I came across quite a few language problems while on holiday with my family last summer. The most embarrassing was when my Mom apologized to the people we were staying with because her “pants were dirty”. They looked at her in amazement, not knowing how to react. You see, Mom had fallen over and gotten mud on her jeans. But in Britain, “pants” means underpants, not trousers as it does back home.
Katie — From America
When I asked for the “restroom” in a big department store, people kept directing me to a room with seats where I could sit and “rest”. It took me years to get through to someone that I only wanted the toilet!
Tom — From America
Last summer we went on a two-week family touring holiday, so Dad hired a car over the Internet. This was an old vehicle and there turned out to be lots of things wrong with it. When he phoned the hire pany and tried to explain that the lock on the boot(汽车行李箱) was broken, they thought he was talking about footwear! He had no idea their word for “boot” was “trunk”. In the end we went to a garage and just solved the problem.
Mary — From Britain
Last summer, I went to stay with a friend on the west coast. Her flat was on the first floor of a high-rise building so I got the lift up. Then I wandered round for ages looking for her flat but couldn’t find it. Fed up and tired, I finally had to go out to find a phone box. She explained that her flat was on the first floor, which for me meant the ground floor.
David — From Britain
【小题1】Hearing Katie’s mother’s words, Katie’s friends were in amazement because .A．they mistook “pants” in American for underpants B．Katie’s mother’s underpants were dirtyC．Katie’s mother got mud on her jeans D．they didn’t know any English【小题2】David went out to find a phone box to .A．phone the police for helpB．apologize for his being lateC．tell his friends he couldn’t go to visit herD．phone his friend for help【小题3】 When Tom asked for the “restroom”, the people around him thought .A．he wanted a chairB．he wanted to have a restC．he wanted the toiletD．He wanted to go to a department store【小题4】The underlined word “garage” is probably .A．a parking placeB．a carC．a place to repair cars D．a gas station【小题5】Which of the following words is from British English？ A．PantsB． RestroomC．Ground floorD．TrunkA
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(答案→)A
解析：本文通过几个例子告诉我们美国英语和英国英语在词汇方面的诸多差异。
【小题1】A 细节题。根据文章第一段最后2行But in Britain, “pants” means underpants, not trousers as it does back home.可知双方对于“pants”的理解不同。故A正确。
【小题2】D 推理题。根据文章最后3行Fed up and tired, I finally had to go out to find a phone box. She explained that her flat was on the first floor, which for me meant the ground floor. 可知我没有找到对方的家，所以找了一个电话亭，打电话进行联系。
【小题3】B 推理题。根据第二段1,2行When I asked for the “restroom” in a big department store, people kept directing me to a room with seats where I could sit and “rest”.可知我说的restroom是指上厕所。对方理解成我要去休息。故B正确。
【小题4】C 推理题。根据第三段最后2行He had no idea their word for “boot” was “trunk”. In the end we went to a garage and just solved the problem.可知我们是到修理厂去把车修好的，故C项正确。
【小题5】C 推理题。根据文章最后2行. She explained that her flat was on the first floor, which for me meant the ground floor.可知the ground floor是来自英国英语的词汇，在美国英语中就是the first floor。故C正确。