Speaking is different among the four skills in learning English．The other three you can do alone on your own，but you can’t really speak alone．Speaking to yourself can be "dangerous" because men in white coats may come and take you away！Then how can you practice speaking？ Where can you find people to speak English with？

At school-If you pay to go to a language school，you should use the chance to speak．If your teacher asks you to speak in pairs with other students，try to say as much as possible．Don’t worry about your mistakes．Just speak！

Cafes and bars-There are American，British，Irish and Australian bars in many big cities．If you can find one，you will probably meet many people speaking English as their first or second language．

Songs and videos-Repeat the words of an English song singing with the music until it becomes automatic（不假思索）．It’s good practice for your memory and for the mouth muscles（肌肉） that you need for English．

Language is all around you--Everywhere you go，you will find language．Shop names，notices，and car numbers……When you walk down the street，practice reading the words and numbers that you see．Say them to yourself．It’s not exactly a conversation，but it will help you to "think" in English．

1．The purpose of this passage is to

    A．tell us that you can speak English alone

    B．tell us that English is all around you

    C．give us some advice on how to practice speaking

    D．tell us speaking is the easiest of the four skills in learning English

2．What does the writer mean by saying "Speaking to yourself can be dangerous"？

    A．The writer is joking- perhaps a doctor will come and take you to the hospital．

    B．It’s dangerous to practice speaking with foreigners．

    C．When you speak alone， you have to put on a white coat．

    D．Men in white coats will cause an accident．

3．The writer advises you to go to cafes and bars because

    A．you can enjoy yourself there

    B．you can listen to English songs there

    C．it will not be dangerous if you speak to yourself there

    D．you will meet many English speakers there

4．Why does the writer give the advice "Songs and videos"？

    A．It’s good practice for your memory．

    B．It’s good for the mouth muscles that you need for English．

    C．It’s good for you to sing well．

    D．Both A and B．

There are many differences between British English and American English.I used to teach a course about the differences between the two.We speak English on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean but we have many differences in our common language.We have examples of the same words having very different meanings，differing spellings of the same words as well as completely different words for the same things.Here are some examples.

A cookie in the US is called a biscuit in the UK.A biscuit in the US is a small cake in the UK.Crisps in the UK，are known as chips，but we British people eat a plate of chips that you call fries in the US.In the UK，a pie can be made from either meat or fruit，while in the US pies are normally made from fruit；pot pies are made from meat.Most things are measured in grams and kilograms in the US，not pounds and ounces.

One very obvious (明显的) difference is the side of the road we each choose to drive on.Petrol in the UK is gas in the US.The place where we fill up our cars，in the UK，is a garage；while in the US，it’s a gas station.The term garage is also used as a place to store your car next to or close by your house.In the UK we call a lorry what is known as a truck in the US.

An elevator in the US is called a lift here，and the first floor in the US，is called the ground floor here，so many visitors get off on the wrong floor in British hotels.

I could continue with this.There are countless examples of differences within our one shared language.With so many differences，no wonder it’s hard to understand each other well.

6．The passage is mainly about the differences between British English and American English in________.

A．vocabulary 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B．grammar

C．sound 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D．spelling

7．It’s implied in the passage that the author may be________.

A．a driver from the US 　　　　　　　　　　　　 B．a cook from the US

C．a teacher from the UK 　　　　　　　　　　　 D．a gas station worker from the UK

8．In the author’s opinion，________.

A．language differences don’t affect understanding

B．the same words in the two different types of English may have different spellings

C．there will be fewer differences between American and British English in the future

D．it is impossible that some Americans get off on the wrong floor in British hotels

9．What can we learn from the passage?

A．“Elevator” is commonly used in the UK.

B．Pies mean the same thing in the UK and the US.

C．In the UK，things are measured in pounds and ounces.

D．British and American people drive on the same side of the road.

10．Which of the following is WRONG according to the passage?

A．Petrol in the UK is gas in the US.

B．Fries in the US are chips in the UK.

C．A cookie in the US is a biscuit in the UK.

D．A gas station in the UK is a garage in the US.

Learners of English often ask: What are the differences between British and American English? How important are these differences?
Certainly, there are some differences between British and American English. There are a few differences in grammar. For example, speakers of British English say “in hospital” and “Have you got a pen?” while Americans say “in the hospital” and “Do you have a pen?”. Pronunciation is sometimes different. Americans usually sound the “r” in words like “bird “and “hurt”. Some speakers of British English do not sound the “r” in these words. There are differences between British and American English in spelling and vocabulary. For example, “colour” and “honour” are British, while “color” and “honor” are American.
These differences in grammar, pronunciation, spelling, and vocabulary are not important, however. For the most part, British and American English are the same language.
【小题1】Are there many differences in grammar between British and American English?

A．There are few differences between them.

B．There are many differences between them.

C．There are some differences between them.

D．There are great differences between them.

【小题2】Americans don’t say “Have you got a pen.” do they?

A．Yes, they do.

B．Yes, they don’t.

C．No. they don’t.

D．Sorry, they do .

【小题3】Who says “ in hospital ”? Who says “ in the hospital ”?

A．Americans say “ in the hospital ” while Englishmen say “ in hospital ”.

B．Americans say “ in hospital ” while Englishmen say “in the hospital ”

C．Both Americans and Englishmen say “ in the hospital ”

D．They are the same .

【小题4】From the article we can know____.

A．American English is better than British English.

B．it’s not so difficult for a British English speaker to understand American English.

C．the spelling of “color” is wrong while the spelling of “colour” is right.

D．British English is better than American English.

【小题5】What’s the main idea of the article?

A．We should learn both American English and British English.

B．British and American English are two different languages.

C．Speakers of British and Americans speak the same language.

D．We should learn other languages .

Learners of English often ask: What are the differences between British and American English? How important are these differences?

Certainly, there are some differences between British and American English. There are a few differences in grammar. For example, speakers of British English say “in hospital” and “Have you got a pen?” while Americans say “in the hospital” and “Do you have a pen?”. Pronunciation is sometimes different. Americans usually sound the “r” in words like “bird “and “hurt”. Some speakers of British English do not sound the “r” in these words. There are differences between British and American English in spelling and vocabulary. For example, “colour” and “honour” are British, while “color” and “honor” are American.

These differences in grammar, pronunciation, spelling, and vocabulary are not important, however. For the most part, British and American English are the same language.

1.Are there many differences in grammar between British and American English?

A．There are few differences between them.

B．There are many differences between them.

C．There are some differences between them.

D．There are great differences between them.

2.Americans don’t say “Have you got a pen.” do they?

A．Yes, they do.       B．Yes, they don’t.    C．No. they don’t.    D．Sorry, they do .

3.Who says “ in hospital ”? Who says “ in the hospital ”?

A．Americans say “ in the hospital ” while Englishmen say “ in hospital ”.

B．Americans say “ in hospital ” while Englishmen say “in the hospital ”

C．Both Americans and Englishmen say “ in the hospital ”

D．They are the same .

4.From the article we can know____.

A．American English is better than British English.

B．it’s not so difficult for a British English speaker to understand American English.

C．the spelling of “color” is wrong while the spelling of “colour” is right.

D．British English is better than American English.

5.What’s the main idea of the article?

A．We should learn both American English and British English.

B．British and American English are two different languages.

C．Speakers of British and Americans speak the same language.

D．We should learn other languages .