Page 192 - English Vocabulary In Use upper intermediet and advance

Exercises

If you saw words spelt in the following way would you expect the writer in each case to be
British or American? Why?
1 labor 2 centre 3 hospitalized 4 movie theater 5 favour 6 thru

What are (a) the American and (b) the British words for the following things?

You are going on holiday to the States. Which of the words listed in B and C opposite do
you think it would be most important for you to know? Which of the words would a person
travelling with a baby might well need to know?

Translate the following into British English.
1 I had a blow-out. 6 It's in the trunk.
2 Pass me the cookies. 7 One-way or round trip?
3 It's in the closet. 8 He left the faucet on.
4 Open the drapes. 9 We're leaving in the fall.
5 We've run out of gas. 10 I hate waiting in line.

Can you avoid some of the most common confusions arising between British and American
speakers? Try the following quiz.
1 Where would you take (a) an American visitor (b) a British visitor who said they wanted
to wash up - the kitchen or the bathroom?
2 Would (a) an American (b) a Brit be expected to get something hot or something cold if
they asked for some potato chips?
3 Which would surprise you more - an American or a British man telling you that he
wanted to go and change his pants?
4 You have just come into an unknown office block. If (a) an American (b) a Brit says that
the office you need is on the second floor, how many flights of stairs do you need to
climb?
5 If (a) an American (b) a Brit asks for a bill, is he or she more likely to be in a bank or a
cafe?

Do you know any other examples of American English? Make a list at an appropriate place
in your vocabulary notebook or file.

English Vocabulary in Use 187