of a language cannot be plural (复数的). But English is __2__ (difference). It is spoken by more people in __3__ (many) countries than any other language. Everywhere, people speak it differently. The result is many Englishes.Englishes differ in accent, grammar, and vocabulary. There isn't just one “correct” way __4__ (speak) the language.What is the word for a baked snack (烘烤的点心) __5__ (make) with chocolate? The Australian and British answer is “biscuit”.

The Canadian and American answer is “cookie”. And both answers are right. There are many other Englishes. Indian English has __6__ (it) own vocabulary. Do you know what“half-pants” are? Maybe not, since this word is unique (独特的) to Indian English. It __7__ (mean) “shorts”. In Singapore, people speak“Singlish” in everyday communication. Singlish mixes English with Mandarin and other languages. It has unique grammar. __8__ example, “I've eaten already” becomes “Eat already”. Other countries with their own Englishes include Nigeria, R. O. Korea, __9__ Malaysia. And more people are learning English every day. So how many Englishes are there, exactly? __10__ is impossible to say.

语篇解读：本文是一篇说明文。英语是世界上使用最广泛的语言。随着英语的广泛应用，相应地产生了很多变体。

1．Usually　考查副词。设空处作状语，表示“通常”。故填副词Usually。

2．different　考查形容词。设空处作表语，表示“不同的”，故填形容词different。

3．more　考查形容词比较级。由本句中的“than any other language”可知，设空处应用 many 的比较级，故填more。

4．to speak　考查非谓语动词。way后常跟不定式作定语，表示“……的方式”。

5．made　考查非谓语动词。设空处作后置定语，make 与 snack 之间是逻辑上的动宾关系，故填made。

6．its　考查代词。设空处作定语修饰 vocabulary, 表示“它的”，故填 its。

7．means　考查动词的时态和主谓一致。设空处所在句描述的是客观事实，应用一般现在时，因为主语是It, 故填 means。

8．For　考查介词。for example “例如”。

9．and　考查连词。设空处所在句意为“其他国家，包括尼日利亚、韩国以及马来西亚都有自己的英语。”故填and。

10．It　考查it 的用法。设空处作形式主语，真正的主语是 to say，故填It。