COMPREHENSIONII. Read the text and work through the following exercises. 1. Pick out pairs of words belonging to correspondingly British and American English e.g. colour ------------ color 2. Label the following statements as true (T) or false (F). Correct the false ones and provide extra in formation if necessary. 1) American English differs from the British variant merely in terms of accents. 2) The number of language differences is inevitably inreasing due to worsening relations between the two countries. 3) The author of the article is positive that American English is the wrong one. 4) Americans have made considerable steps on the way to simplification of spelling. 5) So far no differences in vocabulary have been spotted. III. Give detailed answers to the questions that follow: 1) What is expected to contribute to bridging the gap between the UK and the USA? Does it sound effective enough? 2) Do you agree that "variety is the spice of life"? What are other things that can "spice up" our life? 3) What are the differences in spelling based on? Give examples to support your answer. 4) Whar kind of amusing situations can differences in vocabulary lead to? 5) Which nation of the two is more eager to accept all types of innovations as well as new words? How would you account for it? 6) Sometimes, however, the British seem more advanced in their use of the language, don't they? 7) What did the outward influences upon both British and American English consist in?
FOLLOW-UP. IV. Role-play Work in pairs. Act out a conversation between an American and an Englishman arguing which language (variant) is the right one. Make a wide use of conversational formulas. V. Written task Write an essay (about 200 words) or, alternatively, prepare a speech on either of the given topics: - Variety is the spice of life. - "Transatlantic English": Hopes and Prospects.
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