1、A question from Britney in the United States of America：I am an American college student who is planning to apply for work in the United Kingdom after I graduate,and I was wondering how big the language barrier would be.Alex Gooch answers：Hi Britney.differences between British and American English,b
2、ut these differences wont cause you any serious problems if you come and work in Britain.There are a few noticeable GRAMMAR differences between British and American English.Ill talk about the two most important ones.First of all，when Americans make sentences using“just”，“already”or“yet”，they normall
3、y use the past simple tense,while in Britain,we use the present perfect.So an American,for example,might say,“I already had lunch.”And a British person would say,“Ive already had lunch.”Secondly,there are lots of examples of slight difference of spelling,such as metre(BrE)/meter(AmE),favour(BrE)/fav
4、or(AmE),organise(BrE)/organize(AmE),etc,but British and American people can understand each other without any trouble at all.Britney,my advice to you is:dont worry about the language,and youll be fine.多积词汇apply v申请，应用barrier n障碍cause v引起；导致noticeable adj.显而易见的first of all首先；第一normally adv.通常；正常情况下tr
5、ouble n困难；问题worry about担心；忧虑Section Introduction&Reading Pre-reading原文呈现Words,words,wordsBritish and American English are different in many ways.The first and most obvious way is in the vocabulary.There arehundreds of different words which are not used on the otherside of the Atlantic,or which are u
6、sed with a differentmeaning.Some of these words are well known Americansdrive automobiles down freeways and fill up with gas;theBritish drive cars along motorways and fill up with petrol.Asa tourist,you will need to use the underground in London orthe subway in New York,or maybe you will prefer to g
7、etaround the town by taxi(British)or cab(American)读文清障be different in 在方面不同be different from 与不一样obvious/bvis/adj.显然的，显而易见的which 引导两个定语从句，均修饰 words。drive.down.沿驾驶；相当于 drive.along.fill up(with)(用)装满，填满motorway/mtweI/n.(英)高速公路petrol n(英)汽油，gas n(美)汽油underground/ndrand/n.(英)地铁subway/sbweI/n.(美)地铁prefer
8、 to do.更愿意/喜欢做prefer.to.意为“喜欢胜过”。其中 to 为介词。get around 四处走动(旅行)第 1 段译文词，词，词英式英语和美式英语在很多方面是不同的。首先最明显的是在词汇方面。有数以百计的不同的词在大西洋彼岸不被使用，或者以一种不同的意思被使用着。其中一些单词是人们所熟知的美国人在 freeways 上驾驶的是 automobiles，给车加 gas；英国人在 motorways 上驾驶的是 cars，给车加 petrol。作为游客，你在伦敦要乘坐的地铁叫 underground，而在纽约则叫 subway，或者你更愿意乘坐 taxi(英式)或者 cab(美
9、式)游览城市。Chips or French fries?But other words and expressions are not so well known.Americans use a flashlight ，while for the British,its atorch.The British queue up;Americans stand in line.Sometimes the same word has a slightly different meaning,which can be confusing.Chips,for example，are pieces of
10、hot fried potato in Britain;in the States chips are very thin andare sold in packets.The British call these crisps.The chips theBritish know and love are French fries on the other side of theAtlantic.flashlight/fllaIt/n.(美)手电筒；火把while 为并列连词，意为“而，然而”，此处表示前后两种情况的对比。queue/kju/vi.(英)排队(等候)queue up(for.)
11、排队(等候)stand in line 排队等候slightly adv.略微，稍微，此处修饰 different。which 引导非限制性定语从句，指代上文提到的内容。confusing/knfjuzI/adj.令人困惑的；难懂的for example 例如，常作插入语，可位于句首、句中或句末。第 2 段译文Chips 还是 French fries?但是其他词和表达方式却没有这么广泛地为人所知。美国人把手电筒称为 flashlight，而英国人则叫它 torch。“排队”在英式英语中用 queue up，而在美式英语中用 stand in line。有时候同一个单词的含义有微小的差别，这让
12、人很困惑。例如，chips 在英国是指热的炸薯条，在美国却指非常薄而且装在纸袋里出售的薯片英国人把这种东西称为 crisps。英国人熟悉而且喜欢的薯条在大西洋彼岸被称为 French fries。Have or have got?There are a few differences in grammar,too.The British say Have you got.?while Americans prefer Do you have.?An American might say My friend just arrived,but a British person would say
13、My friend has just arrived.Prepositions，too,can be different:compare 21on the team 22，on the weekend 23(American)with in the team,at the weekend(British).The British use prepositions where24 Americans sometimes omit25them(Ill see you Monday;Write me soon！)preposition/prepzIn/n.介词21 compare/kmpe/vt.比
14、较compare.with.把与相比该结构常用其非谓语形式 compared with 作状语，此时可与compared to 互换。compare.to.把与相比；把比作 22 on the team(美)是队里的一员in the team(英)是队里的一员23 on the weekend(美)在周末at the weekend(英)在周末24 where 引导地点状语从句。25 omit/mIt/vt.省略 第 3 段译文Have 还是 have got?在语法上，英式英语和美式英语也有一些区别。英国人说“Have you got.？”，而 美 国 人 更 喜 欢 说“Do you ha
15、ve.？”，美国人可能会说“My friend just arrived”，但是英国人会说“My friend has just arrived”。介词的用法也有所不同：比较一下 on the team,on the weekend(美式)和 in the team,at the weekend(英式)。英国人用介词的地方美国人有时候会省略(Ill see you Monday;Write me soon！)。Colour or color?The other two areas in which the two varieties26 differ27are spelling and pro
16、nunciation 28.American spelling seems29simpler:center,color and program instead of30 centre,colourand programme.Many factors have influenced 31 Americanpronunciation since the first settlers32 arrived four hundredyears ago.The accent,which is most similar to 33BritishEnglish34，can be heard on the Ea
17、st Coast of the US.Whenthe Irish writer George Bernard Shaw made the famous remark35 that the British and the Americans are two nations divided by a common language,he was obviously thinking about the differences.But are they really so important?After all,there is probably as much variation36 of pro
18、nunciation within the two countries as between them.A Londoner hasmore difficulty understanding37 a Scotsman from Glasgow than understanding a New Yorker.26 variety/vraIti/n.种类a variety of/varieties of 各种各样的27 differ/dIf/vi.不同，有区别differ 常与介词 from,in 连用。28 “in关系代词 which”引导定语从句，修饰先行词 areas，其中 differ i
19、n 中的介词前移了。29 seem 看来，似乎(作连系动词)seem 后常与动词不定式 to do 或形容词连用，或构成固定句式 It seems that.。30 instead of 代替，而不是instead adv.相反；而，却31 influence vt.&n影响have an influence on 对有影响32 settler/setl/n.移民；定居者33 be similar to 与相似be similar in 在方面相似34 which 引导非限制性定语从句，指代 The accent。35 remark/rImk/n.评论；讲话36 variation/verIe
20、In/n.变化37 have difficulty(in)doing sth.做某事有困难第 4 段译文Colour 还是 color?这两种英语的另外两个方面的区别是拼写和发音。美式英语的拼写看上去更简单一些：center,color 和 program 是美式拼法，而 centre,colour 和 programme 是英式拼法。自从 400 年前第一批移民到来，有很多因素影响了美式英语的发音。在美国东海岸能听到与英式英语非常相似的口音。当爱尔兰作家乔治萧伯纳说“英国和美国是被同一种语言分开的两个民族”这句名言的时候，他显然想到了它们的区别。但是这些区别真的如此重要吗？毕竟，两个国家境内
21、的口音差别可能跟两国之间的口音差别一样多。伦敦人要听懂来自格拉斯哥的苏格兰人说话比听懂纽约人说话更难。Turn on the TVSome experts believe that the two varieties are moving closer together.For more than a century communications across the Atlantic have developed steadily 38.Since the 1980s,with satellite39 TV and the Internet,it has been possible to l
22、isten to British and American English40 at the flick41 of a switch42.This non-stop communication,the experts think,has made it easier for British people and Americans to understand43 each other.But it has also led to44 lots of American words and structures45 passing into British English,46 so that s
23、ome people now believe that British English will disappear47.However,if you turn on 48CNN,the American TVnetwork,you find newsreaders and weather forecasters allspeaking with different accents 49 American,British,Australian,and even Spanish.One of the best-known faces,Monita Rajpal,was born in Hong
24、Kong,China,and grew upspeaking Chinese and Punjabi50，as well as English.This international dimension suggests51 that in the future,there are going to be many“Englishes”，not just two main varieties.But the message is“Dont worry.”Users of English will all be able to52 understand each other wherever th
25、ey are53.38 steadily/stedIli/adv.不断地；持续地39 satellite/stlaIt/n.卫星40 画线部分为“itbeadj.to do.”结构，it 为形式主语，而真正的主语为后面的动词不定式短语。41 flick/flIk/n.轻打；轻弹；抖动at the flick of 轻轻一按/弹42 switch/swIt/n.开关switch 还可以作动词，常与 off 和 on 连用。43 make itadj./n.(for sb.)to do.为固定结构。it 为形式宾语，其后的动词不定式为真正的宾语。44 lead to 引起；导致其中 to 为介词，
26、后接名词、代词或动名词。45 structure/strkt/n.结构；体系46 画线部分为结果状语从句，so that 意为“以至于”。该状语从句中又包含了 that 引导的宾语从句。47 disappear vi.消失48 turn on 打开switch on(用开关)打开49 find sth./sb.doing.“发现某物/某人在做”为“find宾语宾语补足语”结构。50 现在分词短语作伴随状语。51 suggest v暗示，表明，后接宾语从句时，从句不用虚拟语气。52 be able to 能够53 wherever 引导让步状语从句，相当于 no matter where。第 5
27、7 段译文打开电视机一些专家相信这两种语言变体正在越来越接近。一个多世纪以来，大西洋两岸的交流稳步发展。自从 20 世纪 80 年代以来，随着卫星电视和互联网的使用，轻轻一按开关就能听到英式英语和美式英语已经成为可能。专家们认为，这种不间断的交流已使得英国人和美国人相互理解起来更加容易。但这也导致了大量美式英语单词和结构进入英式英语，以至于现在有一些人认为英式英语将会消失。然而，如果你打开美国电视网络节目 CNN，你会发现新闻播报员和天气预报员都操着不同的口音美国的、英国的、澳大利亚的，甚至西班牙的。其中最熟悉的面孔之一出生于中国香港的慕妮塔让治派，从小到大说的是汉语、一种印度土语和英语。这种
28、国际程度表明，在未来将有很多种“英语”，而不仅仅是主要的两种。但其实大家不用担心。无论在哪里，英语使用者们都能彼此理解。.Match the word with its meaning.1accent A不断地；持续地2obvious B口音3switch C评论；讲话4queue D比较5confusing E种类6compare F不同，有区别7variety G排队(等候)8differ H令人困惑的；难懂的9remark I开关10steadily J显然的，显而易见的答案：15 BJIGH 610 DEFCA.Write down the meaning of phrases in
29、each sentence.1The two cultures have a lot in common.2What you have told me may make a difference to my choice.I change my mind now.3She gets around with the help of a stick.4Lack of exercise can lead to feelings of depression and exhaustion.5This shooting is similar to the one that happened two day
30、s ago.6We had difficulty(in)finding the obscure path through the forest.有很多共同点有影响四处走动导致与相似发现有困难We have learnt English for a long time.Do you know in which countries people speak English？The following pictures can help you.A B CD E F答案：A：England;B：America;C：Canada;_D：Australia;E：New Zealand;F：South A
31、frica.Read for the main idea.Paras 12ASome experts believe that the two v arieties are moving closer together.Users of English will all be able to understand each other wherever they are.Para 3BThe first and most obvious way is in the vocabulary.But there are some words and expressions not so well k
32、nown.Para 4 CBritish English and American English are different in spelling and pronunciation.Paras 57DThere are a few differences in grammar.答案：BDCA.Read for the details.1In which of the following ways do British English and American English most obviously differ?APronunciation.BAccent.CVocabulary.
33、DGrammar.2Which of the following statements is NOT true?AFrench fries in America are called chips in Britain.BMany factors have influenced American pronunciation.CWhen you visit New York,you need to use the subway.DAmericans use a torch,but for the British,its a flashlight.3What causes some people t
34、o believe that British English will disappear?AMany British words and structures are too complex.BLots of American words and structures are passing into British English.CThe news and the weather forecasts of the American TV networks are all made in American English.DCommunication between people of t
35、he two countries would be much easier.4According to the text,in the future _.Athere will be many kinds of“Englishes”Bthere will be only two main varieties CEnglish speakers will have more difficulty understanding each otherDonly American English will be used in the world答案：14 CDBA.Analyze the diffic
36、ult sentences.1When the Irish writer George Bernard Shaw made the famous remark that the British and the Americans are two nations divided by a common language,he was obviously thinking about the differences.句式分析 尝试翻译 当爱尔兰作家乔治萧伯纳说“英国和美国是被同一种语言分开的两个民族”这句名言时，他显然想到了它们之间的区别。2However,if you turn on CNN,t
37、he American TV network,you find newsreaders and weather forecasters all speaking with different accents American,British,Australian,and even Spanish.句式分析 本句为主从复合句，if 引导条件状语从句，从句中 the American TV network 为 CNN 的同位语；主句中破折号后的内容为 different accents 的同位语。尝试翻译 然而，如果你打开 CNN美国电视网，你会发现新闻播报员和天气预报员都操着不同的口音美国的、英国的、澳大利亚的，甚至西班牙的。“课时跟踪检测”见“Module 1 课时跟踪检测（一）”(单击进入电子文档)谢谢 观 看
